Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary Party and Kim and Monte Too!

Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary was much anticipated and we worked hard to pull off a party to be remembered. Jon rented the beautiful clubhouse in Ladera, Cami worked hard to set up and decorate, Josi flew in for the weekend from Vegas, the Custance's catered and did a magnificent job (as usual) and I created and sent the invitations and bought the group gift- a beautiful blanket with all of our names on it! 

I had been feeling pretty disappointed at the fact that Kim and Monte we not going to come out and see us but Tanner was able to find a great deal on flights and so they came this weekend which happened to be Monte's birthday weekend too! I was so thrilled and the kids were ecstatic! It was so fun having them here to celebrate! They attended 4 different parties in 3 days! ha ha

I picked up Parker from school a few minutes early on Friday and picked up Audrey to babysit and by the time I got home Tanner had arrived with his parents. We quickly got washed up and then headed out the door to Ladera. There was much to do to get ready and I was REALLY counting on Tanner to help me out. He was the one in charge of the sound system and the special slideshow. It wasn't until that day that we even knew if Tanner was going to be able to help me because he's been dealing with a horrible survey. But luckily it all worked out! Very stressful, but all's well that ends well! We got everything looking beautiful and I regret that I didn't take better pictures but the party was a huge success!

My Dad gave a wonderful toast to my mother and she in turn said some very sweet sentiments back to him. It all ended with a "mic drop" and a kiss! My parents are literally the BEST examples of what a happy, thriving, successful marriage should be. They always put each other first, work hard and sacrifice for each other, have always had date night weekly, and have put Christ at the center of it all. They are both positive and forgiving individuals and have great sense of humors. I am so eternally blessed to be their daughter. This party was just a small token of my appreciation for them and their extraordinary life.

I know these pictures are horrible but I wanted to include them anyway. I love that Kim and Monte got to be a part of such an important night for my family. And the food was amazing!

My Dad created these little photo boards that were filled with pictures from their last 50 years.

We took a special moment to present my parents with their gift. Unfortunately Cami wasn't there because she had to take her tired kids home. But it was a great moment!

What an unforgettable night! I aspire to have one just like it in 37 years!

Early the next morning, we all gathered together again at the park to celebrate Ben's birthday! Party #2 for Kim and Monte. It was a beautiful, bright morning and we all loved being together again and reminiscing about the night. We got the "Fab 5" picture with my Mom and Dad. :-)

After the park we left Parker with my parents and took Kim and Monte and the babies out to lunch at Rip Tide. I think it was Monte's first time eating sushi and he loved it! Yay! The babies were really great! I tried to get a sitter but no luck. Thank goodness they were well behaved. When we went to my parent's to pick up Parker, we ended up staying for a while and chatting in the backyard with my Aunt Marie and Uncle Ronny! How thankful I am to have had that time to converse with them and catch up! I love my Aunt and Uncle so much!!!! I'm sad I didn't take any pictures!!!!

That night was party #3. Tanner had another work party but I was too tired to go so Kim and Monte joined him. Tanner dressed up as Santa- something I was sad to miss! ha ha They were good sports to attend another late night party. There aint no rest for the weary! 

Sunday was a nice day. We went to church and had a nice chicken and rice dinner. The kids loved snuggling with Papa and watching Peppa Pig. Monte thought it was so funny how Rayleigh talked like Peppa Pig- with an English accent. She sure has her own way of speaking. We snad Happy Birthday to Monte and had a delicious Nothing Bunt Cake and a little gift. Then Tanner presented Monte with a binky and said we were hoping to share another gift with them in a few months. They were happy for us! It's still so early so we aren't saying anything to anyone else. We want to be especially sensitive to Kaitlin, too. She's gone through 3 back to back miscarriages with no answers as to why. I have a small sense of what shes going through with my 5 years of infertility and my own 3 miscarriages. So I know how heart wrenching, gut punching it is to have someone happily announce a pregnancy. Hopefully she gets pregnant with a healthy baby soon. I have no doubt she will. But it was nice to hear Kim say she has a little bit more empathy for what I went through all those years ago. Towards the end of those 5 years I kept everything bottled up and forced myself into a very dark place. It was definitely a season for growth but it was very hard and my heart aches for Kaitlin.

That evening we took a stroll around Mission Inn to look at the incredible light display. It was cold and crowded so we didn't stay long but it was fun to get out and do something kinda festive.

We got home and Tanner turned the lights and music on our house as we tried to relicate our own fantastic light display. We were all very tired at the end of the night and I know we all went to bed happy after a very delightful weekend.

Kim and Monte woke up early and took an Uber to the airport. Tanner had a busy day at work and it was back to reality! I'm so thankful for 2 sets of amazing parents who have molded me, taught me, led me, and guided me. The bar is set high and I don't ever want to be a weak link in my family chain, For all my days I will strive to live worthy of my eternal family!