Happy 75th

Amy and Andy's mom actually have the same birthday, but we celebrated Amy's on Saturday and Mom's on Sunday. Our church had a hymnsing planned for Sunday night and since Mom loves hymns and it was planned for the day of her birthday, she decided to have a party in her honor! She invited her children and grandchildren and some friends and other relatives to join her at church, then to their/our house afterwards for eats. She had originally planned the party herself, but it got bigger and more elaborate until she got herself so worked up that she decided to call the whole thing off. Then Dan (Andy's brother) and Linda (a cousin) took over and let everyone know we were still going to celebrate but we wouldn't let her know. That way we could still honor her but she wouldn't have the headache of planning it.

Dawn organized and led the hymnsing. She did a fantastic job with an orchestra of brass, strings and woodwinds. The music was awesome. After the hymnsing we all went over to their/our place for the party. Mom and Dad had rented a tent and everyone had helped set up things and prepared the food.
Dan, of course, was the master of ceremonies with creative games and a lip sync that he had himself, Andy and Jeff do to a song. I had never heard it before, but it was very funny. The lyrics were: I'll Always Love My Mamma...

I`ll always love my mama       She`s my favorite girl
I`ll always love my mama    She brought me in this world

Sometimes I feel so bad  
When I think of all the things I used to do
How mama used to clean somebody else`s house
Just to buy me a new pair shoes
I never understood how mama made it through the week
When she never, ever got a good night`s sleep

Talking `bout mama         Oh, she`s one of a kind
Talking `bout mama          You`ve got your yours, and I`ve got mine
Talking `bout mama    Oh, hey mama, hey mama, my heart belongs to you, oh, yeah

I`ll always love my mama     She`s my favorite girl
You only get one, you only get one, yeah
I`ll always love my mama      She brought me in this world

Mmm, a mother`s love is so special
It`s something that can`t you can`t describe
It`s the kind of love that stays with you
Until the day you die

She taught me little things
Like saying `Hello` and `Thank you, please`
While scrubbing those floors on her bended knees

Talking `bout mama         Oh, she`s one of a kind
Talking `bout mama         You`ve got your yours and I`ve got mine
Talking `bout mama
Oh, hey mama, hey mama, my heart belongs to you, oh, yeah

I`ll always love my mama, yeah She`s my favorite girl
Only get one, you one get one, yeah
I`ll always love my mama She brought me in this world
Mmm, I`m talking `bout mama
I`ll always love my mama

Sweet old mama                I`ll always love my mama
Used to scrub the floors         I`ll always love my mama
On her hands and knees         I`ll always love my mama
Used to get a little rough, sometimes
I`ll always love my mama  Poor old mama                                       
I`ll always love my mama Hey, sweet old mama                              
I`ll always love my mama
Said, I love you, I love ya, I love ya, mama
I`ll always love my mama
Hey, yeah

It was hilarious watching those guys "sing" this song. I wish I had a picture of them, but it was too dark by the time they did it. Dan had brought hats for the 3 of them and given each a "microphone" he had made.

We also played Family Feud, with Andy, Jeff & Dad against Lou Anne, Cindi and me. The guys won by 1 point - which is pretty good, considering the guys were all blood relatives and the girls were all in-laws.

All in all it was a fun party. I'm very thankful for Mom, she's a great mother-in-law. I've always felt loved and accepted by her. She's also got a generous heart. She's a great example to me.

More pictures...