Surprise 50th Birthday Party
by Leigh Anne on January 7, 2010
in Adult Birthday Parties, Birthday Parties
I am the one usually giving the party.
In fact, it’s been a lot of years since someone gave a party for me….
But that all changed this weekend when my sweet family and dear Beach Babe friends (a group of women I have known for over 20 years)threw a surprise party for my 50th birthday. I know, it’s hard to believe, but I am 50!!!
I have a couple of other girlfriends that also turn 50 this year. For years we talked about celebrating our fiftieth birthdays together, in Italy, taking cooking classes. Well, over the years life happens and things change and we knew that the dream was no longer a reality, at least not right now. When my Beach Babe friends heard about the lost dream they knew that the party they were throwing for me needed to have an Italian theme!
We were greeted at the door by this lifesize menu!
There was lots of yummy Italian food to enjoy.
I have some friends that are very good cooks!
My family had done a great job of compiling a guest lists and so many of my friends from different parts of my life were all there!
And my sweet parents were there to celebrate with me too.
My family put on an entertaining program complete with a printed program. Thanks to my good friend Julie who is the queen of organization who put together the invite, program, menu etc.
Logan and Cali did the 12 hours of mom’s day sung to the 12 Days of Christmas – it was hilarious and their actions were even more entertaining!
On the first hour of mom’s day her to do list said….
One ten mile walk in a weighted vest
Two Webinars
Three Scrapbooks
Four care packages
Five diet cokes
Six grocery store visits
Seven trips to Anthropologie
Eight million pictures
Nine books to read
Ten recipes to cook
Eleven phone calls to kids
Twelve new blog posts
Next on the agenda was a song by my friend Merrill set to The Impossible Dream. Part of it went like this…
“To write the unwritable blog, to bake the unbakeable bread, to live in the Garden of Eden…..
Clark and Tessa helped out with the entertainment too. They put on a skit about Jim and I in another 50 years! They were hilarious and pretty much nailed us!! Complete with Jim’s plaid shirt and baseball cap and my multiple pairs of glasses!
Then Logan sang a sweet song from Fiddler on the Roof called “Mama, a Rainbow.” The words start out, “What do you give to the lady who has given all her life and love to you? …..What can I give you, what will your present be? Mama young and beautiful, always young and beautiful. That’s the Mama I’ll always see. That’s for Mama with love from me.”
Of course it made me and just about everyone else in the room cry!
The program finished up with a few funny things from Jim and my Mom, or at least they thought they were funny!
The program concluded when Jim presented me with my birthday gift. To read more about it check out my post over at Your Homebased Mom. Of course I loved it and it made me cry too!
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After the program we had birthday cake, my favorite – lemon poppyseed creamcheese from Beaverton Bakery!
And my husband made a sweet toast.
Thanks to my amazing friends the Beach Babes….
and my wonderful family for making this a birthday I will never forget!
Turning 50, just the beginning of a great new era in my life. Maybe I’ll go to Italy for my 60th!!
Happy Birthday Leigh Anne! It looks like you had a wonderful party! You deserve it! Here’s to 50 more wonderful years!!!
Leigh Anne … You’re the perfect recipient for such a fancy, classy, out-together celebration! Thanks for sharing it. I said this before and want to mention it again – you are an excellent writer – energetic, captivating, easy-to-read, fun messages. Happy Birthday, Susan.
Leigh-Anne – you will love being 50. Age 50 was when our #4 graduated from high school and later that fall, I was the guest of a European friend who took me on a tour of Italy. Imagine five long hectic days and seeing Florence, Rome, Naples and the Amalfi Coast by planes, trains, buses, taxi’s, etc. I rediscovered the real me on that trip and it changed my life.
Happy Birthday, dear sister! Italy in 10 years sounds fun! So grateful to your wonderful friends for treating you in the manner you deserve. Enjoy the rest of your day! It’s only going to get better. Love you!
Zowie! So tremendously impressed! So much so, I posted this on my profile!
Happy birthday my friend! So glad to see that you have been loved and indulged, in the way you have loved and indulged those around you! You rock!
Congratulations! Enjoy your day! You are a truly inspiring, born encourager. I appreciate you sharing your creativity, fabulous ideas and your dreams with us! I know you will make it to Italy, someday too!!! Keep on shining your brilliant light!!! Happy Birthday!
HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDY LEIGH ANNE!!!!!! I turned 50 last August and I am still asking myself how I got here so quickly! Ha! How wonderful that your family and friends threw a celebration that you will always remember. Not to mention a trip to England and yes….you MUST go to Paris!!! It’s a different world there
where they really enjoy life. The outdoor cafe’s in the cobble stone squares are so relaxing. I will write you more about England and Paris later. Thanks for sharing your surprise 50th birthday with us! Wishing you many more years
of good health and happiness!
England…I am so HAPPY for you!!!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy Birthday Leigh Anne! Welcome this new chapter to your life!
Leigh Anne,
Although I’ve never met you in real life, I feel like I have and you are a part of my everyday life whether through your blogs or your recipes. I have made so many of your wonderful recipes and gotten so many wonderful ideas for entertaining. I am SOO happy to see that your family and friends had such a classy/fun party for you. You deserve every bit of it. I hope you get to enjoy a fabulous trip this summer and from what I can see, aging looks fabulous to me! I can’t believe how quickly times passes. Savor the moment and ENJOY! Your Las Vegas reader, Jura
So nice to read that you are reaping the blessings you have given to so many others. (I know this from being one of your avid blog readers! Best wishes Leigh Ann!
Oh, Leigh Anne, you will love being 50. The best is yet to come! Make it a fabulous trip. I didn’t get to England until summer before last when Ed and I tagged along as Friends of the Davis High School Madrigal Choir when they sang at the Llangollen Estedfed in Wales (winning Best Chamber Choir). I was 77 and in a wheel chair much of the time. We hit every cathedral because the choir sang everywhere…a wonderful trip.
You’ll love it! What a great group of friends and family you have. You made the party come alive with your excellent writing.
J
Leigh Anne, Looks like you had a great birthday party with your beautiful family and friends! Wishing you many more…You are the best. Thank you for everything you do!
Leigh Anne such a beautiful family! I enjoyed reading about your birthday, the spirit of fun and love just seeps out…
I had a similar experience as you. When I was a kid I always wanted to be in gymnastics. I got that gift for my 10th birthday but, then dad lost his job and money grew very tight… so I never actually went to a gymnastics class. I sure hope that when I turn 50 I don’t get that!! LOL!!
What an amazing gift, a surprise party! The program sounds wonderful. That was so sweet of your kids. Your present is amazing too. Happy Birthday!
Looks WONDERFUL! You deserved to be spoiled
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[...] There were friends, delicious food and great entertainment. (For complete details and pictures on the party visit Your Homebased Parties!) [...]
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