50 years and counting

April 18th 1959-- that's the day my parent's tied the knot--April 18th 2009, 50 years later we all got together to celebrate !! Imagine; how many of us will be able to add up multiple marriages to equal 50 years ??

The week-end started on Friday afternoon when I forgot to let my sister know that I don't park and go in and look for people at SeaTac--I pull up in front of the airline and you run out...after cruising around I don't know how many times, I did park-- so quick, I ran in, my phone rang, 'hello, I'm at baggage claim 16', me: No, you're not, I am :) we finally found each other, I cried (I do that)

long story short, 5 minutes parking at SeaTac costs you 2 dollars.

We headed down the hill to Auburn to pick up Kylie and head up to Anacortes for the week-end. We had a lot to remember, but I didn't make a list ;( We packed up the car and headed out to get gas and hit the road. *** Let me insert a comment right here... I have spring allergies, I've had them for years, but apparently this year is really bad--and suffice it to say, I was in denial...

Anyway, we got gas and headed up the road--we were on I-5 heading north towards

Seattle, and the reader board said 'accident ahead, right 2 lanes blocked', no biggie we were in the carpool lane, well, everyone was sneaking over to the carpool lane and we were slowing down and in fact stopping; which is when I realized, I forgot my clothes...I had my bag, you know, with my nightnight stuff, shower stuff, etc, but not the outfits I ironed and hung on the hangers...oh well, there was no way I was turning around.

After we got through Seattle we actually made really good time, even through Everett which is a huge bottleneck. We checked into the hotel (how many Queen's Amy :) and then headed up to the house.

I still had to frost the cupcakes, lord they turned out crappy... I tried to make these nice fluffy cupcakes with creamy butter frosting and gold (50 years) accents. Well, I think that the gold stuff I found was for fondant, the cupcakes just didn't fluff and the butter frosting, while tasty, was thin... I love to cook, baking eludes me... but the G'pa's favorite Rice Krispy treats rocked !!

Mom had made some great minstrone soup with some crusty bread, yummy -- we visited for a while, ate brownies, made plans for breakfast, and then headed back to the hotel.

Saturday dawned clear and cool and me so stuffed up, I couldn't see or speak clearly and wondering if I was going to make it to the lunch. Fortunately, when we got to Mom and Dad's for breakfast, Mom hooked me up with some homeopathics and by the time lunch came around, I was oh so very much better, heck I'd even gone shopping and bought a replacement outfit.

We had a wonderful lunch at Anthony's in Bellingham, that included Jim, Carla and Cody--Tyler, we missed you; Henry, Linina and Rowan (the Rowanator), Amy, Kylie and myself.

The most wonderful pair of guests were some very dear friends of my parents from the Bay Area. I hadn't seen them in 10 years, when they were last here for my Dad's 70th birthday. They are just delightful and I know that it meant a lot to my parents that they were able to be there.

After lunch we went to Rowan's parent's for dessert, thankfully Rowan's dad and mom ordered an amazing cake (let it be known that Rowan's dad can bake a mean a** cake :)

Everyone visited, had some cake and laughed at pictures and reminisced ... it all passed way to quickly.

My Dad gave my Mom a card (one of a few) for their anniversary, inside he had written 'the first 50 were the toughest'--

Here's to another 50-- I love you Mom and Dad.

P.S. The Rowantor's parent's are Henry and Linina :) oh, and I forgot my purse at their house ... par for the course that week-end...

Sunday we did manage to get up and have breakfast with Mom and Dad at the local bowling alley -- so much going on in 1 week-end and just not enough time--Amy I hope you can come back soon.