A 60th for Grandpa Butcher!! (in August)

Papa Butcher had his 60th birthday on Aug. 30th! Yes, very late in posting:) A grand celebration it was! ISU Tailgate Party followed by a Labor Day weekend in Okoboji! He is the hardest man to surprise so it was fun that we had a few in our back pocket....
Surprise #1

 

We had Ethan in his Only Child Expiring in April shirt. It took SEVERAL people to say (despite Ethan repeating, "look at my shirt papa" over and over) Bob, look at Ethan's shirt. 

 

WE got him!

There was surprise #1. 

After an evening of celebrating our news, well not me, we headed down to check out Papa's Party tent Jack Trice. 

We headed back for a good night's rest for the big day- the party and the 1st ISU football game! 

Ethan and grandpa were the first ready to go! 

  

Ethan took some time out to snap a photo with the cheerleaders.

On to surprise #2- These t-shirts! "I Love My ISU Baby, its future is bright at ISU!" Connie had bought these not knowing we ALL were going to PREGNANT at the SAME time! Who would have thought to buy 5!

 In order of due dates- all babies will be born within 6 months of each other- HOW EXCITING!

 Dad with the pregnant ladies!

 The husbands didn't want to be left out.....

 A classic

After the GREAT Cyclone VICTORY! The party continued and we headed up to Okoboji the next day to all spend some more time together. 

 

Ethan was a BIG fan of the water park at Bridges Bay.

 On the slides with daddy!
 He had the perfect timing. There is a LARGE bucket of water that drops down on the whole thing and Ethan was NOT a fan of that, so he would stand and wait for it to dump and the SPRINT to the top of the slides to go down. Ronda and Ethan got caught in it once and I sure do wish I had the picture of that!

 

On the boat ride, this is how Ethan fell asleep. Brad might be sleeping, too. 

 

Ethan and mommy. 

 

We got in one more surprise for Grandpa:

Surprise #3: 60 Years of Memories. We sent letters to friends and family of dad for them to write a note about him, old stories or birthday wishes that he would enjoy opening in front of ALL his family on his birthday weekend. We all sat around watching him read all 60+ letters. We laughed, cried, and watched dad relive some memories of the last 60 years! It was a GREAT weekend full of fun, family, and lots of memories! Happy Birthday Dad, love you lots!