Surprise! Mom is 60!

 

My mom, Jane, turned 60 in August.  Several months ago, I conspired with my sister and my husband to throw Mom a surprise party.  And boy, did we throw a good one!

 

I connected with Mom's good friend, Marilyn, from her business women's club for names and addresses of friends in that circle group and then connected with Mom's bible study leader, Eve, for another circle of friends.  Prior to the party, I sent out 60 letters to family and friends asking if they would be so kind as to write a personalized letter to Mom for her birthday.  They could add pictures or small mementoes with their letter if they so desired.  I knew this would be a special gift to Mom.  My goal was to make sure she feel doted on and loved.  She does SO much for Cody and me with helping with Noah.  We knew we needed to do this birthday up right!

 

Kristin and Artie drove down from Stillwater earlier that day to take Mom on a birthday dinner.  They first went to Sam's, so Mom would be out of the neighborhood when guests arrived.  Since Mom lives next door to us, we had to think ahead about cars....Kristin blindfolded Mom for the special dinner place they were heading to.  But little did Mom know she was about to have her mind blown!

 

SURPRISE!!!!

 

 

I had Johnny Carino's Italian Kitchen cater.  It wasn't the all you can eat seafood buffett Mom was hoping for, but it went over well with the guests.

 

 


  Mom loves art, so I asked Noah's preschool teacher, Cinimin, if she'd come and teach one of her art classes for the party.  She was happy to do so!  The art for the party was called "She" art.  It's a layer of several different mediums to create the final piece and it is suppose to reflect who you are as a woman.  I think the art turned out fantastic!!  We modge podged, glued, cut, torn, bedazzled, stenciled, drew and created until it was late into the wee hours of the night!  The best surprise was WHO were guests at her party.  Mom's sister, Nancy, and Nancy's husband, Bryan, and their daughter, Katie, drove 14 hours from Wisconsin to attend.  I texted Aunt Nance two months prior planting a seed.  They bit and decided to make a vacation of it!  I'm so glad they did!  Mom hadn't seen her sister in at least a year.  The Wisconsin crew stayed for four more days, so Mom got in some sweet time with her sister.


Mom seeing her sister!

 

Mom realizing Katie came too!

 

Mom hugging Nancy.

 

Noah and Kynlee helped Mimi blow out the candles on her cheesecake!

 

And so the art class began.

 

 

 

All the letters returned and sealed in envelops stamped with encouraging phrases.

Marilyn, Mom and Neen

Eve, Mom and Jan

Kynlee, Abby, Noah and me

Jana and Mom

Linda, Victoria and Masha

Back Row: me and Kristing

Front Row: Nancy, Mom and Katie

 

Momma, I hope you had a wonderful time at your party.  It was so fun planning this behind your back!  I am so grateful for you and all that you do for us without even thinking twice.  Here's to several more birthdays that are just as fun!  We love you!!!!