July 8th
The big and main event that dictated our trip dates was to celebrate Mom's 60th birthday by throwing her a birthday party! Dad, Jill, Kathy, and I had been planning Mom's birthday party for months and it turned out to be a really fun event. After her initial hesitation, I am positive that Mom had a good time and felt truly celebrated by being surrounded by her friends and family.
We went to Fargo on Saturday evening to stay with Swensons and do some prep work for the party. The next morning, the kids and I went to church with Swensons while Matt went out for a much-overdue coffee date with Brendan Giese. Matt had a fabulous time catching up with Brendan, as evident by their nearly three-hour time together. The rest of the afternoon was spent prepping for the party; gathering everything we needed, prepping some fruit, hauling things over to the rented space, and getting ready to celebrate Mom. I took a few pictures before and during the party but I know there are more pics between my sisters and dad.
Blue and turquoise tables with silver and gold balloons and chocolate kisses - so fun!
The kids table. Charlie!!
Sisters!
The Fab Five!
All of the Legge side cousins on the playground equipment.
Second generation of kids who LOVE Ryan!
Mom had these cute shirts made up for the grandkids - each family wore their own color and each kid's shirt had their birth order number on it. Mom wanted to take some pictures of the kids together and then each family to put on her wall (which we did earlier in the week). The kids wore the same shirts to the birthday party which made it easy to explain whose kids were who's! My kids' numbers are 4, 6, 8, and 10. Cute!
The party in full swing!
Grandma and Grandpa Graalum with several of their great-grandchildren (missing three). I LOVE THIS PICTURE.
Silly faces... well, for the kids anyway!
My tribe with my grandma and grandpa.
