50th Anniversary

September 3rd marked a very special occasion. My dear parents were married 50 years ago on that day.  They decided a while back that they wanted a nice family dinner to commemorate the event. So on September 17th that is just what we did.  The day started by having a new family photo taken.  This is no small feat with our crew. Not only getting everyone there at the same time, but getting us all smiling and looking at the camera with our eyes open:) Since our last family photo a few years ago, we added 5 more to our group....yay!!

The grounds were so beautiful and in between shots, the kids couldn't resist the fountains and pools.

 This little guy couldn't resist those shiny things the pretty girl kept flashing at him

 After pictures we had several hours before the dinner.  Mark and I decided to just stay downtown rather than go back and forth. My parents went to rest up in their room at the Grand America and most of us headed to Gateway to grab some lunch.  It wasn't quite as crazy as when we went there last Christmas.

 Some left after lunch, but the Weavers and Aunt Ashlee joined us at the Church History Museum=more walking around. Normally this might be a drag for an 8 year old, but when you have your cousin it's much more bearable.

 Plus there were more pools to play in

We saw so many interesting things in the museum.  I wish that I had been able to take it all in a little more.  The kids didn't all have the attention span to read and relish in all the artifacts;)

 

Being behind the podium is so much more fun when you are just goofing off at a museum ....and when you are with a crowd.

  The Church History Museum is somewhere we have been wanting to take our girls on our many trips to Utah.  I'm glad it finally worked out and glad that we had such good company.

 After walking around ....a lot....we were all tired out and ready to head back to the Grand America to get freshened up for the celebration!

 The guests of honor arrive...

 My [soon to be] sister in law Kristin made these beautiful floral arrangements. My sister Jill had put together these 50 trivia cards {which you can kinda see in this picture} that were randomly at each place setting. Some were true and some were just funny and didn't necessarily coincide with the # [but they still had some truth to them] For example....

#13  Number of bungee cords it took dad to strap all our luggage on the roof of the station wagon

#18  How many times Wayne forgot to wear sunblock and torched his lower calves. 

#31  Longest voice mail, in minutes, left by Cheryl.  

#39  How many years they have lived in the same house  

My mom and dad got all the cards, but we were kicking ourselves after for not thinking to go around tables and have everyone read them....it would have been so fun!

 We had all the family put their print on the family tree

 Leslie put together some pictures to display

 These 2 got an early start on the drinking..ha.  They picked out their spot and were anxiously awaiting the food

 Lots of visiting before dinner

 The "kids" table....they were seriously not about to budge from their places

Dinner buffet was served and it all tasted delicious

 I honestly was enjoying myself so much I kinda slacked off on taking pictures a little.  I actually asked Bailee to run around and snap photos of the tables while they ate...

Chris, Kris, my uncle Gary, cousin Jeanette and her husband Shane

My parents and some of their closest lifelong friends [who are like family] Janice & Bill, Shari & Corwin and George & Elaine

my uncle Neil, Ryan, Olivia, uncle Brent, uncle Calvin

Mark and my girls

Killian and Hazen

 Part of what I was enjoying was walking this sweet little guy to sleep. Oh man does it make me miss having babies:)

That dad of ours got down on one knee and proposed to my mom before the night was over.  He never did it properly when he asked her 50+ years ago so he did it 50 years later with a gorgeous ring....such a romantic!

 there was a little dance party happening out in the hall

 Five of the 6 Fortie siblings together

 [Keith and his wife are serving a mission]

Neil, Dad, Brent, Colleen, Karolyn

cute cousins

these 2 girlies are getting too grown up

 It was really a fabulous night/day.... perfect for honoring such a fabulous couple and their 50 years together.  I am so lucky and honored to call them my parents.  Love them both more than I could ever adequately express.

<3<3