The Weekend!

It has been a whirlwind weekend. We celebrated Butch's 70th birthday and the entire family was here. That's the first time we've all been together at the same time in several years. I enlisted Sandy, Stephanie and Mindy's help to make it the most fun and assigned each one a job. 

Sandy was to think of a couple fun activities. She had each family member to bring a smaller gift in addition to the regular gift. Each person was to think (and get) something that was his favorite thing. She also had each person plan to tell a "Dad/Grandpa" favorite story.

Stephanie was in charge of the charcuterie which was to be our dinner on Friday night. We like to stick with easy pick up foods during happy hour.

Mindy was in charge of party favors. This family does love party or table favors!

The weekend went like this:

Sandy and family arrived on Wednesday night and the fun began! On Thursday, several of the girls met at Puffy Muffin for lunch. Thanks, Morgan for coordinating.

Since Sandy and Greg's anniversary is also on Butch's birthday, June 11, they planned a night out and dinner with their family.

I spent Friday morning getting ready for the party and picking up the cake. 

At 4 p.m. the family was to be ready for the arrival of the photographer. We've been having our family photo take with the '59 Corvette since the kids were little--about every 8-10 years. Each time, they recreate the same pose. I'll post a picture when I get them back. Here is one of the "kids" who are all now adults.

I can't believe how grown up they all are. It went by so fast! I couldn't imagine how. much fun it would be when our girls became adults and now it's the same with the "grands."

Around 5:30, Stephanie and Nicky got the charcuterie ready as we moved in to our normal happy hour routine.

This thing was chock full! You can't tell here, but there is a complete 'nother layer underneath.

And then of course, the cracker tray with dried fruit.

After everyone filled their plate, we started with our happy hour stories. We are very organized about our happy hours. We go around the room and each person tells something that happened during the week. 

Mindy presented everyone with the party favors. She "nailed it!"

She is always quick with a "dad" quote! Just like the cocktail napkins at her wedding!

Like I said, she "nailed it!"

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. I jumped up "OMGosh! I wonder who that could be?"

I came back with, "Look who's here! Magic Wayne!" We then proceeded with a magic show. Each of the grands got to get in on the act.

Some of the tricks were really amazing. After Magic Wayne left, we analyzed the tricks and figured most of them out. Some we couldn't---like how he managed to get Butch's wedding band in a little plastic bubble INSIDE of a gumball machine! We think it had something to do with the machine malfunctioning. I was feeling sorry for him, but with all that moving and shaking, he must have somehow through sleight of hand gotten it in there.

Afterwards, we played a few other games and then opened gifts. While the gift opening was happening, we had cake. 

I guess it was around 10 p.m. that we broke up the party because several family members had to be up at 5 a.m. to head to Loretto, Kentucky for a Maker's Mark tour. 

More of the weekend tomorrow.