Valle's 80th birthday party

Here are some highlights from my grandmother Valle's big 80th b-day party. It was such a special occasion celebrating a very special lady. Granddad surprised her with a barbershop quartet, Zirconium. They performed several songs, then backed up Grandad as he sang "Heart of My Heart" to her.
here is the video, it is really sweet.  ( I suggest you click play then let it completely buffer for a few minutes, then watch it.)  http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mb4fSuYxk1m7wMCEZdiVXg?authkey=Gv1sRgCMnqzNjSkdaKnAE&feat=directlink



Another surprise during the party was a "hat fashion show." Grandmother has a fabulous hat collection and the ladies and little girls in Valle's family modeled them while Jake talked about each one. (thanks Valerie for putting this together!)

These are photos of Valle over the years wearing some of her hats- isn't she beautiful!

Other party highlights: Beth, Elizabeth and Molly gathered pictures and Dustin put together a slideshow set to music that Uncle Robin compiled especially for his mom, Molly quoted "Esau Wood, " a lengthy tongue-twister that great-grandmother Ida made famous in our family. (only Molly stepped up to the challenge of memorizing it for the party, and she did a great job!) Here's the video of Molly: http://picasaweb.google.com/carmenmarieclark/MollyQuotingEsauWood?feat=directlink
Trey entertained the group with his guitar and sang a personalized song "Just for you, Valle." Here's the video of Trey: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/22jvm4ucanWZemSyn5h6sA?feat=directlink   
Mr. Paul Huff read "Parable of a Mother,' and Elizabeth read a poem she wrote about Grandmother. Elizabeth led everyone in "Valle trivia," and the group sang a version of "Say a little prayer for you" that Beth modified for Valle. There were even little bags of Papa Brady's "happy pills" (m&m's) that Elizabeth put on all the tables as party favors.