100 Years of Amazing.

This weekend was a special one, a very special one. My grandmother (my only living grandparent) turned 100 on Saturday. 100. Let me repeat: 100.

Last year for her 99th birthday I wrote her a letter and we had a small celebration.  This year we celebrated in grand style, I mean how else do you celebrate 100 years?

Friday: After a very trying welcome back to life week, Matt and I decided to take it easy with a night in of catching up on the DVR and relaxing. And it was excellent.

Saturday: The big day! Grandma’s 100th Birthday! My parents put together a big(ish) shindig at my grandma’s home with lots of family and lots of friends and Matt and I headed over early to help set up. The place looked great and the birthday girl had a great time surrounded by lots of love and celebration.

My mom put together some awesome displays of memorabilia and photos from my grandma’s life over the years which were so fun to look at. One picture on display was of my grandma when she was 2, meaning the picture was 98 years old! I also learned that because my grandma was such an excellent piano player Duke Ellington asked her to go on tour with him (she declined to finish high school) and that she was a civil rights activist. Basically, my grandmother was (and still is) amazing.
The party was pretty low key but there were some speeches and readings and cake and a cute baby and family and just, so lovely.
Also, fun fact: My grandma has 10 grandkids, 6 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter. Most of us were at her party and it was so great to get a big picture together.

All in all it was a great day and I know my grandma enjoyed it. I can’t even imagine how much she’s lived through but being able to celebrate 100 years and looking back on her life was something I truly cherish.

After the big party I came home to nap and eventually Matt and I met some friends to see Argo (SO GOOD) and just hang out. It was the perfect way to end the evening.

Sunday: Woke up nice and early to attend service at my grandma’s church. They had a big celebration for her in their service as she is their most senior member. Not only that, but my grandma played the piano in church for so long that they have a plaque with her name on it. Despite the service being three hours long, it was amazing to see how many people love my grandma and how many lives she has truly touched by being a part of her church and her community.

After the service I treated myself to a little retail therapy, some reading, some TV watching and a lazy afternoon followed by a lazy evening that culminated with watching Madagascar 3 and sipping red wine with Matt, the loveliest.

And how was your weekend? Any big birthday celebrations?
Also, trip recap starting tomorrow – I know you’re so excited. Woo wee!

happy monday!

Tagged as: Birthdays are the best, eat drink and be merry!, we are family