I headed home to Nebraska on Dec. 15th. The idea was for me to rent a car and drive to Lincoln, where I would meet my mom, drop off the rental car and then ride the rest of the way home with her...well, long story short, the morning I went to pick up the rental car they tried giving me a car that isn't much of a step up from a compact (even though I specified what I needed when I booked the car, and again when I confirmed reservations), well all my stuff was not gonna fit in the 'only' car they had left...so I ended up driving my own car to Lincoln and leaving it at Shane's sister house (thanks Janice!) Shane would then head home the following weekend.
I wanted to go home earlier so I could attend my Aunt T's wedding on the 17th...and be able to prep for my mom's surprise b-day party on the 20th (but she of course didn't know that!)
My siblings and I had been planing a surprise 50th birthday party for my mom for a few months. It was pretty low key...we invited family and close friends, served lunch and dessert and had my mom open loads of gifts!
I wanted to go home earlier so I could attend my Aunt T's wedding on the 17th...and be able to prep for my mom's surprise b-day party on the 20th (but she of course didn't know that!)
My siblings and I had been planing a surprise 50th birthday party for my mom for a few months. It was pretty low key...we invited family and close friends, served lunch and dessert and had my mom open loads of gifts!
Our 'theme' was 50 gifts for her 50th birthday...to 'top' the gifts off was a money tree made from 50 $1.00 bills (creative credit is due to my sister, Britni and hubby, Brad) Britni also wrote a nice poem, which I printed out as a card for us to all sign.So how did we surprise her?
It was Sunday, so my mom headed to church...Emma and I stayed home. While she was away at church, Jared and his crew, along with Brit and her family all showed up and we went to work putting the house in order, setting up the gift table and prepping the food. We couldn't do a whole lot because we didn't want my mom to see anything out of the ordinary when she came home. We had dropped off Jared and Britni's vehicles up to my dad's shop, so my mom had no clue anyone was home except me and Emma, and my dad.
Miss Haley Mae hanging out while the adults ran around like crazy to get stuff done!
BIL Brad mixing dip
Luke
We had everyone hide in my mom's bedroom, which is usually the first place she comes into to take off her shoes, etc when she gets home from church. SIL Missy had changed Jacob's very stinky diaper over a half hour before in there and it still stunk, so it made it very interesting and comical!!! We kept watch for my mom, and when she pulled into the driveway, all ran into the bedroom while my brother stayed out to make sure when she got out of the suburban...he watched and watched and she didn't get out (we find out later she was listening to the rest of a song on the radio, while the rest of us could hardly contain our excitement!!!) When she came in the door, I yelled 'we are in here' (forgetting to specify the bedroom) so she instead thinks I am calling from the living room and walks in there where we had the gift table already set up, as soon as she sees that she walks to the bedroom saying 'who's in there' and opens the door and we all yell 'surprise' and 'happy birthday'!Below is her face when she saw us!
Needless to say she was SHOCKED! It was so much fun to see her so surprised!She was blown away to see all her family in that room!
After a round of hugs from everyone, we explained to her what was going on...that we had the entire extended family coming, along with her close friends for lunch and dessert. I think she really enjoyed having a family gathering that she didn't have to think about the food and cleaning!
My mom, w/ friends Melaine, Kris, Tena, Stef, granddaughter Zoe, and my gramma Joyce
my gramma Cena and Emma
my gramma Joyce, aunt Sara, Zoe and Emma
grandpa Dave
SIL Missy and Jacob
my mom and her 50 gifts
brother Jared and baby Abby
my mom opening a gift...a farmer's almanac from the year she was born!
Miss Haley Mae
Jared, baby Abby, Britni, Jarv (newest member of our family, my Aunt T's new hubby), close family friend, Codi O'Brien
my mom had plenty of 'help' opening her gifts
my beautiful sister, Britni
my cousin, Ashton and Emma
my grandpa Bud taking a nap during the festivities
Nathan
Zoe and Matthew w/ their Nana
my mom and her sistersBecky, my mom, Sara, Teresa
and a funny pic of them!
Becky, my mom, Sara, Teresa and Gramma Cena
my mom and me
Jared, me, my mom, and Britni
Jared, me, my mom, Britni, my dad
Britni, Jared and I
me and Zoe Anne
Miss Haley Mae again
my cousin Tracy, her daughter, Taya, Emma and I
Haley and Zoe sitting on Nana's lap
Missy Taya JoI felt very happy with everything we were able to pull off, and couldn't have done it with out everyone's help! I think my mom felt very loved and special...which she is! She means the world to her kids and grandkids and we love her dearly!
