Anniversary Galore!

This week, Dan's grandparents will celebrate their 70th anniversary! Obviously, this is no small feat, so this past weekend we did a lot to celebrate their love.

On Saturday night, mass at St. Mary's was said for them, and we had a family pizza party afterward. After mass, Father Steve called Grandma & Grandpa up to the front of church to recognize them and give them a special blessing. He had them kiss each other three times and, I wish I could introduce you personally to these two individuals. But if you knew them, you would understand how seeing this 90+ year old couple kiss three times was...hilarious..and memorable.

Sunday, the three kids threw a big open house party and a TON of people came. The grandkids (i.e. me, Dan, his cousins and their spouses) were all in charge of manning the food, keeping all the trays, bowls and dishes full of ham sandwiches, desserts, chip, veggies, etc. So we all basically spent the afternoon in the kitchen together, making runs into the party to quickly socialize with people we knew, rescue a rogue chip that had fallen into the dip, pick up dirty coffee cups, etc.

It was such a special time - not only because so many people came to show their love and support for Dan's precious grandparents, but it was just wonderful being with the whole family and being reminded of how blessed I am to have married into such a HUGE, loving support system. Honestly, it's so rare that a family is so big...and everyone actually likes each other. There's never any drama or tension and we all just get along genuinely. Thirty three people who just straight-up like to be together.

Grandma and Grandpa claimed they didn't want a big fuss made, but I'm thinking that they ate up the attention and loved that people actually took time to recognized their 70 years of hard work towards their marriage.

Dan's mom put together some old, old family pictures to have on display. So naturally, I borrowed them to make scans for myself :)

Good 'ol Clarence & Lavern :)

This young man surely cannot be a grandpa to six and great grandpa to thirteen.

70 years ago, this Wednesday :)

This song was played during mass on Saturday night...oh-so true :)

I bought a beautiful diamond ring I offered it to the sweetest thing I know
And she said she would take it
We started making some wedding plans she looked at me and she took my hand
And said are you sure we can make it
I said my grand dad's still in love with my grandma
I said my dad still thinks my moms the sweetest thing he ever saw
I come from a long line of love
When the times get hard we don't give up
Forever is in my heart and in my blood
You see I come from a long line of love
Years went by and we had a son now he thinks he found someone for him
And they're planning a wedding
He called me up on the phone today just to see what I had to say to him
Did I think he was ready?
I said what his grandfather used to say to me
Its been handed down for ages it runs in our family
You come from a long line of love
When the times get hard we don't give up
Forever is in your heart and in your blood
Son you come from a long line of love
We come from a long line of love