Was up in Canada last week for my dad’s 90th birthday…

…an amazing party thrown by my immediate family (I have six siblings)…and we LOVE a party…

My mom, who’s not been doing well, rose to the occasion and sat in a wheelchair for five hours…she was the belle of the ball…

Mom still wants to be a part of the planning, so she sat outside while my sister and I set up the tables earlier in the week, laughed as we tried to set up a tent, and watched as I arranged flowers in the kitchen the day before the party.  She was an incredible hostess, from cooking to decorating to every last detail of a party.  It’s hard to sit on the sidelines now…but she did so with a smile, and had no qualms about giving us “marching” orders…

We had a private mass before guests arrived and dad received a papal blessing…

My brother sang his blues song written originally for my dad’s 80th…

I read a limerick (a “part two”, if you will,  of one I’d written ten years ago),  we caught up with many friends and cousins we’d not seen in awhile and I made my dad don this silly “bridal shower” hat…

This was such a joyous occasion in my parent’s home where they’ve lived the past 17 years.  Mom imbued this house with the warm decor and welcome feeling of the home we grew up in and the party was a testament to this.  I’m glad we could “assist”  them to throw a party for all their friends and family which is what they loved to do.  And what’s better than a party in your own home?