A Surprise for a Very Special Birthday Pair

The Grove and Nagel families both had special people turning a special age this summer.  Cousins Rita and Jeanette turned 50!  

To celebrate the occasion, our two families (especially Jessica and Uncle Harry) planned a big surprise party on July 13th.  

They're almost here!

Here's how the surprise worked.  A mutual friend of theirs from Geneva College (our Aunt Annette) asked to take them both out for a day to celebrate their 50th birthdays.  (We asked her to ask them.)  They first took a walk at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens where two other friends from college surprised them.  Then they went out for ice cream.  On their way back to the garden to pick up their cars, Aunt Annette suggested that they have a fun, relaxing time by putting cucumbers over their eyes and listening to peaceful music while she drove.  She was even prepared with eye covers to keep the cucumbers on (Isn't that clever??).  When they arrived at the church, she told them they could keep their cucumbers on.  They suspected some sort of surprise here, but nothing like what they got, and they didn't know where they were.  The pictures will say the rest.  Watch for the falling cucumbers. 

"Where are we, Annette?  I can tell we're inside."  

Surprise!!!! Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday to you.  Happy birthday dear Rita and Jeanette.  Happy birthday to you!

"Look who's here!"

"Thank you Annette."

Conspirators

This turned out to be a small family reunion.  Lots of relatives from the Nagel, McFarland, and Russell sides of the family.  

The food was fantastic!  Uncle Harry, Josiah, Micah, and Ezra smoked many pounds of ribs and brisket.  You would have to have been there to appreciate the mouth-watering flavor and the tenderness of the meat.  Jessica, Janelle, and I prepared most of the sides: black bean and corn salad with cilantro and avocado, chips, dip, watermelon, spinach salad, etc.  To get all the supplies, us Grove kids took a quick trip to Costco while our parents were on a date the night before the party.  On our way home, we dropped everything off  at the church building where we had the party.  When our parents got home, it looked like we had been home all evening.  :)

The Nagels put together a Jeopardy game about what things were like in 1963.  

I know it!!  Pick me!!!

The main party planners.  

These two have a lot in common.  

It was a very special night, and the birthday girls were completely surprised.  

Someone asked if she was okay.  I answered, "Oh, yes.  This is normal."

Posted by Joanna

P.S.  

Notice something new? 

Thanks to Mr. Yarashus and Matthias Yarashus for most of these pictures.