My Grandma Allen, Orel Kay Lee Allen, turned 80 today.
She is awesome!
We had a surprise birthday party for her. Well, kind of a surprise... Grandpa had to get her there, with buckets of KFC chicken. I'm sure she figured it out. She's a smart lady.
I'm such a slacker and bum when it comes to birthday presents. I used to be a lot better at planning ahead, but not this time. Although in my defense, I had told everyone I was planning to make a Texas cake for her loooong before the party was planned. It's tradition. My Grandma loves Texas cake and ever since I can remember, she's always asked me which part of the cake has the most frosting. She's even been known to drink the leftover frosting on occasion.
So instead of a present {well, besides the cake}, I picked up some poster board, frantically emailed all of my cousins and family who weren't going to make it, and collected 80 things we all love about Grandma. I made my cousin, Nichelle, write the Happy Birthday part on the posters. She's artsy and crafty and ubber talented with stuff like this.
Here's the final list. Although I did have more than 80 things I'd
collected from everyone. It was fun to read how many of us had the same
memories with Grandma or the same traits we loved the most. I personally
like the #1 reason the best - anyone named Kay must be awesome {I wrote
that one!}. This obviously, also makes me her favorite.
The fam-damily.
{Natalee and Blakely}
{The newlyweds... Nichelle and Eric}
{The cake-ivores}
{Blakely and my Aunt Cara}
{Grandma with the only Tullis family around, Tim and Megan, while the rest of their family gallivants around Europe for the year}
{My Uncle Weston, Nicole and her squeeze... can't remember his name, but I like him}
I think every picture of my brother, Kurtis, is like this. People are going to think he has issues.
But Anberlin is adorable as always!
The boys quickly lost interest in talking and started a rousing game of keep-away from Uncle Kurtis.
{Pearl with her crazy flowers}
My parents got my Grandma a picture of her childhood home in Panaca. It was framed really nice and she was just tickled with it. Funny side story. For her birthday, my Grandpa told her that he would take her anywhere, ANYWHERE in the entire world that she wanted. You know where she picked? Panaca, Nevada. Podunk, nothing to do, hot as Hades, town Panaca. So funny!
And Jeff got her a box of sparklers. She giggled. {Read about the inside joke
here}
It was a great evening, perfect weather in beautiful Cache Valley to celebrate the life of one amazing, fantastically funny, sassy, smart, kind, spiritual lady. I love you Grandma!
