No Empty chairs, a fitting tribute to our parents in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Seven chairs lined the entrance Saturday evening as we gathered at the home of my brother. The 7 chairs stood as symbols for their 7 children.
Mom and dad were married in the fall and chose to go with Autumn hues for their wedding in 1963. We tried to follow the same theme and used Autumn leaves to decorate as well as the colors of the bright autumn foliage.
As a little girl, the sound of this old manual typewriter was my lullaby, click clack... It was given to my mother by my great grandmother Sofia Dickson Weaver. My mother has typed many papers on this typewriter including my father's dissertation for his Master's Degree in Social Work at the University of Utah.
My sisters and I found a great prop warehouse that rents out its inventory at pennies on the dollar. This big whiskey barrel was one of my favorite finds. It was just perfect for housing the "honorary" wedding cake.
We had my parents' memorabilia displayed as part of the décor. This picture was the latest.... a picture from their 50th anniversary cruise to Alaska.
The centerpieces were fun and easy: Fall leaves which my sweet hubby and children gathered in the neighboring hills surrounding vintage lanterns with fun pictures of my parents' children and grandchildren
At the end of July, we all gathered for a few days. We had a fun cousin photo shoot with the grandkids in bright colored t-shirts. Each family wore a different color.
While I enjoyed the weeks of planning the event immensely, greeting old friends and dear family was the absolute best! My older sister Wendy is pictured here with my Aunt Katherine and Uncle Dean Walker.
My best friend lives in England but her parents Rebecca and Dean came to help us celebrate. They are two of my parents' oldest and dearest friends.
Work hard and be nice-- what every parent wishes his/her child will do.... We also had on display that evening pictures of my parents' families and my father's Mickey Mantle baseball glove and a vintage Cedar High football helmet...both an integral part of our lives.
An old wheelbarrow filled with Autumn leaves, a pic of my parents' 33 grandkids and gold mason jars welcomed the evening's guest. The week after my parents were married, they had a open house in Orem where my father's parents lived. After the open house, by way of tradition, my father pushed my mother down University Avenue in a wheelbarro in her wedding dress... I wish I could have seen it.
Also, on display that evening were various heirlooms representing periods from my parents' lives. Including my father's mission scrapbook and journal (He served in the Southern Australian mission). My father is also an avid scouter and a recipient of numerous badges as well as the Silver Beaver and the Paramount Service award (both are featured here). If you look close, you can see a vintage bottle filled with marbles-- a favorite childhood game of my father's.
This beautiful gown was the dress my mother wore when she was Dairy Princess. She was also Miss Betty Crocker and The Rodeo Queen.
For background music the grandchildren shared their talents. Our Stockton shared a patriotic trumpet piece in honor of grandpa... a true Patriot (Grandpa also played the trumpet).
We had quilts hanging from old ladders as backdrops for the memorabilia. The quilt on the left and the quilt square were made my grandmother Lucile. We are so grateful to her. Her hands touched our lives in so many ways. The quilt on the right was pieced by my mother at age 14.
My parents' siblings all came to join in the celebration. Pictured here are Ruth Kay and David Merrell.
My sweet nephew and his darling girlfriend drove with my big sis Wendy from Idaho. I was so grateful they brought her.... she really saved the day!
Weaver girls-- so cute ( L to R- my baby sis Heather Weaver Englestead and my cousin Hillary Weaver Messer).
The guest book- granddaughters Kinzi, and Jericka greeted the guests with our oldest son Seleck. We had on display the original guest book from 50 years ago and then I made up a guest book via Shutterfly with pictures spanning the early years of my parents' lives with blank pages for guests to sign.
Aunt Joyce and her daughter Connie joined us for the evening.
Granddaughter Kayla with her adorable daughter Saige.
The Weavers are so fun- Uncle Ed, Aunt Katherine, and Aunt Ruth Kay!
You just can't have enough family... Cousin Mara Weaver with cutie pie Taevin Messer
While our sound system for the evening was not the best. The grandkids loved watching and supporting each other perform. We had trumpet, pogo stick, voice, piano, karate, poetry... a little bit of everything. Dream and Japrix tickled the Ivories for us.
Mom and sister Joyce
My older brothers Chris and Kim
My Brother Michael, his wife Ember my beautiful nieces Kate and Savana and my cool nephew Solomon,
cousins Caleb and Bosten
My big bro Cleve holding Saige with Tia, Talbot, my Madsen, Kinzi, and Japrix
My sister Connie is a culinary artist and catered the affair. Her daughters Madi and Becca helped run the kitchen and Adelaide and my Emma served.
Still falling for those brown eyes dad?
50 years looks pretty good don't you think?
Saige
Old Bud with sis Ruth Kay and bro Wynn
My sister Wendy and I with our beautiful Aunts- Nancy Weaver and Katherine (Weaver)Walker.
We loved seeing and visiting with our old family members from the 1st ward!
Me and my cute hubby with my brother Chris and sister Wendy.
Adelaide on the keys
Dream's turn
Wendy and I with our amazing sister, connie-- the chef!
Seleck and Madsen give a go at Elvis Presley's "Love me Tender."
Dalass with no hands on the pogo stick!
We ordered the rainbow just special for the evening!
My sweet cousin Jenimarie Coon, her hubby Jeff and kids Kaitlin, Chloe, Max and McKade.
Me and Cousin
Jericka shared her sweet 16th birthday with us all-- love you Jerica!
Mom and dad cut the cake--- Happy Anniversary!
Mom and dad with a good portion of the 33 grandkids.
My mother with her siblings-- Bernell, Joyce, Donna, and Kent.
My parents with their children and spouses
By worldly standards perhaps these two parents of mine are just ordinary peope. But to me, they are extraordinary... They both graduated from college, my father earned his Master's Degree and then worked as a Social Worker. My mother taught 9th grade English for 20 years (she returned to the classroom when baby sister enter school). Together, they raised 7 children ( on not a whole lot of money) who each graduated from college and married in the temple. Today, these children "give back" to their children and the communities in which they live. They watched for years as their parents "Paid it Forward." Today, they are doing the same!
50 years ago on Friday the 13th you made choices and promises that will affect generations. Thank You!
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe that family relationships are perpetuated beyond the grave when performed in the Holy Temple. In other words, this cute family of mine with Aunts, Uncles, cousins, parents, 7 kids ( and spouses), 33 kids, and 2 great grandkids will be TOGETHER FOREVER. That is, if we live true and faithful there will be No empty Chairs at our table in heaven!
Autumn is magnificent in Utah's Dixie. I stole an hour and wandered the streets of Historic Santa Clara on the Eve before the celebratory Swiss Days. It was one of those happy walks. Usually, I have children walking along my side but today I enjoyed this moment in solitude. The sights and sounds wrote poetry in my heart as I immersed myself in a history of which my children are the benefactors.
Smiles rounded out my lips as I enjoyed the cows lining historic main. After all, Happy Cows come from Santa Clara. These cows are an integral part of Swiss Days. Swiss Days commemorate the 1861 settlement of Santa Clara. 
This is the home of Leo and Tessie Reber. I love to bring my children here so they cannot only see family historic sights but feel the strength of the testimonies of their ancestors who blessed their lives through their sacrifice!
This beautiful granary has been transformed into a French Patisserie... I can't wait to go eat here!
I must bring my "fab 5" to Swiss Days next year! Santa Clara, Barnwood and Tulips... another story of faith and joy!
