Mom's 90th Birthday Party - What a Blessing!

After attending church and going to breakfast with Lloyd and Deb, Ken and I drove to Masonic Village to spend the afternoon playing cards with Mom, Dad, Cindy and John.  It was the 1st time Mom and Dad saw John and Cindy since they had left for Florida the end of September.  We had a fun time playing Up the River, a good card game for 6 people.  

I had arranged for Mom and Dad to be taken to a local restaurant in a special van and Mom thought just the 6 of us were having dinner together to celebrate her birthday.  Dad knew our secret that our entire family would be there as a surprise for her 90th Birthday Celebration.  I think she was really surprised!  Including them, there were 27 of us there and it was hard to imagine but it fit into everyone's schedule! 

Mom's arrival!

We had a private area for all our family!

Katelyn chatting with my dad!

Then it was Bria's turn!

My parents with Samantha and Bria!

Samantha loves her MaMaw!

Our family!

Our son-in-laws!

This table was my sister's family!

Dane and Samantha!

Katelyn!

I don't know what is going on with Lanie and Jamie, but
they seem to be enjoying their moment!

Our daughter, Lanie!

Mom and Dad with my sister, Cindy, and her husband, John!

It was a fun time for Jamie!

After dinner we had a delicious birthday cake from Costco that the restaurant allowed us to bring in!  We had a very nice time from about 4:45 to 6:30, but it was extremely noisy!  My parents were so grateful for the family together time, but I think it was a bit overwhelming.

Happy 90th, Mom!

My parents with our granddaughters!

Mom and Dad with their grandchildren and great
grandchildren!

The Althouse clan!

It is hard to imagine that both of my parents are still here to have these special family times and their minds are so "sharp".  It is something to be treasured and thankful for!  

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration!!!

Well, today was the big day we have been anticipating since about May and it was finally here!  Obviously we spent the morning finishing up last minute preparations and loading the car.  By 11:15 we were on our way to the Eicher Arts Center, stopping to pick up several bags of ice.

When we arrived they were ready for us (they were finishing cleaning from a wedding reception that was there last evening!).  Jamie, Dane, Lanie, Bob, Samantha, and Katelyn got there about the same time.  After unloading the cars it was time to start setting up tables and decorating.  Lanie and Jamie did a fantastic job of pre-planning and had several surprises for us which I shall show post in this blog!  Our close friends, Dan and Jackie, also arrived early to help us with set-up, bring food items they had stored in their refrigerator, and we certainly appreciated all that they did.  

We did NOT have this party catered, so there was plenty to do including how to arrange the food, drink, and cake table.  It also required some time in the kitchen heating a few items like chicken nuggets, buffalo dip, shrimp, and the meatballs.  Everyone worked so well together, but it still required using all the time until guests started arriving at 2.  Everything looked amazing and Ken and I were so proud of all the girls had done to make this a very special and memorable day for us!

Outside the Eicher Arts Center, a very old building with
lots of history!

Katelyn, Cali, and Samantha are ready for the party to begin!

The girls were there to greet the guests!

Love these girls!

The girls surprised us by having this large picture made from
 a photo that Ken took this summer when our family was
 on our vacation
at Watkins Glen!

Great place to have a party!

Place for guests to put their cards and  write how they know
Ken and I and any special memories they may have!

I found some of our past photos and Lanie
brought the frame and easel to display them!

2 additional pictures Lanie and Jamie had made from Ken's photos
taken on our family vacation!  What a surprise!

More photos from our past!

Lanie and Jamie had blown up all the balloons and
created this masterpiece!  It was beautiful!

The drink tables!

The deck area of the Eicher Center was also available.
for our guests!

We had a chocolate and vanilla cake from Costco and they
were so delicious!

2 photos from the balcony!

Our biggest surprise was the arrival of our 1st guests - Rick and Joyce from Florida!  They wanted to surprise us, so only Lanie and Jamie knew they were coming.  I can't believe they never left the secret "slip" when we were in Florida for September and 1/2 of October!  Ken and I were both in "shock" when we saw them, but what an amazing thing for them to do!   Throughout the next 4 hours we were blessed by so many family members and special friends attending our party.  Another wonderful couple, who live in Maine, but we met in Florida, also arranged there vacation at Myrtle Beach to coincide with our party, and they came.  We were so grateful.  

The arrival of Rick and Joyce!

Sharing stories with Rick and Joyce and Ken's mentor, Pete!

Rick, Joyce, Lori and Eddie, whom we know from our small
group at LCBC Church!

Our friends, Burt and Pat from Maine (on the right) and
Bob and Brenda from Ephrata!

One other amazing thing, was that my parents were able to attend their daughter and son-in-law's 50 wedding anniversary.  I don't know the statistic for that possibility, but I find it amazing!  Ken and I did research how many people actually celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and we were so surprised by the number!  What would you think the percentage would be?  It is only 6%!  Wow, we are part of an "elite" group!

So excited that my parents could be a part of our day!
They look fantastic for 95 and 90 and 71 years of marriage!

It was a bit noisy for my dad to hear what people were saying!
Eventually they moved to the porch area!

Mom greeted by Lanie....

....Jamie....

and their great granddaughters!

Rick and Joyce got to meet them too!

Our friends, Dan and Jackie, go to visit my parents
when we are in Florida to play Pinochle with them!

Another long life friend and fellow camper over the years, Kathy!

We had such a wonderful time and each and everyone who attended made it so special.  We will treasure this day forever!

Here are some additional photos from our celebration -

Lanie and Jamie look like they are being mischievous!

Love these girls to the moon and back!  They made our
party so amazing!

So much history with these dear friends with whom we
have shared so many adventures and made so many family
memories!  They took us to a Casting Crown concert that
was wonderful!

Sam and Kathy - friends now and during our child raising years!
We did some memorable camping adventures together too!

The original Ken Hosler Real Estate Team!

Ken's partner, Kevin, and his wife, Traci.  Traci is actually
my Doctor too!

Former neighbors and fellow campers, Russ and Darlene!

Neighbor, Marty, when our girls were little!  Now she gets
to meet our granddaughters.  Marty was such an influence
during my young parenting years!

Another special couple, Gary and Marcia, whom we have
shared many memorable times together from our girls younger
years to present day.  We did lots of camping together
and many games of cards!

3 of the ladies who live in our apartment building!

Friends from LCBC and Deb is also part of my Curvette
exercise group!  She and Lloyd  have a home in Florida and
Ephrata, so we get to spend time together both places!

Dane, our son-in-law, with his daughters and parents, Sue and Dan!

This is my Curvette group of ladies...

...and this one too!

Here our photos of our families -

Our girls with Ken's nephew's wife and daughter!

This is Eric, the father and husband!

Ken's brother, Paul!

Ken's younger brother, Phil, and his daughter and her friend!

Ken's brother Phil's youngest son, Lance!

This is Bryant and Bridgett with their daughter.  Bryant is
Ken's nephew!

This is Bryant's mom and dad, Phil (brother) and his wife,
Sherry!

Ken's sister, Priscilla and her husband, Dwane!

Dane talking to Jamie's cousins!

My parents with their great grandchildren!

My sister's daughter, Michele, and her
friend, Lawn!

When Ken and I got home and had everything unloaded (we had so much extra food!), we sat down and read all the wonderful cards and messages our friends and family had written to us.  It was amazing and so humbling!

Ken and I are so blessed and grateful!  This party was way beyond what we hoped for or imagined thanks to Lanie, Jamie, Dane, our granddaughters, and our son-in-law photographer, Bob!  You guys are the best!