the education of henry

A Party for Grandma Wynne and Grandpa Al!

2013-09-09

This week we worked on Grandpa Al and Grandma Wynne's 40th anniversary surprise party.

I made a special, commemorative train layout for the occasion. Daddy kept me out of Mommy's hair.

The awesome track I built with Daddy.

Mommy made decorations, baked cupcakes, made frosting and whipped cream, organized all the food, all the plates, all the cups, all the snacks, all the napkins, all the drinks, and she set it all up in the church basement with help from Grandma Gail, Auntie Jennifer, and Great-grandma Darlene. Auntie Kara helped, too - with some decorations and moral support for Mommy.

Mommy working on decorations for the party.

Daddy and I took Grandma and Grandpa to a truck show as part of our plan to get them to the party without suspecting anything. The sun was really hot and we had trouble finding shade. We didn't even get to see half the trucks that were there before we had to leave.

At the truck show.

Walking down one of the many rows of trucks.

Can I have one, Daddy? Please?

Super trike.

Super trike from the back.

While we were out sweating in the hot sun, Mommy was sweating in the church basement getting everything ready. And, wow - everything looked great! (Thanks to Uncle Neil for taking pictures!)

Cupcakes at the party.

Flowers from the party.

Decorations.

More decorations.

More flowers.

After the truck show, we were supposed to go to Great-grandma's house for dinner. Daddy pretended to miss the turn, and then Grandpa was giving him a hard time and Grandma was telling Grandpa to be quiet - they didn't even notice everyone was standing outside the church until we pulled into the parking spot!

Grandma Wynne was surprised!

The happy couple...

...with their kids...

...and with me!

Grandma thought Grandpa needed some help eating a cupcake.

Guests: (clockwise around the table) Clint, Darlene, Rhonda, Jennifer, Roger (in the hat), Jeanne (mostly hidden), Stevannah.

Guests: (counter-clockwise): John, Neil, Al, Wynne, Sheila, Rick.

Guests (clockwise): Jerry, Janice, Debbie, Chris, Katie, Dan, Pete.

Guests: (clockwise) Fred, Irene, Milton, Diane, Dorothy, David, Helmut.

Me with Grandpa Al and Great-grandma Dorothy.

We all had so much fun at the party! And I got to meet new people (Fred and Irene, Adeline and Helmut), and play with Gunnar and Yulia (but not Vinnie - he pulled my hair - OUCH!). After the party was over we went to Great-grandma Darlene's house for a while. I never managed to get a nap in, so I fell asleep in the car on the way home and didn't wake up until the next morning.

And the next morning I got to ride in Grandpa Al's truck again! I wore my new shirt that grandpa bought me at the truck show - it has a Mack truck on it. But this Mack truck has a duck on the hood instead of a bulldog. Daddy says it's from a movie.

Me in my Rubber Duck shirt from the truck show.

I played with the LEGO train Grandpa bought for me and Daddy after my ride in the truck, and then I ate dinner, and then went shopping with Daddy and Grandma Wynne. When we got back, Jenn and Great-grandma Darlene came over.

Me with Jennifer.

Me with Great-grandma Darlene.

We left for home late in the afternoon and I slept all the way. I took a bath after supper and Daddy and I read books until I was so sleepy I could barely keep my eyes open.

Thanks to everyone for coming to surprise Grandma and Grandpa, and to everyone who helped out in one way or another! Let's do it again in ten years!

Take care, everyone - see you soon!

And Happy Birthday to Great-grandma Muriel!