On April 10th, my Babi (grandmother in Czech) celebrated her 80th birthday! This past Saturday, my mom and aunt gave her a lovely birthday party at my parents house and even though our whole family was sad we couldn't be there in person to join the festivities, I couldn't help but post the beautiful pictures my Dad took to capture the event, doing my part to join in from afar! Seeing the pictures and hearing stories from the party it was no surprise to me that my mom and her sister gave my grandmother a party that was beautiful, honoring her 80 fabulous years of life so far with delicious food, family and friends! Here are the two party planners now...
Here's the famous Darcy spread! My mother is famous...far and wide...for her talents in the kitchen and in making others feel special and valued by the way she plans the menu far in advance with food she knows they'll love!!! It looks like this event was no exception! Chinese Chicken Salad...Mini Croissant Sandwiches with a Sun-dried tomato spread, roast beef and basil...Fresh Fruit Platter...Quiche...and a beautiful picture board with pictures of my grandmother as a little girl...
Here's my aunt holding the birthday cake from "Pasteries by Edie!" Many a birthday has been celebrated in our family with a gorgeous and delicious cake from this bakery in Canoga Park. I don't know if you can tell, but written in chocolate on a piece of white chocolate it says "Happy Birthday Doris and Happy 60th Anniversary Doris and Danny" (Their Anniversary is coming up in Novemebr!) So pretty!
Here is my grandmother with all her guests around the beautifully set table...
My mom and Babi...
My mom, Deda (my grandfather), Babi (the birthday girl) and my Auntie Ine...what a family!
Here are all the guests in a classic Axelson Family shot...sitting on and around the brown leather couch! We have many pictures in this same location from previous parties, holidays and good times together as a family. It makes me remember and be thankful for the way my parents love to gather people and honor them through their gift of hospitality....a gift I hope to emulate as well throughout my life! Just let me get past all the diapers and spit up and I may have some courage to set the table with nice glasses and pretty table cloths again! What a blessing to have such a wonderful example to follow in the footsteps of...
The bottom line in hospitality remains true though...without someone to honor, there is no party! Hopefully you read my grandfather's story when I wrote about his 85th birthday this past December. My grandmother's is much like his. If you had time to sit and listen for a while to my grandmother tell her story, you'd be amazed at all she's experienced in her life. The bits and pieces I've heard are enough to make me understand that her life is one many would be in awe of. Growing up in India as the daughter of the consulate-general representing Czechoslovakia, she had monkeys as pets and road on the backs of elephants for fun! She has always loved staying active...skiing, going to dance class and doing extra work on the sets of TV shows and films shot in the Southern CA area are among the few things that my grandmother has done with flair!I have so many wonderful memories of growing up with Babi when I was a little girl...especially when our family lived with my grandparents for a year when I was in 5th grade...I remember dancing to songs on the record player..Babi teaching me to salsa and cha cha in the living room while the record player played away! I remember staying home sick from school and Babi would set us up with a "throne" on the couch complete with blankets, a foot massaging bath, plate fulls of cheese, crackers and European butter with french bread and homemade chicken noodle soup, all while watching re-runs of I Love Lucy and Gilligan's Islands tapes! I absolutely love those memories and I know that for as long as we live, my brother and I will re-tell them over and over again to each other and to our children so they know who has taught us to love lavishly, putting others before ourselves.
Dancie,
That is so beautiful what you wrote about Babi and the all the pictures you posted! Thank you for recreating the day on your blog! You really got it down, it's as if you were there! We can't wait to see you all,
Love, Aunite Ine