Ama's Big Six-O

** updated**
Back in May, Tallie & I planned a big 60th Birthday Bash for Mom... It's very rare occasion that we all get together and it sure doesn't help that we live in

Florida. Massachusettes. Arizona. Utah. WASHINGTON.California... literally all four corners of the US of A. So our plan was to piggyback Pioneer Day celebrations in Utah for a perfect pairing... only summer is so busy, it was hard to pin down a time that all of Mom's kids and grandkids could be there. (Is 3 months short notice?) And then life happened... and Kelly's health deteriorated a little more (mom's husband), so when Kelly's stress is elevated having people around, that's stress for Mom-- and what's a birthday with stress?

So at Tallie's suggestion, we simplified and changed it to a 60th Birthday Surprise with just her children... in California doing a 'memory tour.' Only four of the siblings made it... and it was a sacrifice for all those that traveled to make it happen, but a worthy one for sure! It was a bit of a challenge to get Mom to drive down without telling her exactly why, so I recruited her bff to do the dirty work... but that didn't quite work as well as we thought. In the end, Mom finally obliged... cause I'm sure she really knew what we were up to... The good news is that Kelly survived at home by himself without ending up in the ER... truly a first... and it proves that maybe she can have some freedom to go see her biggest fans (aka kids & grandkids). Right now she's in Boston... so we're on a roll.

She picked up Brett in St. George on the way, and at the stroke of midnight... Mark & Kevin arrived, which was a complete surprise to her. We did some catching up, had a cupcake and ice cream celebration at midnight, and then told her our plans for the rest of the weekend....

super blurry... but almost captures the moment

We made a fun banner & super fun pom poms

cupcake covers & pinwheels for the yummy cherry chocolate cupcakes

Monson made his gift out of legos

Brayden is so talented... he sketched this headshot of Ama

I made her a chic laptop bag complete with ruffles. Only, I messed up on the zipper and didn't know how to fix it, so I asked for her help when she arrived, and wasn't she surprised that she help me finish her gift... tricky me. Wish I had a pic, cause it's super cute.

Alexandra was soooo tired, so she gave up and fell asleep at about 11 pm and wanted to make sure we woke her up to celebrate. I don't think she ever really woke up-- she was in between rem cycles.

Uncle Brett being.... Uncle Brett

Uncle Mark fresh off work still in his pilot uniform....

trying to be ten and skate in heelies that are 2 sizes too small (in the middle of the night).

We were off at 7:30 am... to the LA Temple. Do we look like we're working off 3 hours of sleep? Cause we sure felt it.

Who doesn't love Titos at 11 am?

Then off to visit with our favorite pseudo-Grandma, Sister Pike

I need to explain why we all look so hammered in the above picture.  I posted this and forgot to mention another little adventure we had.  I reserved us 5 beds  at this little dive on Ventura Blvd... $20 for an hour, can't-beat-it Chinese foot massage.  The beds are all out in the open, and you do this fully clothed.  Only... I had to forewarn the boys that this is not your normal foot massage-- the masseuse might just climb up on top of you to massage a place that has nothing to do with your feet at all.  And I don't even have pictures-- did anyone take pictures?  Mark recounted that his masseuse was trying to get a spot on his back and Mark was laughing... he proceeded to climb up onto his buttocks and back area on all fours...  and do something funky to his back while at the same time kicking his calves with his legs... I know, imagery maybe doesn't work on my description, but it was definitely odd, and unforgettable.

We stopped off at Stoney Brook... our little landscaping business we owned with the Grasteits, and then later we turned it into 'The Cottage.'  Mom worked it selling crafts and other things on consignment for years.  Anyway, we spoke with the woman that is leasing the property now and calls it 'Dove Hill'... wish we'd taken pictures of the cute little overgrown cottage which was once a little one room house on Ventura Blvd.

I found these on the internet... how cute is the cottage? 

Had to get our Westward Beach in... even though it was freezing

and Mark's a little obsessed with beach running, but maybe that's why he's trim

We had planned on repelling of this beauty... Kevin brought the equipment, only all of us forgot our proper shoes. It was too crowded and windy anyway, and there was a wedding going on at the base of the rock. I'm sure they would have enjoyed the show we would have put on though.

We dug ourselves holes to sit in... our signature beach chairs.

Instead of walking around The Grove or Third Street Promenade, Mom wanted to go back to the hotel and just hang out poolside and play games... so we got Dan's Super Subs, sat in the spa, and then strolled around The Commons at Calabasas where Mom used to be property manager.
We all fell asleep before 10... what party poopers.

On Sunday after visiting our old Agoura ward and connecting with lots of old friends and memories... We had TO Meat Locker for lunch

And of course, Western Bagels on the way out of town. It was more a memory food tour, or so it seemed... but just being together was the real gift-- we don't get enough of that.

Mom said that this was the first real birthday party she's had since she was three... even though it wasn't ON her actual birthday, every girl needs to be celebrated and fussed over, no matter how young:)

60 is the new 50... so here's to many more birthday celebrations ahead!