Birthday Bash Part II

What's a party without lots of yummy food. My sister-in-law Marilyn made some delicious potato salad and stuffed mini peppers. Both were a work of art. A BIG thanks to everyone who helped!!

Mom mastered the art of cake decorating and has made many beautiful cakes through the years. When Mandy was little Mom would teach her some techniques so it was especially sweet that she made her birthday cake. 

Mom ~ Mandy ~ Eileen ~ Shaylynn

Mandy and I tried to light the candles but it was too windy, imagine that!

Happy Birthday To You!

Time for Mom to open her cards and gifts!

I made this photo book for Mom.

Needless to say she LOVED it!

Mom ~ Shaylynn 

My great-niece is so darling. She loves Mom. What a cutie!

Uncle Ken ~ Mom ~ Aunt Mildred

Roseanne ~ Lloyd ~ Kenny ~ Eileen ~ Marion ~ Mom ~ Ernie

(Two of my brothers have passed away, Les and Kevin)

Lloyd and I were trying to hold our stomachs in!

My cousin Carlene took this picture for us. It's not easy to get 41 people to hold still but she did great. (A few party goers had to leave early but we did have 41 attend)

At this point Carlene said, "I think we have got all we can out of this group!"

Mom's great-grandchildren took a balloon and made a wish for Grannie.

Wishes going up to heaven!

What a day... there's no way to thank my Mom enough for all the things she has done for us throughout the years. She has sacrificed and loved us unconditionally, often without recognition or gratitude. Her life has been a journey of love, grief, and some ups and downs with her health. Burying two sons was not easy but she showed courage and faith through it all. Raising seven children was a feat in itself, but she persevered and we are who we are today because of her. 

Happy Birthday Mom, I love you so much!!

And last but not least I got to meet and hold 

my one week old great-niece, Coralynn Belle Brown.

Congratulations Julie and Tucker, she's an angel!!

The End

Wordless Wednesday - Freedom...

Birthday Bash Part I

I can't believe my Mom will 80 years old on July 11th. Time goes by so fast. I knew we had to have a big celebration and I thought it would be so fun to have a surprise party for her. A few weeks ago I had a strong impression to call her two living siblings and see if they could come to Cheyenne. Aunt Mildred lives in Arkansas and Uncle Ken in Denver. They were so excited and without hesitation said they would be there. I was thrilled and did a happy dance for days!

Tim is always so supportive and goes along willingly with all my crazy ideas. 

Uncle Ken and Aunt Mildred arrived about an hour before the party started so we had a great time visiting with them. Uncle Ken is brilliant, he was an engineer for the Nasa Space program. He helped build many of the space capsules. He is 83 and still very active. Aunt Mildred is so easy going and fun!

My brother Lloyd told Mom he was going to take her for a ride. He's helping her out of his pickup!

"SURPRISE!"

Big hug for the birthday girl!

Uncle Ken and Aunt Mildred were hiding around the corner. I told her to turn around because we had one more surprise.

 What a moment!

Mom and Marion

Uncle Ken and Lloyd

Stephen ~ Mom ~ Heather

Uncle Ken ~ Marion ~ Ernie

My brother Ernie really looks like my Dad, I love it!

Lloyd ~ Tim ~ Mandy

It's been many years since Mom has seen her sister. 

It was heartwarming to see them together!

Mom ~ Ernie ~ Uncle Ken ~ Aunt Mildred ~ Kenny

My beautiful niece Holley with her hubby Enoch and daughter Elizabeth

I love this beee-autiful girl. My cousin drove up with her handsome FarmGiant from Colorado to bee at the party. Pretty darn sweet of them!

Mom's great-grandsons having fun!

I finally got to meet my great-nephew Jasper Carl! My brother Marion is feeding him a little potato salad

and he really liked it! What a handsome boy!

Yes we had "pony rides" at the party. Thanks Theo!

 Grandpa Lloyd and Jasper Carl

Not many people can chew on Lloyd's arm and get away with it... his cute grandson Jasper can do whatever he wants. It's so sweet to see my big, tough cowboy brothers with their grandchildren.

To be continued...

Quote for the Week - Look to the lightouse

Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. . . . there is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what the lighthouse of the Lord can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, “This way to safety. This way to home.”

(President Thomas S. Monson, “Believe, Obey, and Endure”, Ensign, May. 2012, 126.)