She's a Star

She's a Star
Originally uploaded by J Semenza.

The Party, Pt 1

Nick spent most of Friday afternoon hunting down awards, prizes, trophies, crowns, medals, diplomas and ribbons. Sunday, morning we started wrapping and attributing who gave her what.

Sunday afternoon around 5:00 p.m. we all converged at Nan’s house. It was so great to see everyone and to meet my nephew Sam. We had 21 people fill the house. The fun had started by the time I got there, everyone was talking and laughing and small children were happily running around.

Rebecca started off the presents, by presenting Nan with a blue garland crown, for being the “communication nexus” of the family. Nan then began on the big bag of presents from us. The bag included:

* #1 Foam Finger (like the ones fan have at football games), from Shanna
* Mug, Worlds Greatest Musician from Keith Richards
* Mug, Worlds Greatest Dancer from Ginger Rogers
* Plastic crown, from Amy
* Statue, Worlds Greatest Golfer from Chi Chi Rodriguez
* Package of paper ribbons with WINNER in the middle from Mister Rogers

By now everyone had realized that we had, not only a theme, but a great deal of silliness. Nick, Shanna, and I just couldn’t resist the urge to call on all of our friends and acquaintances (alive and dead) to help with this….

* Mug, Worlds Greatest Secretary, from Dad
* Banner, Worlds Greatest Mother, from Joan Crawford
* Medal, 1st Place, from Stacy Dragila
* Bib, Baby of the Year, from Sam and Aubrey
* First Place Wrestling Belt, from the WWF
* Gold Stars, from Jenny

Then came the 23 certificates and diplomas (hopefully I'll be able to list them in a "The Party, Pt 2 entry)

And yet there was still more in the endless bag.

* Blue ribbon, First Place, from Seabiscuit
* Blue ribbon, I’m a Winner, from Nanette
* Blue ribbon, #1, from Melinda
* Blue ribbon, 1st Place from Nadia
* Blue ribbon, Greatest Coach, from Igor
* Button, Best Mother, from Sydney

The bag was finally empty. Now for the high point, Jessica’s big present, a large, piñata, shaped and styled in gold, a replica of the Oscar, with Best Actress on the label. After much laughing, and a few pictures. We settled back down. Nanette did receive a couple of real presents.

Next we moved on to cake and ice cream. We had two cakes, thanks to Jen. One was a regular store bought cake and the other was a beautiful, gluten free, dairy free confection that Jen made. We had earlier discovered that Dave’s birthday was only two weeks away, so Nan dug out some candles and they both got serenaded with Happy Birthday. Most startling for me was the single puff Dave uses to blow out his candles. WOW. He wins the award for, hmm don’t know what to call it… In any case, he wins it.

We all talked for awhile longer then left for home. We’ll have to do this again soon.

After later
Jenny