Friday evening, December 12

Photos by Deb and me

It was a drop-in party at our place from 4 pm until 8 pm and planned by her daughters Abby and Lydia with help from Diane’s sister Deb (our youngest daughter).

Our oldest daughter with two of her daughters – Lydia and Abigail

Sisters: Diane and Deb

Becca and Josiah were the ones who took Diane and Mark away for the afternoon so they wouldn’t see all that was going on at our house. I expect their other two children were also involved, but they could not come. Hezekiah’s family is in Tennessee and Elizabeth’s family lives in Maine.

The above photos were taken after the party started, but I thought it would help you identify those who planned the party.

Blueberries are Diane’s favorite, so they were the theme of the decorations – plates, napkins, etc.

Even the balloons were designed to look like a bunch of blueberries. Lydia did a great job with this.

Oops! The tape came loose. Lydia’s Uncle Jeff helped her place them in a more secure way.

By 4 pm the food table was ready.

Everything looked beautiful and delicious

Guests were beginning to arrive and our great grandson Anthony (Abby’s son) kept a look out for his grammy.

This is our granddaughter Diana (holding their son Waylon) with her daughter Sierra in front and our oldest son Jeff (Diana’s dad) beside her.

Diana’s sons Bennett and Waylon trying to occupy themselves until Diane and her entourage arrived.

Jeff kept Sierra occupied with balloons.

Getting a drink from momma.

Sierra and Aunt Deb – Sierra and Pop Pop

Abby and Anthony – still watching for the black pickup truck that Josiah rented at the airport.

Jeff, Velda (Cerwin’s sister), Mel, Cerwin, and Sierra

Barb and Karen – two of Diane’s friends since childhood

Cerwin, Karen and Brenda (my sister-in-law). Karen and Brenda had to leave before Diane arrived because of other appointments. Karen was going to her husband’s Christmas Party from work, and Brenda and Steve had an appointment at Longwood Gardens.

Still watching.

Finally, we heard, “They’re coming!”

She was suspicious that something was happening on Sunday at our Christmas celebration because some little granddaughters gave it away. But she did not think it was happening on Friday evening. Of course, she knew something was up when she saw all the cars in our driveway.

She was surprised to see Barb because she lives about an hour and a half (or more) from us.

Before Karen left, she asked us to put this sash on Diane. Karen just had a 60th birthday party and was given this by her children. (We will give it back to Karen.)

Two little granddaughters (Natalie and Renee) quickly gave cards to her.

Lydia went to a lot of work to design these two photo boards for the gift table.

Diane and my brother Dale.

By 5:30 the garage began filling up.

Something was funny. 🙂 Mark (Diane’s husband), Jere (our son), and Dot (our sister-in-law).

Our niece Melissa talking to Jeff.

Karen (our niece), Nancy (my sister) Dot (our sister-in-law), and Diane. By the end of the evening Diane began opening cards and gifts. Renee is in the foreground, and her grandpa Dale is in the background.

Deb took a lot of posed photos – of almost everyone who attended the party. I will post them in my next entry.