Family Anniversary Feast

Today was our Anniversary Feast. Right here was the moment of joy for me, where my heart was so pleased and I felt "This... this is what I was going for..." 

I loved seeing all the kids sitting down together smiling and talking, with candles lit and each plate of green and red next to crystal goblets full of sparkling gold cider. I took a short video of the moment here. "You Are..." So, here's the work this morning that led up to it today. Corey and I stayed up too late, but I still woke up at 5:30 and did some name tag finishing touches, mostly with photos and memorabilia. I put them in order of: high school by the front door, then counter clockwise across the front room to college, one on one dating before mission, missions in the corner by the music room, then into the music room for after I got home, engagement, wedding day and reception. I set it up so people could walk along that way as they entered into the kitchen. The kids slept over at Wayne's and Hyrum took NODPK straight to church from there. Mel Abi and Sophi came home first to get ready. At church the opening and closing hymns each had a line that went along with what I was feeling today - Verse 2 of Hymn 263 "Go Forth with Faith"... "Go forth with faith to tell the world the joy of families, that we can be with those we love for all eternity!"

That is what the gospel is about - us being happy at home, in our marriages and with our children, as we all strive to follow Christ. And also the closing hymn #295 "O Love That Glorifies The Son" also in verse two "O love that binds our family, O love that brings my heart to thee, Pure love that lasts eternally..." I'm grateful to believe in eternal families! I believe it with all my heart. Mel and Hyrum helped me substitute in the nursery. It was just Katharine and Becca. Katharine was shunning Hyrum, and he said "What about Friday?!? You were so happy to see me!??" Becca played with him, and since it was just the two kids, he used that to his advantage "Now Katharine has to play with me if she wants to play with Becca, hahaha" 

Hyrum opened the closet when it was time for snacks. "This was my 7 year old self's dream... Having the keys to this closet. The snacks!!" 

He saw a bunch of warm fuzzies/pom pom balls in a jar and said to Mel "Do you remember this!?!? The party jar!!??" Ahh the simple yet magical memories of childhood. 

Katharine threw a fit a few times. I'm glad that her fit only involves her going over to quietly mourn like a princess against a wall or in a corner. 

Giving herself a hug for comfort as Mel jokingly imitates her. 

Katharine is the cutest. It's fun living with a princess. Back at home, the kids were confined to the basement or the upstairs while we cooked. Potatoes, salmon, mixed the salads, sliced purple onions, filled up dessert trays. Ethan and Bella texted last night that they were going to be speaking in sacrament meeting today and their ward ended at 3, so they wouldn't be here right on time. I said we would wait until they came and let my parents and Wayne know. I was ok with having extra time to get the food ready and out. I wanted us to all start together. While we cooked, Melodie asked me about the prom dress I wore on our first date. I had mentioned to her this past week that I'm on a mission to find it. Well, Mel worked her magic through google and was able to search for the pattern and look what she found on Poshmark! I saw it and said "THAT'S IT!!!" 

Wow! Who knew you could find a dress from 1992 online, amazing! Mel ordered it and said it's an anniversary gift! I'm excited to wear it next year!!! So that was fun. Corey had church meetings, Abi was gone too, but Mel and I got it all ready. Natalie helped too, and Sophi a little bit. After the food wa ready, I watched life 360 for Ethan and Bella's ETA. They ended up visiting with members for a bit, people welcoming them, so they didn't make it until 4:15, but that was ok, cause we just visited until they came.

Katharine did her own makeup. Looking good. She was feeling a bit fussy and then fell asleep in Corey's arms. 

Ethan and Bella arrived and then it was time to eat - the big reveal! Dessert table ~

Everyone went to get their plates that were set at the table and load up at our buffet. Grandparents and adults first ~

Little kids waiting for their turn to go. 

Looks like Daniel went to get a dried tangerine while he waited... I'll allow it. 

Bella and Ethan are pretty healthy eaters, so I tried to have a little less junk this year and more fruit. We had lots of berries, two salads (Apple pecan and my balsamic beet salad), pink potatoes, wild and farmed salmon, shrimp, croissants, lots of red grapes. 

K alseep in a side chair. 

Everyone enjoying the meal. 

After people were mostly finished, Corey had a little quiz that I made the questions for and he did a quick power point of it. 26 questions for 26 years: 

1) What school did Corey and Tiffanie attend when they first met?

1. What school did Corey and Tiffanie attend when they first met? (Wasatch Jr. High)
2. What year and time of year/season did they first meet? (Fall of 1988)
3. Which class did Corey first catch Tiffanie's eye? (Home Ec: All the kids from the other table units came over and were impressed with Tiff's "personal shield" where I drew a very impressive soccer ball, and Corey was one who saw it and said he played soccer)
4. What book was Corey holding in the hallway that impressed Tiffanie? (Algebra)
5. Fill in the blank from Corey's message to Tiffanie in her 7th grade yearbook "Dear Tiff. You suck at _soccer_ and you're dumber than a _cow_, have a great __summer__, be a good little __mormon__" Bonus Question: Was there another yearbook message from Corey to Tiff that year? YES or NO ("To Tiffanie Lee Hibbert have an uplifting, enlightening summer. Practice every day and maybe you'll be as good as me (no way) j/k this may I even used to have a crush on U, but I finally came to my senses. HAGS <3 Corey Wride")
6. What student government offices did Corey and Tiffanie hold in 9th grade? (Corey - Student Body President, Tiffanie - Historian)
7. What sport did Corey and Tiffanie play together during the summer early in the morning? (Street Hockey on Rollerblades)
8. Tiffanie often called Corey on the phone for help with which class? (Chemistry)
9. What was Corey and Tiffanie's first date? What was the theme? And where was it at? (Junior Prom, "Forever Young" Utah State Fairgrounds)
10. Where did they eat dinner for it? (Hibbert House)
11. Who was the waitress? (Aunt Patrice)
12. What was the first thing Corey was served? (Tapioca Pudding)
13. What other high school dances did Corey and Tiffanie go to together? (Homecoming Junior year - Corey asked Tiffanie; Junior Prom Junior year - Tiffanie asked Corey)
14. December 1991 Corey gave Tiffanie what gift for Christmas? (Yellow Headband ear warmer thing that Helen made)
15. What happened June 28, 1993 when Corey and Tiffanie were rollerblading with friends at the U of U?
16. What was the green valentine Corey gave to Tiffanie? (A green gummy bear) BONUS: what happened to the gummy bear after being saved for years in Tiffanie's treasure box? toddler Abi found it and ate it) And a correction here: I read in my journal after the fact that it was for Christmas, not valentine's day.
17. What does "I.A.L.A.C." stand for? (I Am Lovable And Capable) 
18. On June 13, 1992, Tiffanie trashed Corey's bedroom with what? (4 garbage bags full of shredded newspaper)
19. Both Corey and Tiffanie won what award at Skyline? (Golden Talon)
20. What schools were Corey and Tiffanie attending when they started to correspond via email? (BYU and Snow College)
21. What was the name of the vow that Corey and Tiffanie made several times. (Nazarite vow)
22. What does ">C<" stand for? ("More than Fish")
23. Where and when was Corey and Tiffanie's first kiss? (at the Wride house's driveway Sunday morning around 1 am on Feb 19, 1995)
24. Which Temple did they get sealed in? Who was the sealer? (Salt Lake Temple, Ned Winder)
25. Where was their wedding lunch and wedding reception? (The Inn at Temple Square, Lion House
26. Where was their honeymoon? (The Homestead in Midway Utah)

So that was fun. Then we watched our wedding video and cleaned up (Christian jumped up and he and Mel loaded the dishwasher and then he washed things by hand that didn't fit. (Mel, he's a keeper!)) and then went to the front room for visiting and silly dancing. We probably need to take some dance classes so we actually have some good moves for next year. 

I would have liked to watch the end of the final episode of the House, where it's the flashbacks to when JMEHW were little and Corey and I are giving advice, and then it's the old clips of Wayne and JeNeal when they were young, but we didn't back to the tv. 

Overall it was a lovely success. I'm going to come back and make a few notes here later for anything we might want to do differently next year. 

Group pic of the kids - 

I should have gotten one with my parents and Wayne, but I guess I felt bad making them stand up. 

They took off, kids played games ~

and did all the normal teasing and squabbling that siblings do. 

I'm grateful for the joy of families! I love this tradition. I'm ready to go crash, and we'll see if it takes me a day or so to recover from all this fun.