When we arrived in Arlington, we found out that Grandma and Grandpa's fridge had stopped working...it was Friday the 13th. We knew we really needed a working refrigerator if we were going to pull off this open house that evening. So Mom, Dad, Jessica, and I all went shopping. Conner was the lucky one, he got to go hang out with my cousin Dorel's family. They made a huge slip and slide which kept Conner entertained for the rest of the day. (Thanks again Stephanie!!) We found a great deal on a refrigerator at Best Buy. I think everyone thought I was crazy, snapping pictures left and right.
It was fun for me because I didn't have to make any huge decisions, just take pictures. Jessica and I got a little bit silly...
We got home and the four of us unloaded the new fridge and set it up, and took out the old one. Then we started setting everything up for the open house. It was supposed to start at 6:00pm, but people started showing up at 5:15!! I had been setting things up and was going to go clean myself up before people started arriving... that didn't happen. Luckily most people didn't know me, and I took my place behind the cake and ice cream, hoping nobody would recognize me. I felt very frumpy.
Jessica helped me serve, and then spent most of the evening taking hundreds of pictures. She took most of these, and I think she did a great job. She was so positive and helpful. We truly had a nice evening.
Conner came with Dorel's family, and then spent the evening with his "new" cousins. I think they had a fun night too. They kind of hid out quite a bit, playing hide and seek and tag, and eating LOTS of refreshments.
Here is a picture of my dad. (The goodlooking one in the back.)
And my mom (on the left)
Here are the guests of honor. John and Helen Dickson. They are both in their nineties, both very active and happy, and very happily married. It was touching seeing them interact with each other throughout the day, even before the celebration. Grandpa is so funny, he told such funny jokes to the kids, and grandma spends her day serving grandpa, and making sure everything is running smoothly.
We put this sign out by the road, and so many cars that drove by would honk. It was so fun.
Just a few pictures of the party, this is from below the patio in the makeshift parking lot.
This was the display/dessert table. It's a picture of John and Helen when they were married, and one taken this year.
Gifts were not necessary, but there were some brought, and we took a picture of them. Many cards were brought and sent through the mail along with email messages. Grandma read every single one of them. It really meant a lot to her.
By 9:30pm most people had left. We came into the house to find a hot water heater that wasn't working! That wasn't fun with church first thing in the morning! But that's a story for the next post!! I think their bishop stated it perfectly in his card to them, "70 years!! just a drop in the bucket in the eternal scheme of things!" What a great example of love for us all.
