Birthday dinner

Cathy organized a birthday dinner for me at Jay's tonight. We had a great time, with Doug, his parents Lowell & Lois, Mom, Keith & Kris, Cathy, Mike, Halle, Austin & Lukas, all there. Cathy had baked a chocolate cake with "60" on it...Yikes! They sang "Happy Birthday" while I was trying to hide! Thanks, honey...it was a nice dinner and good company!

My "Big" Birthday

Of course, every new decade I refer to this day of the year as my "big" birthday...but, this one really is for me. I'm trying to not think about it, guess that's my coping mechanism. I put it for this day as a vacation day a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of avoiding all reference to the number sixty. And, this morning I took Mom out to the Garrison for coffee & bagels. Cathy and Lukas arrived shortly after we got our order. Cathy came bearing a gift...a large potted lily with dark pink blooms that I will be able to plant outdoors when Spring finally decides to grace us with her presence! I was also gifted with a surprise at the cash register...Carolyn (manager & Doug's aunt) gave me a gift card from my sister Emily & her oldest daughter Gelena! I gave Mom a look and said, "How'd they know we were going to be here?" She just looked startled, then said, "Oh! I told Gelena on the phone!" Mystery solved. Mom also presented me with a card which brought back many sweet memories of the day she and Dad brought me into this world. She told me he was so proud of me, would hold me all the time and just gaze at me, and never once responded to friends' question, "Do you ever wish you'd had a boy first?" in any other way than "No". When she cried, Cathy jumped up, went around the table and put her arm around her. I held her hand, and we all tried to smile through the tears. Dad, I love you...we all love you and miss you.

The Amazing Pizza Machine

Before Kevin and his family headed off for their next adventure in the Azore Islands, I wanted to get them up to the Children's Museum in Omaha and lunch (and play) at the Amazing Pizza Machine!

What a day! (And scarey, too...when I nearly side-swiped my car on a "merge" on the interstate!) Guess the GPS guy doesn't talk soon enough!

We enjoyed the museum before heading off for pizza...and boy, did we gorge ourselves there! A huge buffet and delicious soft serve ice cream at the dessert bar...makes great root beer floats!

Catch-Up

I've been sadly neglecting this posting...and will try to "catch-up" in the next few days. First of all, the wedding with off without a hitch, as they say. Missing from the great day was Keely & the girls. But, it was nice of her to send her husband (my son) and her son (my grandson) to share this occasion with us. Cathy was so excited to have BOTH her brothers there with her...it meant so much!

The reception area was packed! I think Cathy was overwhelmed with the number of family & friends who came down to the Ice House after the wedding ceremony.

As you can see, the bridesmaids were beautiful! Halle was her mother's Maid of Honor, and she looked so grownup! (L to R in picture is Nichole, Halle, Kendra, & Yvonne)

The guys looked great, too! Kevin, Brandon, Michael, & Austin stood up with Mike. And I got to hold Lukas in my lap on the front row! He was such a good boy!

There had been no rehearsal, but we all met early and Joe Moore took pictures. Everyone was able to talk to Pastor Andy Rubenking, so they all knew what there responsibilities were and where they'd be standing.

When the ceremony began, the groom & groomsmen all came in, then the girls began walking down the aisle.

When Cathy was in the back, ready to come up to the front, Austin left the other groomsmen and went to the back of the church to his mother.

He reached for her hand, then walked her up to the altar and left her with Mike.

I couldn't hold back the tears! I still cry when I think of it now, three months later!

It was a simply beautiful ceremony. Since there was no unity candle or special music, Pastor Andy had Cathy & Mike sign the marriage certificate right there on the altar! It was cool!