My dad turned 60 this week, and we celebrated Stuart-style with a low-key family celebration on the back porch. Three of the kids got together for an impromptu birthday party planning session (since 3 of us live within 10 miles of each other now...weird!), and we double-checked and triple-checked with our mom to make sure that my dad wasn't secretly hoping for a big surprise party. He wasn't, so we proceeded with our plan.
Our first idea was to have it in the backyard, but it was so windy (and treacherous with thistles) that we abandoned that plan. Yes, it would have been easier and probably more comfortable to be at the dining room table, and I know this was supposed to be a low-key celebration, but it had to stand out in some memorable way!
My parents have a screened porch that is rarely used because it gets so dusty despite any cleaning efforts, but we kids (okay, it was mostly me) were determined to use it for the ambiance. So we set up tables and chairs and lanterns on the back porch to set the stage and hung a white sheet for the slideshow.
We had a fantastic dinner thanks to Rudy's Barbeque, and then settled in to watch this slideshow that I put together with some of my dad's favorite songs. My brother Thad brought up his projector, so that was really nice to have for the slideshow!
Then we wrapped up with 2 cakes and ice cream: one was a fudge marble Betty Crocker cake that is my dad's favorite and has made an appearance at every one of his birthdays I can remember. And I found a recipe for an Italian Cream cake by the Pioneer Woman that I just had to make to have something a little edgier...and it didn't disappoint!
As a present, we decided on a gift certificate for lawn care by a Boy Scout in their ward. That way we give the dual present of getting my dad out of some dreaded lawn work as well as funding Scout camp for a hardworking boy.
Everything went smoothly, and we had a wonderful time! It was 10:00pm before we left and the kids fell asleep in the car, but luckily they went straight from ecstatic to sleeping (and skipped the crash/tired/tantrum bit.
Those were some NICE hair styles!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful party, start to finish. A party is always a success if Rudy's is a part of it. And the Italian Cream cake might make an appearance at my birthday this year. Isn't fun to celebrate decade milestones with family?
That was an amazing slide show of your family past Jamie. Well done!
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