One Last Hoorah

Monday was the actual day of my parents anniversary, and we had one more little surprise up our sleeves.

Needless to say, they were surprised.

You might be thinking "How could they have been surprised? My dad works across the street from the Paramount."  Well, we had all planned on meeting at the store at 11 to show them the marquee and go to lunch.  When I was driving down Congress, it wasn't there!!! We have had this on the books at the Paramount for over a month, and confirmed it last Friday! After a minor panic attack and meeting Rachel on the corner of 8th and Congress, we ran into the Paramount and sorted out the problem and they managed to get it up there while my mom was looking for a parking spot, which you know in downtown Austin can take some time!  So it actually worked out perfectly.

We hung out at the store before heading off to lunch. Eli was in school, and Blaine at work, so it was just me and Owen.

If you know my family, you know that Chinatown is a place where we spend a lot of family dinners together.  Its kinda like our Cheers. It was only fitting that we went there for lunch.

Owen had his first taste of Chinese food and first taste of lemon.

He seemed to hate it but couldn't get enough of it at the same time!
On our walk back to the store we noticed a sign that couldn't have been more fitting for the day...

Okay, so its a little cheesy, but we laughed when we saw it.  Its the door to Starbucks and it says "Here's to you and 40 years together."
It was truly a beautiful weekend. If our children think of me and Blaine half as highly as we think of our parents, I would  be truly blessed.

Anniversary Party

Ethan, Rachel and I decided it was only appropriate to celebrate 40 years of marriage with a party to celebrate our wonderful parents. 

Their dear friends the Waxman's graciously offered their house for the party and we could not be more grateful for how wonderful all of their friends were during the planning of the party.

We kept the details pretty vague when telling our parents that something was planned. I think they were pleasantly surprised and had a wonderful time at the party.  We invited about 60 of their closest friends, got their wedding photographs retouched and enlarged to put all around the party, and put together a video of old family videos we had converted to DVD along with some messages from family and friends.
It is just amazing to me that my parents have been friends with about 90% of these people for just about 40 years. I grew up with their kids and have known them my entire life.  To look back at these people in pictures from 30 years ago when they had small children and were in thier 30's is mind boggling because that is where we are in our lives.  One day our kids will look back at the pictures we have taken in the last two years and say the same things we were saying "Look how young you look! Look at your outfit, how did you think that was cute?!?  Oh my gosh, look at So-and So, I cant belive you have known eachother for so long!"
There are a bunch of pictures, so lets get to it!

Here is Ethan, doing some last minute touch-ups on the video

A couple of the pictures from thier wedding (take notice of my Dad's tie and Mom's hat)

When they arrived at the party and saw the pictures, they both realized that my dad still had the tie he was married in (and his father was also married in!!!) and my mom had the very stylish hat the wore at their wedding.  We sent them home to go get them!

Ethan and Rachel checking out the tie.

Mike Levy saw the hat and needed to get in on some fun too

Of course we got there early to help set-up, and Eli insisted on a front row seat...to watch the bagels.

We had a make-your-own bloody mary bar

Mimosas

A ton of food, and of course a cake....

Debbie Berliner, who actually did the flowers at my wedding offered to do flowers for the party.  She went above and beyond on the beautiful arrangements around the house. 

Here is Debbie entertaining Owen

There was no shortage of people offering to entertain him during the party, little man was help by just about everyone.

Eli decided it was best to camp out and play with toys with Hobo and Jordan

We really had a beautiful time, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves

Then, it was time to cut the cake!!!

Eli was dying to cut into the cake the whole morning! At one point,  he asked me for a fork, I assumed it was to eat his bagel (the kid will stick a fork into anything, I guess it makes it more fun to eat?), and walked up to the cake to try and snag a bite right out of the side!
So, when it was time to eat, my dad let him have his way with it, handed him a fork and let him take the first bite.

We managed to get a few more family shots

It was a pretty perfect morning.  But we thought that one more thing would make it just a little bit more perfect....the picture says it all....

Look at that sweet face!!! We named her Frankie!
We took the boys to meet her when we went to pick her up to make sure it was a good fit.

And it was!  We brought her home and welcomed her to her new family and home (my PARENTS home, NOT ours!). She fit right in.