About a year ago Steven and Rachelle decided to throw a 40th birthday bash for DeLona....it was to be a surprise.....of course we that know DeLona, know that it is hard to surprise DeLona with anything....she is a good detective! But anyway plans were started. Of course we all know that you don't tell little ones if you want to keep a secret. So only Sierra, of the children knew about it. DeLona is a Elvis fan so the theme was a no brainer.
As time went by a few things were added to the mix. DeLona had planned a trip to Hawaii and right before her birthday. So that had to be worked around. Rachelle made invites, sent via the e-mail. Plane tickets were being checked on daily for the best rates. Motels were checked for rates....Dayson & Kim planned their vacation so they could be there. Amaron and Satya were coming, things changed so they could not come. Loren and Anna were coming but things changed and they could not come. Sean and Christine had baby Troy Valentine on the 27th of July....timing not good....Adam and Kristie had baby Lance Gary on the 15th of June, timing not good. Glenn had school and a new job...timing not good. So the rest of us managed to get to Gresham. Gary and I flew in on the 4th of August...a day early...we rented a car and drove to the Days Inn in Gresham. We had to lay low because DeLona is always running errands and going right by the Days Inn. Steven knew where we were so he keep DeLona away from the area. We walked to the Burgerville and got us dinner.....later Cole and Sierra came by to say hi....but only for a few moments because they had to get back before their mother who had run to the TBYC for ice cream. We ventured to Walmart to pick up a few things. Then Gary went swimming before we retired for the night.
Next morning Gary went swimming again then breakfast, then off to Costco to meet up with Rachelle, Aaron, Angelene and Zach. The timing was good, they walked in a few minutes after we did. They had the early flight from Phoenix, picked up their rental car and meet us at Costco. The adventure was started. Zach, Angelene, Rachelle, Aaron and Gary had lunch...I checked out a few things while they were eating. Rachelle had her list and she started filling her basket. It was like a game....finding everything. As her basket got fuller more people were filling Costco....by the time we left it was pretty busy....everything was put in our reatal car...then it was off to Fred Myers...more things were picked up. It was after 12:30 PM and Sierra gave Rachelle the all clear....so we headed to DeLona's....the children had everything clean and were so excited to see all of us. Cole was a big help in unloading all the party items. Zach, Aaron, and the rest of us helped also. It was a trick to find room for everything. Somethings were put into an ice chest, Rachelle and Sierra started right away getting the decorations ready. They need a few more things so off to the $ store they went. I started cutting up fruit, Angelene started organingizing....g-pa decided he wasn't needed so he headed back to the motel....Aaron and Zack headed to check in....Dayson called a little later and asked for instructions for what exit to take....They made it....g-pa went swimming with some of the Dayson bunch while Kim went to Walmart. It was a team effort to get everything ready. It was decided that Zach and Aaron were to grill the hamburgers and hot dogs. I must say that they did a wonderful job.
Julie (Steven's sister) bought a salad, Judy(Steven's mom) bought a pasta salad, Rachelle made Pina Coladas, tomatoes, sliced, lettuce washed and put out, Fruit kabobs made, and plated....chicken marinated and then Angelene cut it up and made chicken kabobs. Maddy and Sydnee helped her with the kabobs. Tables were set up and clothed lights were hung....Cole helped with the stringing up of these..all of the children helped put this wonderful surprise together. Angelene and Rachelle made a quick run back to the motel to get ready and then the surprise was on.....
As you can see she was surprised..."How did you get this planned.." "without me knowing about it."
Steven took DeLona out for the afternoon with him while Rachelle, Sierra, Maddy, Sydnee, Cole, Presley, Angelene, Zach, Aaron, myself and g-pa helped get things ready.
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