Monday, August 6, 2012

Nana's Birthday

Yesterday we all gathered at my Mom's house to celebrate our grandmother's 98th birthday.   In the morning before we left, I gathered the ingredients to make an ooey, gooey, chocolate birthday cake.
You can see by my recipe cards there on the counter, that this cake has been made many, many times!
It is always a winner!
It was a very hot day yesterday, and even on the lake, there was very little breeze.  But we all had a great time.  Boating, kayaking, visiting, eating, celebrating.  It was big fun.   The star of the show, in her birthday hat!
We had a delicious meal from Blake's BBQ!  Brisket, sausages, enchilada pie, fresh fruit, jalapeno corn bread, baked beans and green salad.  It was soooo good!  Check out the line to go through the buffet.
There were people everywhere, enjoying the meal, the day, and being together to celebrate our Nana.
It was such a hot day, and everyone was commenting on how cold my Mom's downstairs bathroom was, so at any given time, you could find someone, or several, in there cooling off!  My nephew Tim picked up my camera and took this one of Gennifer and my Mom and I.
My Mom said, "oh look, if you lay your head down on this granite...it really cools you off!"
After dinner, we all gathered around to sing Happy Birthday to Nana.  When our group sings Happy Birthday, it is an awful sound.  I think we have pinpointed a couple of people who are off key.  My Uncle Johnny, Mom's little brother, is bad with a big B!!!  I said, "Johnny, we're gonna sing Happy Birthday to Nana now, can you just lip synch?"  And this is the look I got.
My little brother Tim is pretty bad too. 
Without them, we sound like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!  Okay, that may be a stretch....but we do sound better.
Make a wish.
We were also celebrating my Aunt Claylene's birthday.
I think Nana really enjoyed the day.   Everyone got to spend some special time with her.
Nana was taking a call from her nephew Pat in Colorado with little Noah on her lap.  We took Nana on an evening boat cruise, and got to enjoy the jazz concert that was taking place at the other end of the lake.
They have flotillas, where everyone connects their boats, and opens the side doors so you can visit from boat to boat.  They anchor and have appetizers and cocktails out on the lake while enjoying the concerts.  Or you can sit up at the clubhouse on land, and dance and enjoy it from there too.  So neat, this community that my Mom lives in!!!
Claire spotted a hippo out on the lake.
And Noah led the boat cruise with Capt. Dave.
It was such a beautiful night for a boat ride.
And a perfect celebration for our Nana!  Mom always entertains with such ease too.  She can have 35 people over and make it seem effortless.  But those of us who entertain, know that a lot of work goes into having a party.  She always does such a great job!!!!
We had a special guest yesterday too!  My cousin was able to come from Portland to celebrate Nana's birthday.  It has been a couple of years since we have seen her!
This is Kelly, my Uncie John's oldest daughter.  I wish that her sisters, Katie and Keri and their families could have been there too!!!!
Well, that's her profile anyway.  And the backside of my sis in law Glenda.   Sorry girls, but if  you would have just turned around when I asked you to, the picture would have been much better!!!
Kelly, how many margaritas did you have????   Just sayin'
Mom had Margarita Man come to the party too.  He as a BIG hit!!
I don't even drink, and I think I had four of those grownup slushies!  Aunt E even caught Hannah at the self serve bar with a slushie all ready to drink!!!!  GENNY!!!!  Do you know your daughter is drinking a margarita??????   Not to worry, Aunt E saved the day and explained that these were not like the Icee's she gets at Target!!!!!  (They were SO much better than those!!!!)
We wanted to get a group photo, and staging it was quite the ordeal!  Where to take a picture with 33 people, so we can all be seen?  We didn't have a tripod, so we built a makeshift one, and staged the picture in the gazebo with the lake in the background. 
There was a lot of confusion.  A lot of laughter.  But in the end, we got some good shots with the camera set on the timer.  Unfortunately, in a group as large as ours, there is sometimes a few that are missing.  Our son Drew had a bug and wasn't there, and my nephew Donavon and his wife Kaylen have recently moved to San Francisco, and weren't there.  We missed them.
The group shots are on my daughter Gennifer's and Greg's camera.  I will have to get those and share them later.  But this is how we looked getting ready.
During the chaos, Nana was trying to cup her  hand around the phone while she talked to her nephew in Colorado!
It was a great celebration, and a really fun time at my Mom's!  Thank you Mom!!!
Nana......we all love you so!!!!!!   Muuuuaaah!!!
Happy Birthday Nana!!!!
XO  Kris

35 comments:

deebriese said...

Wow What a beautiful family. So lucky to still have Nana around. I need Margarita machine at my back door! LOL

Debbie said...

Such a wonderful celebration! I love your mom's house. What a great place to entertain. Your grandmother looks soo good. Your mom does too! Our bathroom here is the coldest place in our house too, so I know just how that goes, haha. We gather in there too when we have people over. Glad you all had a good time. Happy birthday to your sweet Nana!

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

Bless her heart, she looks awesome and I wish her many more happy healthy years. Looks like she is blessed with a loving family and friends and one yummy cake too.

Kelli said...

What a fun celebration!

Unknown said...

Nana is doing fabulous for 98. By the way, is every weekend a big old party out there. You all sure do look like you are having a grand old time. What a special family.
Very quiet here, just Scott and I and our new Samsung S3 phones....yeah...finally.

NanaNor's said...

Hi, What a wonderful party and family you have Kris. I love how much you all celebrate and such a milestone. I know I've said it before but I think you look like your in college with your hair longer and darker-so striking.
May your nana's days be many.
Hugs, Noreen

Holly said...

That's the same cake that you made me for my birthday last year and yes....it is sooooo delicious!! Glad you had a great time!

priscilla said...

Kris,
Looks like a fabulous party ! So nice that you have such a big extended family ! You might have to give us that cake recipe ! Love the bathroom picture !

Sunny Simple Life said...

Looks wonderful. What a great location she has and you all look so young in that bathroom. You have good genes from your momma!!

Diane said...

What a fun day!!!!!!!!!

Nana had a great day, the family was pretty much all here, we missed Don, Kaylen, Drew, Keri & Katie.....the margarita's were good, the cake was great, it was a very special day.
Thank you family for making it a special day for all.

Your Mama...aka The Head Honcho

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Kris.. wow, you have one of the coolest families ever. The love just shines through all your photos. I'm heading off tomorrow or the next day (depending on how the packing and loading goes) for 9 days of camping with my family. Can't wait! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Dawn said...

Love her Hat, I am a hat girl, so she's hip in my book. LOL Also love the braid in your hair. What a great birthday bash.

Patty Marker said...

What a wonderful celebration and such a gift to all but especially the little ones to have this time with their great-great grandma. Such a beautiful family...you are blessed.

Gracie Saylor said...

What a wonderful reason to celebrate and a wonderful location to celebrate in, Kris!!!
Thanks for including us in the fun! I had a good time, too =)
Graciexxx

Genn said...

A fun post to read through! It was such a fun day!!! You got some good pics, except that hideous one of me in the bathroom!
Nana seemed to really enjoy herself. I sure do love that little lady!
And you are right, grandma always makes entertaining our big fam look so effortless.

Genn said...

A fun post to read through! It was such a fun day!!! You got some good pics, except that hideous one of me in the bathroom!
Nana seemed to really enjoy herself. I sure do love that little lady!
And you are right, grandma always makes entertaining our big fam look so effortless.

Nicolle said...

Happy Birthday Nana! What an amazing birthday celebration for her. What a beautiful life she is living!

Great pictures. I can tell you guys had a fun time. Yummy drinks and fun family to be around. You all look so young, no wonder there are so many generations still alive and well! That's a sign of GOOD living.

xo

corners of my life said...

Such a fun gathering.
Are you going to share that cake recipe?!

The Tuscan Home said...

What a fun and exciting celebration. Nana looks like she had a wonderful day, surrounded by so many loved ones! =)

Katie said...

What a Beautiful Celebration for Nana! The goey cake looks so delicious! How great for Kelly & Nana both that she was able to come join in the celebration!

Unknown said...

Now you guys know how to celebrate!! What a fabulous get together for Grandma!!! Happy Birthday, sweet lady, lucky you...what a wonderful family you have!

Leslie said...

That looks like a blast of a party for a 98 yr. old!!! What a blessing for her to still be here and be able to have fun with you guys! She is beautiful. The cake looks delicious, too. Thanks so much for visiting today and leaving a sweet message for me.
Blessings,
Leslie

Mereknits said...

How lovely for all of you. (8 is amazing, she looks happy and content with her amazing family surrounding her. Happy Birthday Nana,
Meredith

Stan and Jody Gabara said...

How wonderful 98! She looks fantastic and the party looked like a success. Perfect!

Jody

Pam said...

You guys sure know how to party! Your mom's place looks amazing. Happy b-day to Nana.

Heather - The Good Life said...

What a wonderful celebration Kris! Looks like everyone enjoyed the special day and the food sounds delicious. Take care, Heather

Katie Mansfield said...

It sounds like a great day. Happy Birthday to Nana. How did she like the cake?
I think I need to make another one.
They are so good.

Christine said...

I need one of those Margarita machines and definitely a birthday hat!!!!

Leslie said...

98 years old! Wow! What a special occasion and how happy she must have been to see you all of her family gathered around! The cake looks yummy and what a beautiful boat ride you had.

leslie

lovestitch said...

Wow! What a happy day! Great to see you all getting together and having a lot of fun!!! Happy birthday to your Nana, she looks so sweet!!!
Hope your days are always wonderful !
Best, LS

Eileen said...

How wonderful to have such a large loving family to get together and celebrate special occasions. And what a special occasion it was in celebrating your Nana's 98th birthday. Love is the key to an extended life.

Becca said...

She's 98 but she look still healthy and strong. Aww! I suddenly missed my granny. I was the one that taking care of her before she died late last year.

Jill said...

What a blessing of family! How lucky the grandchildren are to have her in their lives. Many wonderful memories :-)She looks very happy indeed!

blessings,
Jill

Lynne said...

You guys sure do have fun together! Isn't it great having such a close family? We do too, and it's wonderful for the little ones to grow up with this kind of example. I like Nana's hat : )

annielizabeth said...

What a lovely party to cherish!