I've been planning a surprise 85th birthday for my Mom since October. Her birthday is Saturday the 31st, so it's getting close. I didn't think I'd enjoy the task of organizing the party, but it's been a blast.
I sent the invitations out right after Christmas. On the back of the RSVP, I asked people to write what they loved about my Mom. It's been so fun to get them back and read what people wrote. I compiled them all into an album which I will wrap and give to her after the party.
I rented a reception room in the Holiday Inn. There are about 65 family and friends coming. There will be a buffet and two photo cakes, plus punch and coffee. I ordered centerpieces of the Queen of Hearts (my Mom loves to play cards) with my Mom's head as the Queen (it's three sided). I will have balloon bouquets coming from the centerpiece. I also ordered a Happy Birthday banner to be suspended by balloons so it can float around the party.
My Mom is a groupie (well in that she follows the band to gigs) of a little band that plays at senior centers around the area, so I hired them to play for 45 minutes. She first heard them at the nursing home my Dad was in. My cousin and his family are musicians and they are going to play after the other band finishes.
Then, I have a slide show that I will run on auto. My Dad took a bunch of slides of my Mom's family over the years, some of these slides are 60 years old. My Mom's side of the family have never seen them.
My Brother and his kids are going to video the party and make a DVD for my Mom to look at. I think she'll enjoy being able to watch the party afterwards.
I couldn't have done this with out the internet. The party is in Michigan and I am in Oregon. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us.
I'll post after the party and let you know how it went.
-helen
I sent the invitations out right after Christmas. On the back of the RSVP, I asked people to write what they loved about my Mom. It's been so fun to get them back and read what people wrote. I compiled them all into an album which I will wrap and give to her after the party.
I rented a reception room in the Holiday Inn. There are about 65 family and friends coming. There will be a buffet and two photo cakes, plus punch and coffee. I ordered centerpieces of the Queen of Hearts (my Mom loves to play cards) with my Mom's head as the Queen (it's three sided). I will have balloon bouquets coming from the centerpiece. I also ordered a Happy Birthday banner to be suspended by balloons so it can float around the party.
My Mom is a groupie (well in that she follows the band to gigs) of a little band that plays at senior centers around the area, so I hired them to play for 45 minutes. She first heard them at the nursing home my Dad was in. My cousin and his family are musicians and they are going to play after the other band finishes.
Then, I have a slide show that I will run on auto. My Dad took a bunch of slides of my Mom's family over the years, some of these slides are 60 years old. My Mom's side of the family have never seen them.
My Brother and his kids are going to video the party and make a DVD for my Mom to look at. I think she'll enjoy being able to watch the party afterwards.
I couldn't have done this with out the internet. The party is in Michigan and I am in Oregon. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us.
I'll post after the party and let you know how it went.
-helen