happy 60th birthday, mom!

My mom, Dori, who many of you know, turned 60 on December 19. Earlier this year, my family decided to pull together a surprise party for her and it took no small amount of planning and scheming. She was very surprised to see my siblings and our spouses in South Dakota, a week before she expected us for Christmas. Some of her great friends were there and some couldn’t make it, but we had a fantastic time. My mom is incredibly special and she celebrates others better than anyone else I know. It was fun to return the favor and I’m so grateful to her friends for being there.

I designed the invitation. They are letterpressed and were printed by Porridge Papers here in Lincoln.






One of my favorite parts of the evening was the hired photographer because it meant I could snap a few of my own pictures and then relax without worrying about missing out on any of the fun. We worked with Patrick of PJ Anderson Photography in Watertown, SD and he did a phenomenal job. The rest of the images in this post were taken by him.

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

The after-dinner entertainment was an interactive photo booth. My sister and I twisted a ton of yarn together to make the backdrop and my dad built us a big frame to hang it on. We asked if he’d build something to sift fake snow from the top and he did one better and rented a snow machine. We asked everyone to get in at least one picture so I can put them together in a book for my mom. Some of us needed less prompting than others. 🙂
Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

These are the wonderful people who’ve married into our family. And this is their “in-law” dance. They do it whenever the rest of us start talking about something that they don’t know about.
Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

My parents with my aunt Becky and uncle Keith. They drove all the way from Indiana to be there and it meant so much to my mom.

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography

My wonderful family. It was so fun to be together! Miss them already. Happy birthday, mom!

Photo Credit: PJ Anderson Photography
JR