A few weeks ago, my grandfather, Pop, turned 90--and that deserves a celebration, so my cousin, Maria, organized a dinner party for him at one of his favorite seafood restaurants, my mom and her sisters hosted, and the family all headed down to New Orleans to celebrate him. He's healthy and vibrant and still totally independent and with it. I want to be like him when I'm 90. He loves to laugh and loves to tell stories and hear stories and always cook big breakfasts for everyone bright and early in the morning. And he's one of the most giving and generous people I know. I am so blessed to have him as my grandfather and to still have him in my life. This weekend he had pulled out an old play horse we used to play on when we would go to his house as kids and told us that the first one of the grandkids to have a grandbaby--his first great-grandbaby--would get the horse. Now, while I would love the horse, his comment and the laugh he got from it made me nostalgic and a little somber for a minute--I pray that my kids do get to meet Pop and Mere because they will be better people for it.
Before the party, we all hung out at Pop and Mere's house, talking and laughing and catching up. Oh, and Pop gave all of the guys some cuff links from his old unit. He loves giving us things like that and telling the stories behind them. He even gave Landon some for his dad.
everyone standing around talking before we had to go get ready for the dinner
Pop and Mere all dressed and ready to party--this is possibly my favorite picture from the weekend. They look SO good for 87 and 90, don't they?
Mere, Pop and my mom on the front porch before we left--I love their blue eyes.
My cousin Maria and her husband Brad with Mere at Bozo's as everyone was arriving. As we were walking in, a group of people were there celebrating St. Patrick's day and they gave Pop and Mere some scarves and leis, which they wore all night!
everyone mingling before we sat down to eat
my parents
Pop is so silly--he kept making faces at me every time I tried to take his picture!
My cousins--Andrew, Tim--Suzy's husband, and Suzy, who also live in New Orleans
My youngest brother, Michael. So handsome. It was so fun hanging out with him this weekend. After everyone went to be bed on Saturday night, we stayed up at Pop and Mere's house watching TV and talking and playing around on photoshop--he was teaching me all sorts of cool new tricks. I loved getting to spend that time with him.
My Aunt Carol and Uncle Andy, with Suzy's in-laws, who also joined the celebration.
Landon and I
ALL of the food was delicious--we had gumbo and oysters and fried artichoke and shrimp remoulade and all sorts of good seafood for dinner--catfish, shrimp, stuffed crab. SO good.
And of course, there was cake. My mom and her sisters put a bunch of trick candles on it for him!
My Aunt Carol made the cake and it was wonderful--coconut because it's Pop's favorite. And, she also made a wonderful, rich chocolate cake.
Pop blew those candles so hard he blew half of the coconut off of the top of the cake! If they wouldn't have been trick candles, he definitely would have blown them all out!
After the cake, Pop made a speech. He told us his life story--I'm so glad we got it on video. Even the wait staff and the bar staff stopped to listen.
Mere enjoyed her coffee and cake while Pop told their story.
And then, came the best part--cards and presents! He was having a ball.
My sexy husband setting up the tripod for the group picture.
3 generations of women--me, my mom and my grandmother
the whole group--our immediate family and Maria and Suzy's in-law's, who both live in New Orleans. I guess for his 100th birthday party, we'll have to bring Landon's parents. And Matthew and Michael's in-laws, if they're married. Which they very well could be. Weird.
We were all missing Matt, especially Mere, who kept saying she wished he could be there. So, we (meaning Landon and Michael), photoshopped him in.
A few weeks ago, my grandfather, Pop, turned 90--and that deserves a celebration, so my cousin, Maria, organized a dinner party for him at one of his favorite seafood restaurants, my mom and her sisters hosted, and the family all headed down to New Orleans to celebrate him. He's healthy and vibrant and still totally independent and with it. I want to be like him when I'm 90. He loves to laugh and loves to tell stories and hear stories and always cook big breakfasts for everyone bright and early in the morning. And he's one of the most giving and generous people I know. I am so blessed to have him as my grandfather and to still have him in my life. This weekend he had pulled out an old play horse we used to play on when we would go to his house as kids and told us that the first one of the grandkids to have a grandbaby--his first great-grandbaby--would get the horse. Now, while I would love the horse, his comment and the laugh he got from it made me nostalgic and a little somber for a minute--I pray that my kids do get to meet Pop and Mere because they will be better people for it.
Before the party, we all hung out at Pop and Mere's house, talking and laughing and catching up. Oh, and Pop gave all of the guys some cuff links from his old unit. He loves giving us things like that and telling the stories behind them. He even gave Landon some for his dad.
everyone standing around talking before we had to go get ready for the dinner
Pop and Mere all dressed and ready to party--this is possibly my favorite picture from the weekend. They look SO good for 87 and 90, don't they?
Mere, Pop and my mom on the front porch before we left--I love their blue eyes.
My cousin Maria and her husband Brad with Mere at Bozo's as everyone was arriving. As we were walking in, a group of people were there celebrating St. Patrick's day and they gave Pop and Mere some scarves and leis, which they wore all night!
everyone mingling before we sat down to eat
my parents
Pop is so silly--he kept making faces at me every time I tried to take his picture!
My cousins--Andrew, Tim--Suzy's husband, and Suzy, who also live in New Orleans
My youngest brother, Michael. So handsome. It was so fun hanging out with him this weekend. After everyone went to be bed on Saturday night, we stayed up at Pop and Mere's house watching TV and talking and playing around on photoshop--he was teaching me all sorts of cool new tricks. I loved getting to spend that time with him.
My Aunt Carol and Uncle Andy, with Suzy's in-laws, who also joined the celebration.
Landon and I
ALL of the food was delicious--we had gumbo and oysters and fried artichoke and shrimp remoulade and all sorts of good seafood for dinner--catfish, shrimp, stuffed crab. SO good.
And of course, there was cake. My mom and her sisters put a bunch of trick candles on it for him!
My Aunt Carol made the cake and it was wonderful--coconut because it's Pop's favorite. And, she also made a wonderful, rich chocolate cake.
Pop blew those candles so hard he blew half of the coconut off of the top of the cake! If they wouldn't have been trick candles, he definitely would have blown them all out!
After the cake, Pop made a speech. He told us his life story--I'm so glad we got it on video. Even the wait staff and the bar staff stopped to listen.
Mere enjoyed her coffee and cake while Pop told their story.
And then, came the best part--cards and presents! He was having a ball.
My sexy husband setting up the tripod for the group picture.
3 generations of women--me, my mom and my grandmother
the whole group--our immediate family and Maria and Suzy's in-law's, who both live in New Orleans. I guess for his 100th birthday party, we'll have to bring Landon's parents. And Matthew and Michael's in-laws, if they're married. Which they very well could be. Weird.
We were all missing Matt, especially Mere, who kept saying she wished he could be there. So, we (meaning Landon and Michael), photoshopped him in.
One of my second favorite pictures from the weekend. The patriarch and matriarch of the family. And such a handsome couple. I love how they still hold hands.
No comments:
Post a Comment