Poppy's Surprise!

Poppy's birthday was on April 14th, turning 63!  We thought it was the perfect year to surprise our dad with a family gathering at "The Land".  A place he holds very very close to his heart, a place his son-in-laws love, a place his wife and daughters barely visit.

It went down like this: 

Previous weekend, Poppy and Grammie were in town for the twins birthday.  At brunch on Sunday, we celebrated Poppy's birthday with Owen leading us in a birthday song (he played his guitar and pretty much sang by himself) - Poppy loved it!  We had strawberry shortcake, balloons, and presents.  This was his birthday celebration since we were all together.

Following weekend, Rich & Jeremy (Erik couldn't come) had plans to help Poppy back at the land to work.  Rich arrived in town around 4:30pm on Friday to get dad back to the land.  Meanwhile, Lora & Annalise were in town trying to avoid dad (at one point, Lora & Emme had to hide in the bathroom as dad insisted on running back to the house - should have known this was going to happen).  Kathy & I packed in the car with 4 little ones and arrived in town around 5pm on Friday.  Knowing dad hadn't left town, we took the kids to dinner and waited for the call.  At home, at last... dad is at the land!

Saturday morning, we load up and our three car caravan heads over the mountain. Only after, Kathy makes an emergency run to the doctor - both boys have ear infections. We arrive at the land and quickly set up our banner, run out of tape, depend on rusty nails to hold the paper sign to the homemade deck as the wind blows in huge gust... which made tying balloons to the post very interesting. We wait... we wait... we wait.

Jeremy & Rich know that we are waiting, when are the bringing dad down from the mountain?  Wait, we hear the rhino and 4wheeler... wait, now it's gone... oh, it's back.  We see something - we are so excited to surprise dad!  Oh, it's Jeremy and he's by himself.  What, you lost dad and Rich?  Jeremy goes up the mountain to find them.  Within minutes, Poppy & Rich arrive up the driveway on the Rhino. 

Dad noticed the balloons at the entrance but couldn't figure out why the guys would hang them. Ha! As they approach, Rich asked dad when the last time his girls were at the land. Dad's response... a very long time. S U R P R I S E!

We pulled off a fantastic surprise... there we stood - Grammie, Annalise (drove 8 hours from school without dad knowing), Dawn & Dustin, Kathy, Conor, & Aschton, me, Owen & Cammie (Erik had to stay home), and Lora & Emme. Kim, Marc, Angeline, & Gabriella were not able to make the trip - they were missed! We laughed and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside. Within hours, more family/friends started to show up throughout the afternoon. We cooked out and ended the evening with cake, homemade ice-cream and peach cobbler... yummy!

Owen & Camden had so much fun.  Let me just say, EXHAUSTED when we arrived back in Charlotte on Sunday afternoon.  Owen caught a fish with Poppy & Aunt Dawn and insisted on riding on the Rhino all afternoon.  Cammie enjoyed the pinecones, the brownie Aunt Annie gave her, and just running free.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY - WE ALL LOVE YOU!