Mom's Surprise 75th Birthday Party

So yesterday I threw my mom a surprise 75Th birthday party. Cari did it with me...well she let me just boss her around...it was great! :) The party turned out so dang good. It couldn't have gone any better! First off my dear friend Suzanne made the invites. They were so stinkin cute! Thank you a ton Suz! (find her at: shepaperieblog.com)

So once the invites were done and at print I could think more about the party and how to get mom there. It was perfect! She actually set it up so nicely. She calls me one day and says how much for a pedicure at your shop from that one lady ?(Patti) I said 35$, she says that's to much. I said just come in and Ill pay for it. Mom says "Oh would you, that could be my birthday present" I said "HUUUU was it your birthday, did I miss it?? Mom says ya, last week. I paused, knowing exactly what Im doing (hehe) and I said, "no it isn't til Sept. You scared me. It was great. HAHA. So she came in and got her nails and a pedicure done. So while she was there I said mom why don't we go out to dinner next weekend for your birthday? She said OK. So I called her a few days later...told her it was a very nice dinner, to get her best dress on! She said, "no that's to much money, lets just go another time. " Well I knew she was going to say that so I said, Mike got a comp dinner, so its free. He wanted to do something nice for your birthday. So she agreed. Perfect!

So when the day came... Friday morning, I worked for just 2 hours then I got my hair done. I headed to the church to set up. My sweet friend Andrea came and helped so much. She "reserved" the day just to help me. Regina came an hour later and worked her butt off. I really have such wonderful friends. I am so blessed...for real...blessed. I love them. Cari came and helped too of course. We all hung the decorations, set up the tables and center pieces, put up the salsa for the party favors. Cari made homemade salsa for everyone to take home. It was so good! Thank you sister for doing that! So as we were about done Traci and Rudy came to help, Mike showed up, Mark and Cristal showed up and they all got to setting up the slide show and music. I was so HAPPY Mark and Cristal were able to come. Alysha was even able to come. It meant so much to me and I know it did to mom as well. Mark put together a really really nice slide show of my mom. It turned out great! So about that time I needed to leave so I left Regina, Andrea, and Kim in charge. Well, I left them in charge of Cari. LOL. Kim got all the drinks ready while I was gone. Thank you! After it was all set up I got dressed in the bathroom and left to get mom. I showed up at 5:45. She had her best outfit on and was ready to go. We were headed out but I needed her blind folded. If she wasn't She would know where we were going and she would figure it out. So I made up this story that Mike made her something cool. I said its not that big of a deal but he wants you blind folded or it wont be a surprise...you know how he is mom, so just humor him OK. So she did, no hesitation! Off we went. Well... I did spin in circles in the driveway so she wouldn't know what direction I was going. :)We drove all the way out to the Ocean St Chapel where the party was being held. When we got there I walked her up to the doors, guided her through everything and I said "OK mom, stay right there. I ripped off the blind fold... everyone yelled SURPRISE! It was perfect! She had no clue! All of her closest friends and family was there. It was so sweet for all those people to come. I really was so touched!

After mom cried and said her hello's I announced the program. We would eat, all the kids and grand kids would say their funniest or fondest memory of mom, then we would watch the slide show, eat cake and DANCE! We love to dance in our family...or maybe its just me and mom that like to dance...and Kai. Its always us 3 dancing. There were some great stories told, I think my mom really enjoyed that part.

Stories:

Cari: How Mom thought Grayce was rubbing her back but it was the dog Moby

Tom: He told of how Moms always watching the BYU games and yelling and screaming so loud that Kai would jump 2 feet out of his bed.

Mark: How he payed a April fools joke that Max was kicked off the BYU football team. She cried...he had to quickly set her straight

Jenni: On the way home from a BYU game Mom screaming and saying "Oh NO" and almost wreaking us all because she was missing an eye brow!

Rudy: How Mom told him to RUN when he wanted to marry Traci.

Danielle: Grandma thinking she was on the other side of the bed and rolling off...had to call ER, she broke her collar bone.

Alysha: talked about how she always has soft hands and has lots of lotions. And she always smells so good.

Kai: How she is always there for him and she always makes him feel better when he is sick

Earl: A lot of tender memories of Mom and how great she was!

The party was so fun and after it was all over the not so fun part is the clean up. I was so tired and just wanted to go home. But I had some Angels there to help me. Traci and Rudy helped a ton, Mark and Cristal helped a ton, my honey helped so much...setting up and taking down the audio. That's a huge project in and of it self. And then there was Andrea, Reej and JJ. They all stayed til the very end. Family is supposed to but friends... I tell you I have great friends. Andrea stayed and cleaned, loaded, cleaned. Reej and JJ cleaned, Jj swept and mopped the whole cultural hall and kitchen. What husband does that! JJ stayed and made sure we were all locked up and out safely. We were done and out by 9:45. I was and am so grateful for their help.

Thank you to everyone who helped. We had so many people help us. Alisha did the cake and cookies, which I was so grateful for, I don't bake!! She also set up an extra table and brought her pedestals to make everything look so much better. I was gone when she got there so I was so glad she took the initiate and did it. It looked so great! Alexis helped A TON by doing the pom pom center peices. Cari and I were clueless. And Cari had some great friends so the salsa with her. Suz with her ideas and invites (her idea to do the salsa) We couldn't have done it without you! THANK YOU!!

This is a memory Ill hold dear to my heart forever!

Ps Amy was there!! She wasn't able to help at all, with 4 kids and only one car but she was there. I was so happy she would drive out to the party, if only to stay an hour she was there. 8 years of her gone and she is here now, I just wanted her there...and she was...cuz thats what BFF's do.

I love you MOMMY! Happy 75Th!

The Invite

THE SURPRISE!!

Mom and Her Kids...and their spouces

Mom with loved ones

My Besties

The Party Favors

The YUMMY Food

Dear Friends

FAMILY

Me with People I LOVE

Cute Kids

Telling Our Stories

Me and My Honey

DANCING

Goofy Husband

Oh my CRAP that took me 3 hours to do!