The Party

For those of you who didn't know, my sister, brother and I threw my mom and dad a surprise 25th wedding anniversary party...well, it was more like a reception! I pretty much did all of the planning, which was well worth it. I felt like an exhausted bride after it was over! I made all of the signage and the invitations. It took months of planning, and it was a blast!

some of the things that we did to set the mood for the party:

Jason transformed this backyard by adding, a waterfall that flows into the pool, the foliage behind the pool, a beautiful redwood deck and planting many rose bushes!

cotton candy machine (my mom's favorite!)

yummy dinner-teriyaki chicken!

we (my aunt and I) had lei's shipped from Hawaii for my parents so they would feel extra special and smell wonderful!

we had Hawaiian music playing throughout the party...which set a perfect mood and was most relaxing.

there were tiki torches all along the back fence

I had a display of pics hanging from a fishing net of my parents at their wedding day and a couple of the earlier years

there was a guest sign-in where I had all of the family email letters to me for them, all of my mom's and dad's siblings were included!

white lights and candles...what a way to set the mood. the lighting was perfect and romantic!

we served pineapple delight for dessert which had some sentimental value because my mom grew up have a pineapple stand with her family at their county fair

the story.

About six months ago, my dad calls me up and tells me of his plan to take my mom on a anniversary trip. He also tells me that he wants "the family" to have a party for him and my mom...and that he was going to keep the party a secret. By that time, I had already been planning a little surprise of my own! Let me back up even further...

...About a year and a half ago, I decided that I wanted to something unexpected and huge for my parents 25th. So I called my sister up and told her that I wanted to send my parents to Hawaii! Now, if you know my parents, you know that they have never been on a vacation EVER, just the two of them, besides their honeymoon to Tahoe...To make a long story short, my sister and I (and a bro helped a little) saved our pennies (well, the majority of it was Jason's pennies) and saved enough to where we are sending them to Hawaii for six days/five nights! I can't wait for them to go...They are going in October. My dad has never been and my mom hasn't been in almost 30 years. Anyway, when my dad called about wanting to have a party for them I thought that it would be a perfect opportunity to give them their trip to Hawaii. During all of the preparation for this and the trip, I had been telling my Aunt Krista that there better be tears from both of them! and there was! It was so perfect. Emily, John, Jason (holding Tessa), and I stood in front of everyone at the party while they were eating dinner and each took our turns saying nice things about them. I had to write mine down because there was so much I wanted to say and I wanted it to be perfect! My sister started us off and I finished by handing them luggage tags and telling them that they were going to Hawaii! IT WAS AN AMAZING feeling to give so big. I absolutely love my parents and wanted them to know that through every detail of the party! It was perfect and I couldn't have asked for a better night! We "hired" a photographer, who's a junior in high school-but super amazing, to take the pics. Here are a few of the shots:

This was when I was handing them their luggage tags for Hawaii. priceless...Jay did some amazing BBQing and used his mad skills to make yummy chicken! Thanks baby!I think that Tessa is my dad's favorite little person. My mom says that is all he talks about at home. I love seeing them together...she loves her "papa"Our family pic. I love the way it turned out....We haven't done a family pic since I was pregnant with Tessa!Me and my girlThe Hoxie CrewTwo of the cutest little girls! I loved their matching outfits and hair...They were simply adorableMy sister Emily and her boyfriend Terrill...don't they look like brother and sister? Crazy!The WHOLE ENTIRE family. All of my mom's siblings, their families, and my mom's parents and spouses. We've never done a photo like this before...such an accomplishment!
The Hoxie's came to the party too! I know my mom was truly touched that they could be there to share this occasion with them!