The big event during the weekend family reunion was the Saturday evening reception. This was for family only and we had about fifty people gathered in the church’s fellowship hall to celebrate my grandparents’ 90th birthdays and 67th wedding anniversary.
Jennifer and the girls made these mints as party favors and packaged them with cute little ribbons and paper flowers.
Helping hands on the assembly process. There was a lot of bickering about who was getting to help out more, since it was essentially a one-person job.
The catered dinner was very nice. While I don’t have pictures of it, I do have pictures of the cakes that were on the tables for dessert. Very pretty, no?
The highlight of the evening was a 20-minute video I had created in collaboration with my mother, sister, and cousin Alex. Over the past three years I’ve been scanning old photos from my grandmother’s well-organized albums. I’ve also been conducting audio interviews with them and also my mother, trying to capture stories, memories, and anecdotes to craft into a family history.
The 20-minute video was just the first stage of a larger project, but I have to say I’m pretty pleased with how it came out. Since 20 minutes is too much to upload and you probably don’t want to see lots of pictures of four children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren you don’t know, I’ve created an edited version of the video, just 9 minutes long, which focuses on how my grandparents met and were married. It is quite an interesting story, and I hope you enjoy it!
When Tawn watched it before I left for the US, he had tears in his eyes because he wanted to be there to see their reaction. As expected, my grandparents and all the relatives were very pleased with it. So much so, in fact, that Sunday morning cousin Bill and I were burning copies for everyone to take home with them!
My grandmother had some words to say afterwards, thanking everyone for being there and for being a part of their lives. How wonderful is it to be able to live to such a ripe old age and to still have your faculties about you? We should all be so fortunate.
I think I’ve written enough about the anniversary and birthday celebration over the last week, so I’ll let this be the final entry on the subject. Let me just conclude by wishing my grandparents many more years of good health and great happiness together.
christao408 
Beautiful. I am amazed… not only at their ages, but how long they have been married! That is truly awesome!
A beautiful tribute, Chris — I hope they do have many good years of health and happiness together!
So many different kinds of dessert! Yumm! The video tribute was so aptly done, with the background music and what a history lesson also!
Wish your grandparents all the best! The video is great! My grandma is 93 and very healthy.
WOW! The video is truly amazing, Chris! I would really like to see the full version if it’s somehow possible. Here’s wishing your grandparents the very best.
absolutely beautiful story!
@Dezinerdreams – If you want to email me your new address (which I think I don’t have) I’d be happy to send you a copy.
@Passionflwr86 – Many people have said that the 67 years of marriage is much more amazing than the 90 years of living! LOL@slmret – @CurryPuffy – @piyapong – Thank you.@foggysunnymorning – Lots of that longevity stuff going around these days. I hope it is catching!
What a wonderful tribute!!! I know that your grandparents were so touched by all of the love and affection that was showered on them!!! I am just sorry that Tawn couldnt be there to celebrate with you!!! I will have to come back and watch the video later….right now I am heading off to try and finish out my sleep for the night…this getting up in the middle of the night is making me crazy!!! lolRuth Ann
How lovely! Is the full video posted somewhere for public access? What a tribute this is!
Wow, that was just very moving and marvelous. It really was like one of those professional documentaries. And yes, I concur with a previous statement that the 67 years of marriage amaze me more than their age.
What magnificent lives! Besides what everyone else above mentioned about their health, longevity, and marriage, what amazing changes in technology, culture, and politics your grandparents must have seen in 90 years of living.I agree that the video is highly professional!(Also, those party favors are very cute <3)
That video is so nice. You did a wonderful job.
It’s beautiful how watching the life that two strangers to me, had created and being emotionally moved to tears. I seriously love this. I’m not even a chick flick person and this still had me at the birth. I wish I had seen the whole thing now. 20 minutes is not that long when its a life, or two or three, involved.Happy Anniversary. And Jennifer and the girls are a beautiful bunch!
Wow!! What milestones!! That video totally blew me away–great job. I loved the story of your grandparents, and it appealed to the history lover in me. A marriage that lasted so long would be unheard of these days! (love the sudden proposal.haha).
Chris-I have not posted a comment for a while. . .but I’ve been reading your posts. Are you living in KC now? If so, that was a big move? Was if for work? Your grandparents are adorable by the way and the gift favor boxes are soooo clever. The girls did a fabulous job on them. Funny that you have this pictured as I’ve recently launched my own party supply and decorations shop on etsy ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/Scrapafrass ) called Paper Moments and have been busy making custom orders for local events and my etsy customers. If you ever have another local event you are planning for family or work and need some favors or party decorations, shoot me a comment and I’ll be more than happy to help you out! Looks like you guys had a great time!Jill
@z_stands_for – @csn71650 – With YouTube’s 10-minute limit for videos, I’m afraid that a full-length version is unlikely. This first 10 minutes is the most interesting part, though. Thanks for your interest.@lil_squirrel4ever – @yang1815 – @beowulf222 – Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the video.@Senlin – It is pretty amazing to consider what has transpired in the past 90 years. All the more so when you consider than my grandfather uses a computer, email, browses the internet, etc.@Redlegsix – Oh, I’m sorry to hear you’re waking up in the middle of the night. Hope you can get a full night’s sleep soon!@Art4ArtSake – Still here in Bangkok. KC was only a visit…
Man. I am just a leaky kettle today. Second time I’ve gotten so teary I had to go get kleenex. And that wasn’t even the 20 min. version. This was beautiful and I can see why everyone wanted a copy. A friend of ours did an oral history with his mother. Took him almost 2 yrs and he was able to edit it down to 6 discs. It was given to his mother for Christmas (and a copy for all the family members too). They are still talking about it!
what a handsome couple 67yrs of marriage is mind boggling
That was a tear jerker alright. Thank you so much for posting the video, Chris.I loved every minute of it. Your grandfather’s voice sounds like your voice. What a handsome couple and such a beautiful family. Prayers for their long and healthy lives are in order.
happy bday & anniversary to your grandparents.. they look lovely and it’s great to see all the generations together. your grandparents were as darling when they were young as they are now 😀
wow. i wished i can look so young when i am 90. happy anniversary and birthday to your grandparents!
That was precious! Good job on the video, I almost cried too.
@murisopsis – I’m convinced that there is a lot of value in collecting family histories, regardless of the way that it is done. I would love to have known what my great-great-great grandparents’ lives were like, and I’m glad that my niece’s great-granchildren will be able to know the stories from her great-grandparents’ lives.@grannykaren – @ZSA_MD – @iskrak – @ungrandvoyage – @Shades_of_Athena – Thanks for your kind words. My grandparents continue to teach me the lesson that the best way to stay young is to live a full and active life.
@christao408 – that you definitely do, and i admire and am a bit envious of it x)
Aww… that was very sweet. I love the video – it’s very polished. 67 years of marriage – that’s just amazing.
@ElusiveWords – Thanks, Matt.
EXCELLENT!Thank you for sharing.
wow very nice! impressed!
Aw, congrats to them! 90th birthday? Wowzers.
@Curlyquilter – Thanks for stopping by and subscribing!@Roadlesstaken – Seriously, that’s a long time, isn’t it?@lcfu – Thanks Fu.
What a wonderful story of your grandparents, and amazing job with the video. I believe this is the first I’ve seen of your mom as a child with a cute red dress and hat!
Looks like a wonderful party! That’s fantastic that you all were able to put together something so nice for your grandparents.
Congrats to your grandparents! And, those mint favors look really cool.
i want those mints and cakes! yum.
@doiturselfer – Yes, back when they were living in the Bay Area, I didn’t have any of these photos. It wasn’t until the last few years that I started scanning them. Glad you enjoyed the story.@TheCheshireGrins – I’m glad I got it pulled together and would like to extend it and incorporate more interviews and family history.@epiginoskete – Thank you.@rudyhou – Drat – should have send you a box!
Hi Chris, so sorry I’m late here, can’t think how I missed this. Firstly what a wonderful double celebration for your grandparents – 90th Birthdays and 67 years wed – wow that is amazing on both counts ! Belated congratulations to them both and I hope they will share many more wonderful years together and they look such a lovely couple !Those party mints look wonderful in their pretty packages ! Those cakes look delicious too – my favourite though is the first one – it looks absolutely gorgeous !
@Chatamanda – Thanks for the nice words.