Birthday Party

May 24th, 2011 -- my Dad celebrated his 75th Birthday.

I should say that we celebrated his 75th Birthday on Saturday, May 21st, and he graciously gave in and let us throw a Birthday Bash!  I had so much fun helping plan this day -- we started planning in March. 

Jodi designed the invitations, which were awesome. 

May 21st, 2011 -- Dad's house

Kurt worked long and hard on the yard.  He poured and set all these paving stones and worked hard to get them set for the party.

Kurt also arranged to have some "Honey Buckets" available.

Ha -- Caught'cha Derek.....

Barry cooked 80 lbs of pulled pork to feed everyone -- and it was yummy!

Kurt helping prepare the meat for roasting.

Strange photo -- but we had nice colorful napkins -- and in honor of my mother--who always had "noisemakers" at family events -- we had kazoo's, flutes, and harmonica's available for anyone who wanted to create a "joyful noise".

Look at that gorgeous sky!  I prayed for months that we'd have a beautiful day.  The weather in Utah is "iffy" in May, and there was no "back-up" plan if it cold or rainy.  For the 12 days we were there, the weather was more Seattle-like than Utah like -- cool and rainy most days.  This day though, it was a beautiful 68 degrees, with a slight breeze, but not windy....Prayers ARE answered!

I love how this turned out -- I had it in my mind to turn the fence into a "photo-gallery".  It worked out very nicely.  We had pictures from throughout Dad's life....his written testimony, thoughts and quotes we remembered from growing-up and from his book to us, his children, entitled, "The Life Values of Ronald Mark Henline"  This was so much fun to put together and I think everyone enjoyed it!

Family

Where would we be without our families? 

Keith, Lois (Dad's sister), Dad (Mick) and Jon

Tracy and Tripp (Jeremy), Dad's first great-grandson

Jorry

Uncle Lee Christensen and Mark

Derek, Logan, Kurt, Jake

Drew and his lunch -- Ruffles and Doritos

Barry and Kent

Me and Arva -- our "nother-Mother" -- Arva was our neighbor all of the years we were growing up!

Five of Dad's nine sisters

Nona, Cathy, Judy, Stacy, Lois

Kent greets Arva

Cathy dancing with Kyle

Kathy and Uncle Larry Christensen and Mark

Dad and Uncle Ralph Hardman

Lynn, Barry and Arva

Tripp on the swing

Back:  Judy, Mick (Dad), Stacy, Nona

Front:  Lois, Keith, Ralph, Duane

BAckground:  Janice

Dad and two of his cousins

Janice, Dad (Mick), Luanna and Ray Baadsgaard

 Mark and Jodi, Dad, Jon and Ronna, Kurt (kneeling), Barry and Lynn, Kent (holding Tripp) and Tracy

Deborah Johnson, Aunt Karen Johnson (Mom's sister), Me, Vikki Webster

Me, Jane (Messerly) and Grif Lloyd

Jon and Barry giving Jon a hard time about his least favorite guest!  Jon -- not amused

Barry -- highly amused!

Jodi's family --who we love!

Kamron, Bob, Ryan and Jacki, Jodi, Shirley

Dad and Tracy

Dad saying "Good-bye" to Tripp

Carson -- up a tree

Drew -- playing "cowboys" with Kyle -- Drew's been shot...

Drew -- the 'Sexy Beast' -- his description!

Sunny and Ashlyn -- our two girls.

We estimate about 200 + people came to help us celebrate!

I believe a good time was had by all! 

Family, Food and Fun ~ it doesn't get much better than that!