Birthday Bonanza 2015 – Part 2

In case you ddin’t see that late post yesterday, here’s the link to Part 1 of the Birthday Bonanza post.

We made sure and had an actual birthday party during the birthday weekend…

IMG_6918IMG_6910IMG_6908We found the majority of the fabric for $1/yard and scooped it up immediately!  We just made some simple bunting and table runners and Wrexy sewed the backdrop.  God bless him…

IMG_6905Grandma LOVES her family and LOVES pictures, so I made bingo cards with family faces and we played that during her party.

IMG_6906That project, honestly, was one of the more time consuming.  Each card had to be different and random…glad that one’s over.  🙂

IMG_6913I covered some tin cans with cute paper and scrap fabric,  attached a few horses and filled them with flowers for centerpieces…

Wrex made a barnwood plaque and we shaped an M out of a rope (for Maxine) and hung it on the backdrop…this was probably my favorite part of the whole thing.

IMG_6902

Seeing it all for the first time...
Seeing it all for the first time…

My fabulous friend Stephanie (who also made Wryder’s tractor cake) made me some flower cupcakes and they turned out sooooooooo cute!

Delish!
Delish!

IMG_6921Since we couldn’t fit 80 candles on a cupcake (or even a larger cake) we made a cake plate full of candles for her to blow out.  Apparently, the fire/smoke detector is INCREDIBLY sensitive at this place and before we even had them lit, the fire alarm went off!  THAT was something we’d never forget!  Thankfully they got it shut off, the building was still standing and she got them blown out in 3 tries!

It does look like quite the blaze...
It does look like quite the blaze…
Big breath!
Big breath!
Got 'em!
Got ’em!

We ate and drank and played games and then watched the video I talked about yesterday.  I didn’t intend to make everyone cry but there were a few wet faces in the crowd…it’s been a life well-lived for sure…

The other thing Grandma really wanted to do was to have a talent show.  She thinks she has one of the grandest, most impressive families on the planet and she wanted to see us do our thang!

There was ribbon dancing…

IMG_6928IMG_6923Vocal performances…

IMG_6948IMG_6952Skits…

IMG_6941IMG_6942Bedtime stories…

IMG_6938and a lot of smiles and laughter!

IMG_6944IMG_6936We played a little more pitch and then went to bed far too late, yet again.  🙂

We worshiped together on Sunday morning and Clint shared a message with us about family…a good word!  We took communion together and remembered what the Lord has done for us….oh. so. much…

IMG_6961We ate one last meal together, packed up, cleaned up and went our separate ways…  We sent the troops off with some trail mix and a hand stamped keychain.

IMG_4683IMG_4640I found all of these vintage boots and guns on Etsy…

IMG_4641and then we bought some metal blanks and memorialized them.  I LOVED how these turned out!

Our prayer has been for Granny to feel so loved…to honor her…for her ideas and imaginations about her birthday weekend to be met or exceeded…and for this to be a catalyst for future and more frequent get togethers.

We pray we have countless more years together with our sweet Granny but none of us are guaranteed our next breath.  We get ONE family; one crazy, imperfect family that most likely loves the stuffing out of us.  Carve some time out of your schedule for them.  We all make time for what’s important to us – it can’t be disproved – what does your schedule say is important to you?

All-in-all, it was a magnificent weekend!  We had so much fun with the family and we had so much fun working together.  There is no one I’d rather do all these crazy projects with than this handsome man of mine…  There’s been lots of talk of doing this whole reunion thing again and these Phipps are on board!  🙂

Grandma, we love you.  This was just one tiny little way we could bless you back for all of the countless ways you’ve poured out your love for us.  Happiest of birthdays, sweet lady!

IMG_6917Oh!  And one other memorable moment from the weekend (besides the fire alarm scaring the heck out of everyone in a 100 yard radius?!)…Sawyer lost her first tooth!  She was so excited and the tooth fairy found her even though she wasn’t in her normal bed!

IMG_6914Pardon her poor eyes – it was early!  There’s one more that is just hanging on by a thread!  I better get to the ATM….

85 Years Young

This handsome cowboy turned 85 on Friday!

WD Phipps
WD Phipps

The family got together this weekend to celebrate him and I had the distinct honor of supplying a little decor.  I was inspired by a roll of newspaper print paper I picked up at a garage sale for a buck, so we went with a black and white “theme” of sorts.

I used the newsprint paper as a table covering and then set it with black and white ware.  DSCF2223We used old records as chargers, I painted the silverware to match (remember that?!) and we found these black and white dishes at the good ole Dollar Tree.

DSCF2211I filled old soda bottles with baby’s breath, green hydrangeas and some black and white feathery balls.

DSCF2212

DSCF2222We made paper fans for each guest, which came in quite handy during set up!

DSCF2218DSCF2219I used an old record as the “guest book” for the party.  We used a paint pen and everyone left the birthday boy some good wishes!

DSCF2213DSCF2214DSCF2215By far, our favorite piece of party decor was the picture timeline we put together.

DSCF2216aGrandma had previously given us some pictures of Grandad growing up.  We enlarged them and had them printed, in black and white, of course. We then wrapped them around foam and made faux canvasses.

DSCF2210They turned out AMAZING (if I do say so myself!) and served as the thank you gifts for the party goers, as well.

Everyone was a trooper and wore black and white.  We had the guest of honor wear red so he stood out on his special day!

The birthday crew
The birthday crew

It was such a fun night to honor a very worthy recipient.

I think he liked it!  ;)
I think he liked it! 😉
WD and WD
WD and WD
Four generations of Phipps men
Four generations of Phipps men

Happy birthday, Grandad!  We love you so much and are so proud of the legacy you have left (and are leaving) this family.  You are one of the world’s true cowboys; a genuine stockman who knows the reward that comes from the work of your hands.  Thank you for instilling the importance and love of production agriculture into your family.  Thank you for serving our country (and looking good while doing it – just ask Grandma)!  Thank you for raising some of the finest people I know and for loving the same woman for 59 years.  You are a treasure.  We can’t wait to party at number 90!

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