My brother and 2 sisters and I had a blast planning my mother's 70th birthday party. We come from a very corny family that loves to sing together so keep that in mind when reading what we did. We all dressed the same--light green tops and white bottoms. Kids, spouses and grandkids. Why? Because we did a skit. It was fashioned after a Bill Cosby Show episode and was called, "When Mom Was my Age." It took quite a bit of research. We lined up oldest to youngest and stepped forward one by one to say, When Mom was my age the year was 1980. Ronald Regan had just been elected president for the first time, Charlie's Angels was the number one show on TV (here my sisters and I adopted the Charlie's Angels huddle with guns that's their 'trademark'), and a gallon of gas cost $1.10. Then the next youngest (my sister) stood forward. At one point we all hummed the theme from Star Wars, another point we all did the Hustle. We tried to get as much sound and movement into each person's fact recitation as possible. Each of us said 2 facts about the times and ended with the cost of a gallon of gas. It took a lot of prompting to get our 4 year old neice to say her lines at the end (a gallon of gas was around 24 cents) but the whole thing was a big hit. We also did a Powerpoint presentation to music. My mother's childhood photos to In My Life by the Beatles, her early married life to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, pictures of us growing up, getting married, the grandchildren to Through the Years by Kenny Rogers. On the tables we had small Hershey candies with computer made wrappers with photographs. For favors, each guest got a larger sized Hersey Bar with a photo of them with my mother at some point in life with the words, Thanks for sharing Connie's birthday. The table numbers were made from an enlarged black and white photo of her from a beauty pagent in her early 20's. We glued them to foam board, secured them to bases and put them out like a large paper doll holding a number and stood one on each table. My parents taught us songs to sing in the car for long rides. My siblings and I did a corny rendition of Down By the Old Mill Stream with fake moustaches after a funny story about how my father dealt with us in the car. My SIL made a big scrapbook with contributions from all the party guests. It took her over 6 months to gather the photos, stories and rememberences from everyone. My husband, a radio DJ, was MC and kept the day flowing smoothly. All in all, we had a terrific time. Everyone was entertained, well fed and my mother still brings the party up when we're together. She says she watches the DVD of the party every once in awhile, too.

My go-to sides for a party are Napa Slaw and Sheshebop's Macaroni Salad. Both can be made ahead and are well received. Napa Slaw NOODLE MIX 3 packages original flavor Ramen noodles -- crushed 4 tbls black sesame seeds 8 oz sliced almonds ý stick melted butter THE DRESSING 1 c. peanut oil 2 tsp. soy sauce 1 c. sugar 1/2 c. rice vinegar 1/2 tsp. salt 2 flavor packets from the Raman noodles THE ASSEMBLY Napa cabbage (Bok Choy) �" shred entire head for a party 1 bunch green onions �" thinly sliced The Noodle Mix The Dressing FOR NOODLE MIX: Combine to coat with butter and heat in 300F oven for approximately 15-20 minutes, watching that the mixture does not get too brown. Cool. It keeps well in a zip-lock. FOR THE DRESSING: Combine and blend well. I use the stick blender. FOR THE ASSEMBLY: Make all components separately the day before. When ready to serve, combine cabbage, dressing, and noodle mix and toss. Macaroni Salad for 70 4 lb. macaroni 1 bag frozen peas 1 bunch celery 3 cans black olives 2 large onions 8 cups sundried or roasted tomatoes 2 packages of carrot pennies 8 cups shredded cheddar Dressing 2 qt mayo 8 oz. French dressing 1/4 cup vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 1-1/2 tsp onion salt 1-1/s tsp garlic salt 1 tsp salt and pepper 1 cup half and half

What about favors for the guests? At mom's 80th (which would have been around this time of year--her b'day would be next week), we had the dinner at a restaurant, and Dsis got small african violet plants (wrapped in florist foil) as favors--they were arranged down the middle of the tables. So they did double duty--they were beautiful, springlike table decoration, and the guests each got one to take home. For another party, we got pretty dollar store vases, put a piece of tissue in, added some of those long, filled cookies--Pirouhettes?--and a small silk flower and bow. They were cute and cost practically nothing to make up. The other thing I think you need to remember for an 80th birthday--the guest probably doesn't want a lot more 'things', so if it can be done tactfully, suggest that guests not give gifts of stuff that has to be stored. Restaurant gift certificates are nice, or a promise to take the birthday girl out to lunch soon. Things that are useful and used up--gourmet foods, stationary and stamps, etc are also nice.

Just think Hayden is one and in 4 months we will be welcoming another CF baby. This last year has gone by in such a blur. Rhiannon turned 5 on June 21st, Peyton turned 3 july 14th and Hayden's birthday was The 20th. I will have Dh take a pic of my baby belly tonight. It isn't pretty and I look like I could pop even though I have a long way to go. Stacie girlsingarden PS Happy 80th birthday to your mom Ann