Baby Shower on Father's Day (T)

I'm back from a busy weekend.

We had a baby shower for our son and daughter in-law at my Mother's home.  The kids flew in from Oregon.  The plan was to not be flying in her third trimester so we did this a bit earlier than most baby showers.

Linda from Life and Linda created this for me!  She's so talented and I want to thank her again!  

I blotted out some of the info for privacy. 

In the center of the table my sister Jen (the truly creative one in the family) created a theme partially based on the shower invitation with the little baby coming in on space ship.  She volunteered to do the decorating and I can't thank her enough because it wouldn't have been this cute if it was left to me!

See the cute little space ship she made with the yellow ring.  That is a little frisbee.  She took apart a clear Christmas ornament and used it to make the top of the space ship.  It also had a little pinwheel glued to the top for power (which you can see below)!  The legs were little dowel pieces and a wood bead.  The little white guy has a pacifier- too cute!

She added the "table of elements" blocks for the scientific aspect (Angela's mother is a science teacher and our son is a Metallurgical Engineer) and some little toys like slinkys, play-doh and cars.  The diaper cake had a host of useful baby items like teething rings and toddlers spoons and forks. 

We removed the square coffee table from the room and set up another table for guests.  I put out chex mix (which I added M & M's and peanuts to) and mints.  

We brought two big folding tables and I pushed the coffee table off the the corner and put one table right over it and an ottoman got hidden underneath too.  I had the food catered by a local restaurant (which we picked up) and I set up a lemonade dispenser and a clear bucket with different drinks to choose from.  My husband and son did the legwork of bringing the food in and starting the sterno burners and ice for the cold food while we played the games.  I used the empty aluminum roasting pan for the ice for the salad and the other one for the dinner rolls.

Outside is a gazebo and the I had the guys hang out there.  They had two fans running and their own choice of beer/and other drinks if they wanted and a tray of cheese, sausage and crackers which I didn't take a picture of.  It was incredibly hot (94-95) the whole weekend.  

I was trying to keep the traffic out of the kitchen because it's so small and it always causes a traffic jam so I only used the table for the cake and gifts.  Since the kids had to fly I had given everyone a heads up about not giving the usual gifts because they couldn't take them on a plane.  Everyone gave gift cards and or had already sent gifts to their home since they were registered at a couple of places.

My niece Jessica made the cake.  It was delicious!

My daughter set up three games that we played and we all had a good time with them.

When we played the nursery rhyme game the gang broke out in song on a few- it was cute and heartwarming.

Two of my sisters, Donna and Sherry.  

The shower was small- just my sisters, their kids and husbands.  A couple of people couldn't make it but as it turned out we had just enough tables and chairs for the ones that did come.  I treated it as a shower and family get together.  We had three identical gifts for the winners of the game.  In this picture one of the winners is just opening hers.  

I set up two tv trays with chairs for Ryan and Angela to open gifts.  This one was funny- a pacifier with a mustache and a tuxedo bib!  By now I expect you figured out they are having a boy!

I was so busy I kept forgetting to take pictures.  This was later after we had already devoured some of the food.  The lemonade was a big hit.  The cooler on the right had a lot more drinks in it to fill the clear bucket I had on the table. We had chicken and beef tenderloin skewers (that both had sauces on them), macaroni and cheese, pasta primavera, yummy bread rolls, a salad with pine nuts, crumbled blue cheese, onion and a raspberry maple vinaigrette.  I also had a tray of fresh veges with dip, and cold fruit.

My mom is 93- soon to be 94 (She's in love with her flowered tennis shoes!).  We gathered for a group picture.  Audra is our 3 1/2 yr. old grand-niece- great grand-daughter.  She added a lot of smiles to the day.  My sisters and I look like we coordinated our colors but it was truly just coincidental!

One of my nieces brought a bean bag toss game that a few played with.  Audra loved playing too.  I wish I had her energy!

The next morning we put the coffee table back and I arranged the table.  Mom has had these pewter candlesticks on here since the 90's.  I found some white candles in the drawer so I decided to go with that for a summer look and I swapped the center out with a crystal vase to keep it light and add some sparkle. 

We took the kids to the airport and headed north to go home.  We needed a break so we slipped off to Frankenmuth and had a nice dinner at Zehnders.  It was so beautiful there that evening.  The hydrangeas were close to blooming and I could smell the flowers in their planters.

The temp was dropping as it was early evening and it felt great.  Everything is set up with a bavarian look- some call it Michigan's Little Bavaria.

I am suffering from what seems to be a summer cold that I started over the weekend.  I think I got it from the in and out from air conditioning and extreme heat.   I'm foggy brained from taking meds to help.  I'm not able to visit many blogs because of it so I apologize now for that.  We're supposed to be in Pennsylvania this coming weekend and I need to get better quickly!  Send up your prayers!

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Joining:
Thoughts of Home on Thursday 
Tablescape Thursday