This was a very big year for my Daddy. He turned 70 years old and he officially retired from teaching school for 38 years. Our family is so proud for all the hard work he has put in all those years. He was an amazing teacher and the kids all loved him. Our family wanted to put a little shin dig together for him in celebration, but as some of you may know when we put on a little shin dig, it is not little at all! We decided that we would do a 50's theme party and that everyone would have to dress up! Holly, Kelly and I made all the girls poodle skirts and hair ties. The boys were required to wear white shirts with the sleeves rolled, jeans rolled up with white socks and Sunday shoes. If possible, they were to slick back their hair and we even bought combs for all the boys to put in their back pockets. We had awesome decorations! Big cars on the walls for our "drive-in" movie we were going to watch, which was a picture slide show of my Dad's life. Streamers hanging everywhere, street signs, a blown up juke box, center pieces to go on the tables and other little things around the house.
My Dad was funny because he had no idea that we were putting together a big party for him. He thought we were just having a nice family dinner. We made the skirts at his house and we told him it was for my sisters Primary Activity, so he had no idea! It was so fun to surprise him and have my sister Jodi and family come up for it. All our family was there except the Dustin Johnson Family and we missed them dearly.
After everyone was ready for the party, we had a delicious dutch oven dinner with homemade root beer and started doing last minute preparations for our program we were doing!
Getting ready for the party!
I love this picture of my nephew Wyatt slicking his hair. What a good sport!
We started our program by the adult girls performing a wonderful, well practiced synchronized swimming skit. We couldn't find cheap swim caps so we had to use shower caps, but we were still stylish. I do have to say that we should be professionals, we were that good...
The adult boys did a skit where there is a persons head and they use their hands to make feet. Then someone stands behind them and is the arms for the little person that they end up making. It was so funny to watch the facial expressions of the boys and see what their hands would do to the other persons face. CJ was lip syncing to the song and everyone was amazed he knew it, but he really had no idea what he was singing.
My nephew Jed played my Dad one of his favorite songs on the guitar, Cool Water.
My nephews playing and singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow with the What a Beautiful World rendition.
My sister Kelly does this mime skit that everyone just loves. She makes funny faces during it!
My brother Scotty sang his infamous "Preacher and the Bear" song. He doesn't do it often, only on special occasions and we were able to talk him into doing it at the last minute!
The little kids did a skit also so everyone was able to participate in our program. My Dad loved watching his kids and grand kids entertaining. He is so proud of his big family.
My sister Jodi wrote this song to Mr. Sandman and we all sang it to my Dad
To end the program, we had my Mom and Dad get up and we played their song while they danced, but I don't know what it is... You can tell in the second picture below that my Dad was not thrilled about the dancing part. They started and then all us kids joined in, it was a very special moment.
After the program we had cake and root beer floats and watched the video that Holly and Tim put together for my Dad. It was so fun to see him when he was little and see how our family grew and grew.
I am truly grateful for a Dad who has been so good to me and my family. He worked hard to take care of us while we grew up, he stayed up late helping with homework after working two jobs trying to provide for a wife and 7 kids. He worked hard always. He gets so much joy in watching his family be together. We have a very special family, we all get along so well and we have a ton of fun when we are together. Some families don't have that and it is really sad to think about. I am very blessed to be a part of something so wonderful. We love you Dad and are proud to be yours.
