Brian Regan, Alan's 60th B-day Surprise & IronMEN

So much going on lately.  Life feels a bit of a blur.  Lots of good stuff and hopefully there will be time to document it all later.  As for now, here are some pictures and a few captions to sum up our weekend.

   

Burkie and I at Brian Regan - what a handsome man!

On Friday we drove up to St. George for Brian Regan!  This is the third year in a row we have gone with the Adams family and as always, we died laughing!  Last year we were slightly disappointed that he didn't have much new material, but we were pleased to hear a whole new line hilarious line up this time.  One of my favorite jokes was when he was talking about these people cutting in line at Disneyland and the way he mentally flattens people with a steamroller in his mind when he gets annoyed.  Oh! And that just reminded me of his bit about people who block the entire aisle of passengers when they get on a plane and have to get something out of their bag, but stand right in the middle of the aisle to do it.  So so true and so so funny!  He also had a grasshopper land on him in the middle of the show and he was so clever, turning it into a whole series of jokes right on the spot.

The lovely In-Laws at Brian Regan.

After the show we all stood around talking in a big circle until the parking lot cleared out.  It was so much fun and I just kept thinking, "Wow! How lucky am I to have married into this amazing family?!"  We spent the night at Cassie and Dan's house and were so happy to have a chance to see Elijah, Marinda and their boys as they were in town for the Half Ironman race on Saturday.  Both Elijah and Dan were nutters and competed in the Half Ironman Triathlon.  I wanted so badly to cheer them on at the finish line, but unfortunately the event coincided with the other event we had going on that day...a big 60th Birthday Surprise Party for my father-in-law Alan!



My in-laws went to such tremendous efforts to make this party a success.  Kellie decorate a table spread with the theme "All About Alan".  Everything on that table was something that Alan loves.  There was cashews, a collage of pictures from his mission in Ireland surrounded by a British candy bar called "Bounty" (think Almond Joys without the almond), a Beach Boys CD, M&Ms, a car cutout for everyone that was the almost exact replica of his car in college, farm animal suckers, etc., etc.

I don't know if I've mentioned on here, but my sister-in-law Kristen is a phenomenal baker specializing in cake/cupcake decorating. Get a load of these adorable cupcakes she made for Alan with a few of his favorite things: campfires (he's a total pyro!), Ireland's flag, a fishing pole & fish, Marie's face, little basketball rings with a black and white picture from Hoosiers (his favorite movie) and of course green grass with "Mother Town" coming out the top for Parowan.

Can you believe the detail with even the mallow a little toasted?!  She's amazing.

Alan with his 3 youngest grandbabies - Grey, Aubrey and Luke.

LeeAnn organized a program with all the granddaughters singing "Give Said the Little Stream" (his favorite primary hymn) and then Catherine presented Alan with a book that she has been working on for - no exaggeration - nearly 6 months!!!  Sweet Catherine collected letters and pictures from family, friends, neighbors, childhood friends, etc and put it together in a 184 page book that is a complete work of art.  She did such a fantastic job and after having made a similar book for my Dad when he retired from the Mo-Tab, I know exactly the crazy amount of hours and enormous dedication it took to produce the final product.  I should have taken a picture, but Alan cried several times while reading it, so that should be an indicator as to how special it was for him.  

Alan with his namesake Alan Burke.

Next we had lunch put on by Kevin and Danelle who completely outdid themselves with fruit kabobs, BBQ ribs, etc.  Yum yum yum!

Now that's a slab of meat!

After lunch we all came into the living room to watch a DVD I had put together for Alan.  I've been working on it since Easter, but because our computer is so stinking slow, it has been quite the labor of love.  I had a brief slideshow of Alan growing up and marrying Marie and then it transitioned into interviews with each of the family telling Alan why they loved him or some of their memories of him.  I think we all lost it when it got to Brett who starts off his interview with, "Well Dad, I'll probably be in South Carolina a couple weeks into my mission by the time you watch this."  Alan just kept saying, "Oh Louie!" (his nickname for Bretty) as he sobbed - we all wish he could be there, but are so grateful he's out serving the Lord.

It was so fun for me to make the video and to share my love with my sweet father-in-law.  He has treated me like gold since the very first day I met him nearly 5 years ago.  He and Marie are the reason my husband turned out to be the remarkable man that he is with their teachings and examples to live by.  It was a privilege to celebrate this big milestone birthday with him and to feel yet again so blessed to be a part of his family.

I didn't manage to get any pictures that night, but after the par-tay we went back over to the Ridings for a celebratory BBQ for Elijah and Dan completing the Ironman.  They both did a stupendous job and finished the 70 mile race in just 5 & 1/2 hours.  What studs!  And of course a big shout out needs to go to Marinda and Cassie who supported them through countless hours of training over the last year.  Triathlete competitions take the entire family to make them happen.  Congratulations Ridings and Bushes!