Mimi’s 80th Birthday Party

Saturday evening was all about Mimi.  It’s not everyday your favorite grandma turns 80.  Well, for Mimi it was her first.  If it’s like her 75th birthday we might have a few. 

We had family from just about every branch of the family there.  It was great! 

My Uncle Frank (my awesome godfather!) did an opening history of Mimi.  It was really neat to learn more about our amazing Mimi.  We celebrated her 80th on her actual birthday, June 9th.  She was born in Mexico as the youngest in a family of twelve!  Uncle Frank did a great job saying her entire name, it’s a long one of course.  He also named all of her siblings.    He also told a story of how one of her older brothers took her to a movie and bought her gloves, and a dress for her first communion.  It was a VERY big deal.  Her family was very poor, so movies and new clothes were not a normal thing.

After my uncle’s introduction, Mimi had asked my sister Lauren to read a letter she wrote to her kids.  It was such a sweet love letter to her babies.  In the letter she put a quote from her mom.  When Mimi was little she asked her mom what the biggest thing in the world was.  Her mother responded “A mother’s heart.”  I of course cried when the letter was read.  Lauren did a good job not crying.  She said she didn’t look at Mimi to make sure she didn’t.  She has seven babies and only four were able to be there that night.  Here they are in order Carmen, Fred (Bubba), Alfred, David (my dad), John, Frank, and Ernest.

Mimi’s Baby Boys- Uncle Frank and Uncle Ernest

The daughter- in- laws, Aunt Linda, my mom, and Aunt Acel

Then there was the really extended family. My dad’s aunts, uncles, cousins, and second- cousins.

 

My Papaw and Mimi have seven kids, nineteen grandkids, and so far fifteen great grandkids.  We were missing seven of of the grandkids and four of the greats in the picture of the Grands and Greats below.

Of the nineteen grandkids, five of us are Aggies; so here’s our Gig’Em pic with Mimi!  I’m sure that number will increase! 

Here is my group with Mimi.

We also took a picture of all the “girls”.  Mimi, Mom, my sisters, myself, and of course Makaela.  Generations of strong women!

Then you had Sam and his girl friend taking pictures with Mimi.  Sam thought he would be funny and give Mimi bunny ears.  Mimi thought it was funny.

Mom and Dad gave Mimi a statue of Our Lady hugging Pope John Paul II.  I believe my dad bought it when he was in Argentina for work.  Mimi of course loved it.  Ever since I can remember Mimi has always had a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  She is the one I credit with teaching me the rosary.  Growing up when we visited Mimi for the summer, before we went to bed we would say the rosary.  

Two of the greats should up later after Eva’s dance recital was over.  Kira had hers earlier that day.  They are such beautiful little girls! 

We had a Mexican buffet for dinner and while we finished up dinner we had a Mariachi band.  Of course, Mimi had lots of song requests!  My boys REALLY was to learn Spanish now after the music and hanging out with Mimi.

We even did some dancing. 

Of course they played the Chicken Dance. 

It was a wonderful night of family fun.  We can't wait for next year!  Here are some “party pics” of everyone! 

I’m blessed to have such a wonderful family.  I feel overly blessed to have a grandmother like my Mimi.  Looking at the pictures from the party and weekend, my eyes fill with tears and I hear her sweet voice telling me “Shelly, you need to send me these pictures.”  Okay, I’m sure Mimi is not thinking about her pictures, but I do want to get a copy of all the fun we had celebrating her amazing 80 years!