An end of the holidays birthday party

This morning Christmas was packed away and the house prepared for my husband's birthday party.  It's hard to have a birthday just after everyone has been celebrating for weeks and are now experiencing party fatigue.  This year I decided that he would have a real birthday party.  It would include things he loves best.

During the night when I couldn't sleep, I got up and took all the decorations off the tree.  Today I redecorated it with balloons and streamers.  There is even a picture of his young handsome face on top.
 

I brought out the birthday banner, "pick your own nose" paper cups, and mustache straws.

I put a bunch of his "grandkid" toys on the dining table turntable.  Pizza and salad was served to our guests.

He picked out his own ice cream cake from Dairy Queen (they are delicious, by the way) with a smiley face and colorful candles.  That is Opal's camera face :)

Everyone sang him happy birthday.

And then he blew out his candles with a tiny bit of help.

Then it was time for the traditional "birthday clap" led by Henry and Oscar all the way to 64!

But there was more.  A snowball fight in the living room, a laser light show in the family room, and an attempt to make cotton candy.  We may have a faulty part.  All in all, it was a great birthday celebration.

Children's Parade

Provo City celebrates big for the 4th of July.  They celebrate the "Festival of Freedom" and it truly is a year round effort.  They sponsor essay contests and art contests for students and children but all children are invited to join in the Children's Parade.  That event occurred last Saturday with the Timpview Band leading the way.

Nothing like a marching band to celebrate the Fourth.

Following the band were decorated bicycles.

And wagons.

Crepe paper woven through one's bicycle spokes always brings back my childhood.

It was a lovely day although a bit warm.  All the west is under a giant high pressure system and HOT air.

Finally I saw them.  My family participants.  I had been assigned to park at the end of the route on Center Street for possible rides back to the starting point.

Julianna was our flag girl.

Toby had raided Grandpa Glen's box of red/white/blue goodies.

Heather borrowed Uncle Sam from the front porch as a parade partner.  She helped him wave to the crowd.

Oscar displayed his flag and begged a ride from his momma.

Nate brought friends along.

It was a six and a half block walk west on Center toward downtown.

I love this time of year full of smaller town America.

At the end of the route there were Popsicles.

Popsicles for everyone.

Oscar picked orange.

Julianna picked blue.

Handsome Toby in his sparkly Uncle Sam hat.

Sam needed a rest, too.

I shared my root beer Popsicle with Nate.  Yeah for the Children's Parade!  Let the celebrations begin!

Michael and Joy get married

A week ago family started coming into town for my nephew's wedding.  It was a fun week of visiting, food prep, eating, baking, more visiting, and witnessing a very special day.  Michael's sisters may have tried to talk some sense into Joy, but honestly I think Michael and Joy will be a dynamite couple.  I could certainly feel the love and what do sisters know anyway :)  Apparently they know how to shop. Aren't they so cute and put together?

My sister Becky also looked beautiful.

Cousin Jason left cold Utah and caught himself some rays.  He was the first to officially make use of our swimming pool for 2013.  He swam more than once, but I'm still just dipping my toes.

The youngest cousin, Karl, was also in town with his mom and brother as he was also on spring break.  My sister, Lynette, and mother of Jason came from Kansas for a whole week.  Lucky me!

Ashley will now have to share her DIL duties with Joy.  I don't think she will mind.  I give you the Ray women.

Youngest in the family, Daniel, is also camera shy.  Happy sister Rachel will soon be on her way to an LDS mission in Kennewick, WA.  She spoke in church on Sunday and the troops once again gathered round to hear her.

My youngest sister, Jolene, joined us from New Mexico.

The mother of the groom my sister, Becky, with her SIL's, Michael's other aunties.

All of my siblings together.  This doesn't happen often enough.

Grandma and Grandpa Ray who are some of the best people ever.

My only brother, Farrell, and my oldest son.

And we wait for the bride and groom to make their appearance after being sealed for time and all eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple.

Proud parents of the groom.

They now have half of their brood of six married.

Here they come!

Michael gives his fist pump.

Aren't they a striking couple?

And a quick kiss.

I snapped away because my favorite pictures from my wedding day were the candid shots that a neighbor took as we exited these same doors.

I was good and stayed out of the official photographer's way.

It is tradition that all in attendance group around the bride and groom on the steps for a group shot.

Guess where I stood?

Joy lives up to her name, always.

I loved her dress, front and back.

Off to a shady spot for photos.

Michael's cousins

and the oldest cousin's wife.

Jenny, oh, Jenny.

My zoom in photos of Michael's family

and just siblings.

Long shot with their photographer.

Michael and his dad

and mom.

Love the dress and I love that she wore a veil.  You don't always see them anymore.

So pretty!

Both sets of parents and adjustments by Joy's sister.

Every thing is perfect.

Two sets of proud, happy parents.

Joy's family.

Michael's family watch.

It was a blue sky kind of day with temps in the low 90's.  That is even warm for Arizonans this time of year.

Bridesmaids.

Wedding party.

There was lots of texture in the decor at the reception.  Grandma Ray made the groomsmen ties out of burlap to get just the right texture and color.  They looked great.

Special words with mom.

Beautiful colors.  Those blush roses were so beautiful.

So was the bride.

After the leaving the temple, we gathered for a dinner of a taco bar.  Extended family of both the bride and groom were in attendance.

Joy's something "blue."

Niece, Emma joined us for the party.

She and Joy's nephews broke in the dance floor.

Joy and Michael had worked hard to personalize their reception.

They included my sister's double ring wedding quilt made for her by our Grandma Rhoda.  All of Rhoda's 20 plus grandchildren received such a quilt as a wedding gift.

They were able to use the backyard of a home just off Gilbert Road in north Mesa.

I love the heart shaped key on the entrance gate.

They painted this sign which was placed with flood lights at the end of the driveway.

This was their courtship picture board.

The bride does a last minute check before the reception.

She seems pleased.

Ready for a crowd.

Beverage station.

Round table decor including tubes of bubbles.

The cake.

Donuts from Joy's favorite donut shop.

Cookies made by friends and family.  My contributions were the oatmeal chocolate chip and the chocolate frosted with a marshmallow surprise.  The heart shaped sugar cookies were to die for.

Lovely dessert table.  Once they cut the cake, we also served cake.

Lovely sister Lisa.

And the sun began to go down and the lights came on.

They greeted guests in front of a lace backdrop which was back lit.

My bearded and very tall son drove from Utah that day.  He was a great help come take down time.  He also signed papers to sell his Mesa house on Monday before heading north again.

That dance floor was one busy place later in the evening.

It may have been warm that afternoon at the temple, but it was perfect in the evening.

The bride and groom also left us with words to live by.

Julianna loved all the cookies, juice boxes, and that dance floor.  Great event, great family time, and great couple.  Congratulations Michael and Joy!