Zero to 60 in ... SIXTY YEARS?

Zero to 60 in ... SIXTY YEARS?

Ahhh, that darn birthday fairy got me again and this time it was a big one!  Yeppers, this year I turned the big six oh!  I had a long time to think about it, and I decided that the best way for a control freak to celebrate a big birthday was to throw herself a surprise party.  Figuring that my memory is about as long as I am tall (which is not much), I would forget and truly be surprised...

I really did want it to be a surprise, so I invited anyone and everyone, posted this on facebook to all my FB friends and mailed a similar one to those friends who are not FB friendly: 

For a few years, I wondered how I would celebrate my 60th birthday. Then, in a flash of confusion, it came to me. I'd throw myself a surprise party, I hope you can come!

Please, please PLEASE, no gifts. I have all I need and more. If you want to do something nice, bring a dish to share and your favorite beer mug, Mark and I will supply beer, pop, dogs, burgers and buns.

Come any time after 2, we will eat about 6. If you'd like to camp out, feel free to bring your tents and sleeping bags, I'll have coffee and donuts in the morning.

Oh...and if you are planning to bring your watercraft, please let me know early so we can arrange a slip for you!

I hope you can come...I'm so excited!

My dear friend, Nancy (not photographed because I was overwhelmed and left my camera on the table most of the day) came and brought me these wonderful flowers...

They are the exact color of orange sherbet!

Mark decided that all decor had to bear a number...a very significant number...

But I have to tell you about the best surprise...Tony and I were sitting on the swing when a car with out-of-state plates pulled in...Out of the car comes my mother...and, well, here is the rest of the gang:  Anthony, the birthday girl, Aunt Helen, Mom and Kathy, Anthony's wife.

I get a teary eyed just looking at this photo.  Aunt Helen (my dad's sister, her son Anthony and A's wife Kathy) came from Maryland!  From what I hear, they took the idea of surprise party farther than the river...they 'popped in' on most or the relatives in the area...

My cousin Anthony (we have tons of Anthonys in our family) is a die hard Washington Capitals fan, but other than that, is a really cool guy.  He and Mark enjoyed a few mugs of beer (note, Mark is drinking out of a Penguins mug)...

While Mom and Aunt Helen sat on the swing and chatted...

A couple of days before my birthday, Mark noticed that my nose was red...too much sun!

So I did what he suggested and went out and bought a hat...

That hat got a lot of use that day...

 I didn't get to wear it, but it sure got around!

As the day went on, the temperature kept going up.  Some of us just looked good, like Vicky...

 Jon and TJ, Andy's friends, and Andy!

Some of us got ready to head for the river to cool off like Tony and Andy.  Do you think those life jackets will support their weight?

Some went for boat rides...

 Some just jumped in...

 Looks like Tony caught himself a mermaid!

 Tyler jumped in but they had a heck of a time getting him back out!

Some tried to work off all the food they ate, like Andy...

Most were on best behavior but if my boys are there, there are bound to be a few pranks.  I'm not sure who hung Brent and Cassie's bikes in the tree, but I'm willing to bet Andy and Tony had something to do with it...

 I had such a good time, I'd turn sixty all over again just to have everyone get together again! 

 I hated to see this day end, but the next day was hot and sunny so after church I came back and we all jumped in the boat to play in the water again.  It's like the place where you never have to grow up!

  Come back tomorrow to see how they did!