This is the setting for Mom's 80th birthday party last weekend - the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, located right on the beach in beautiful Santa Barbara.
Before the party, we all gathered for family pictures of various combinations. I don't have pictures of everyone, but here are a few. Below is my brother Chuck, his wife Laura, and their three kiddos: Jon, Charlie, and Vanessa.
This is my cousin Julie, her husband Randy, and their daughter Chloe. Chloe and our Hannah now attend the same university here in Oregon, but Maui is home to her family.
Our lovely daughter Sarah and her ever-handsome husband Chris.
Me with the birthday girl.
Below is my sister Andrea, her husband Eric and their darling kids Margot and Reed.
Mom with the about-to-become-engaged couple, our son Ben and his now-fiance Christine.
Mom and most of her grandkids.
My brother John, his wife Barbara and their children Charlie and Emily.
Our crew - sorry about the glare.
Our five.
I have a dear cousin in Rhode Island who was not able to attend the party, but two of her daughters were there: Megan and Hannah.
The large room where the party was held.
Below is a picture of me with my childhood friend Shelly. I had not seen her since my wedding day 36 years ago, and we had lost touch in the meantime. What a joy (and shock!) to see her again and catch up on our lives. She is a district attorney in Nevada. We don't plan to lose touch again!
Each family group did a skit/performance of some kind. Here my Palmer relatives do their schtick.
Here is our group doing our take on the Beach Boys' 1960s hit "Barbara Ann." But we changed the words to say "Pat and Mike," after the birthday girls.
Here we are again. I'm thinking it was pretty much a disaster, but it sure was fun!
The D.V. Olsons performing their gig.
The Alexander crew doing their thing.
Then the grandkids did their number, "Wind Beneath My Wings."
After that came the "Happy Birthday" song. The twins loved every minute of it.
And of course, no evening with the twins would be complete without hearing them sing. They did several numbers from their repertoire. Crazy and fun.
And just when we thought things were winding down (Christine had already changed clothes), Ben took hold of the microphone and called her to the front. And there, on bended knee, he asked her to be his wife. And as you know from my previous post, or if you read our kids' blogs, she said YES. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Her beautiful engagement ring.
Mark and me with the happy couple.
An engagement kiss to seal the deal.
Love you, Ben!
Mark hugs them both. If Mark's eyes look a little teary, it's because he was crying for joy.
So that was that. The party was complete and a good time was had by all. It was so beautiful and wonderful and memorable and more. I love you, Mom. Thanks for being such a role model to me and to all of us.
On Sunday morning, Mark and I, Sarah and Chris, Jake and Beka, and Hannah all went to church with Mom. She told me the next day that of all the things that went on over the weekend, that having us in church with her was one of the most meaningful to her. The ladies of her church made the cute Valentines above and enclosed them in the bulletin. And since today's Valentine's Day, I thought it was an appropriate way to close this post. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!
Before the party, we all gathered for family pictures of various combinations. I don't have pictures of everyone, but here are a few. Below is my brother Chuck, his wife Laura, and their three kiddos: Jon, Charlie, and Vanessa.
This is my cousin Julie, her husband Randy, and their daughter Chloe. Chloe and our Hannah now attend the same university here in Oregon, but Maui is home to her family.
Our lovely daughter Sarah and her ever-handsome husband Chris.
Me with the birthday girl.
Below is my sister Andrea, her husband Eric and their darling kids Margot and Reed.
Mom with the about-to-become-engaged couple, our son Ben and his now-fiance Christine.
Mom and most of her grandkids.
My brother John, his wife Barbara and their children Charlie and Emily.
Our crew - sorry about the glare.
Our five.
I have a dear cousin in Rhode Island who was not able to attend the party, but two of her daughters were there: Megan and Hannah.
The large room where the party was held.
Below is a picture of me with my childhood friend Shelly. I had not seen her since my wedding day 36 years ago, and we had lost touch in the meantime. What a joy (and shock!) to see her again and catch up on our lives. She is a district attorney in Nevada. We don't plan to lose touch again!
Each family group did a skit/performance of some kind. Here my Palmer relatives do their schtick.
Here is our group doing our take on the Beach Boys' 1960s hit "Barbara Ann." But we changed the words to say "Pat and Mike," after the birthday girls.
Here we are again. I'm thinking it was pretty much a disaster, but it sure was fun!
The D.V. Olsons performing their gig.
The Alexander crew doing their thing.
Then the grandkids did their number, "Wind Beneath My Wings."
After that came the "Happy Birthday" song. The twins loved every minute of it.
And of course, no evening with the twins would be complete without hearing them sing. They did several numbers from their repertoire. Crazy and fun.
And just when we thought things were winding down (Christine had already changed clothes), Ben took hold of the microphone and called her to the front. And there, on bended knee, he asked her to be his wife. And as you know from my previous post, or if you read our kids' blogs, she said YES. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Her beautiful engagement ring.
Mark and me with the happy couple.
An engagement kiss to seal the deal.
Love you, Ben!
Mark hugs them both. If Mark's eyes look a little teary, it's because he was crying for joy.
So that was that. The party was complete and a good time was had by all. It was so beautiful and wonderful and memorable and more. I love you, Mom. Thanks for being such a role model to me and to all of us.
On Sunday morning, Mark and I, Sarah and Chris, Jake and Beka, and Hannah all went to church with Mom. She told me the next day that of all the things that went on over the weekend, that having us in church with her was one of the most meaningful to her. The ladies of her church made the cute Valentines above and enclosed them in the bulletin. And since today's Valentine's Day, I thought it was an appropriate way to close this post. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!
2 comments:
Great pics. You sure have the familiest family I have ever known.
How fun!!!
Thanks for depicting it all so wonderfully!
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