I did take a vow to wait at LEAST 6 months between posts, but my children are coming after me. SO--Here it is: My version of Nels' 5oth Birthday Bash. (Insert Thunder & Trumpet Here.) The most wonderful thing of all was the book of "Birthday Wishes" that was compiled of Messages sent by dear friends and family. THANK YOU ALL. In this crazy world we live in, where all of us are running at maximum speed, It meant A LOT that you would take the time to send an e-mail, card or letter. It was the highlight of the celebration.
And--if I can believe the old codger--er--Nels--he did not uncover any of my plans beforehand. I am good :) It must be all those years of buying Holiday decorations AFTER the Holiday, bringing them out the NEXT year AND, when Nels asked about them I could say: OH, I've had these a LONG time. Well, that or chocolate stashing...
We had a lovely dinner. Thank you, once again, Michelle Huxtable. While Lizzie (adorable child #3) and I got everything ready, Sophie (adorable child # 7) Thomas (adorable child #8) & Mabel (adorable child #6) went with Nels (adorable husband, father, birthday boy) to see, Horton Hears a Who. This movie is dear to our hearts because Dave Gallagher (brilliant brother-in-law, married to Nels' adorable sister, Sage) is one of the animators that worked on the film.
And yet another one of my surprises showed up around 5 pm (which means they drove really fast.) Sascha (adorable child #5) snuck? (what's the past tense of sneak?) home from BYU Idaho to be with the Dad. Thank you, Ian (just adorable) for driving (really fast.) Jesse (adorable child #2) drove up from BYU Provo with Elisa (adorable girlfriend.) Micaela (adorable child #1) who is in Virginia with Phil (adorable son-in-law) Emma (adorable brilliant grandchild #1) and Vera (adorable beaming grandchild #2) called to wish her dad a Happy Birthday, and Elder Tobin James Draper (adorable child #4 missionary #2) sent an e-mail from Madagascar.
Nels successfully blew out all 5o candles on his Styrofoam cake. In the words of Inigo Montoya, "Let me esplain." Nels is not a cake person. He is a pie person. The kids believe this is because he is actually born on "pi" 3.1.4. No, seriously--check it out on Wikipedia if you doubt me. ANYWAY, we figured that 50 blazing candles in a chocolate silk pie would have spelled inedible, if not disaster, hence the Styrofoam idea concocted by Andrea (adorable brilliant wife.) Nels opened gifts, including an oil painting of 3 of our girls painted by one of our boys.
It was a wonderful evening--we hugged, we sang, we stuffed our faces, and then we left the kids at home to bond, and Nels and I spent the night in a nice hotel :)
Happy Birthday Nels. It is so nice to be married to my best friend.
