40th Anniversary Party Weekend - Part 2: Baranko

Donna and Emil also celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year!!  Congratulations!  As I remarked about my parents, it is so inspirational to have role models for what a strong, happy marriage looks like.  For all that they do for everyone else, it was so wonderful to do something for them for a change.  We threw them a SURPRISE anniversary party and Matt, Ben and Linda did an amazing job planning and executing the event, held at Lake Forest's beautiful Elawa Farm.  Dozens of their friends and family were able to share in the special day and we're especially glad Donna was feeling well enough to attend and enjoy the whole party.  What a great day it was!

Donna and Emil - married August 26th, 1974

I think it is amazing that: a) in this day and age, both sets of our parents would still be married 40 years later; and b) they would both be married within two weeks of each other, the same year!  The two parties landed on the same weekend coincidentally between schedules and venue availability, which made for a busy, but fun weekend.  Love was certainly in the air!

The moment of the big surprise!   We had lured them to the Farm telling them we were having a family photo shoot, then they pulled up to see the whole group of their guests!  Then we had speeches and a toast to the couple.  

There was seating in the barn and outside.  The colors and flowers were planned to match their wedding, with an Italian meal since that is what they dined on the night they were married.  It was topped off with an ice cream sundae bar.  

A string trio played throughout the event,

Loved all the twinkly lights in the barn.

Luke & Claire were able to explore all around the Elawa Farm exhibits and gardens.

5 of the Saponara cousins

Formal gardens.  The barn is way there in the background.

My parents helped me watch the kids for a bit while Matt hosted,  it was a big help!

Two days in a row of getting this kid into a collared shirt and shorts that button/zip.  Success in itself!

Boards full of photo collages from their 40 years together were a hit!

The original Baranko family

The extended Baranko family

Claire chasing after the big boys Luke & Orrin

Shades of her future, always being a step behind!

A stare-off

Orrin and Luke found a big hole filled with dirt that they were fascinated with

So Claire and I relaxed on this grassy knoll

She was enjoying the rays.  Love that she instinctively knows to sit with her arms supporting her like this.  She's such a big kid!

Dan, Amy and kids stayed overnight before the party.  Although we didn't get to spend as much time with them as we would normally have liked, it was awesome seeing them and they were a ton of fun as usual.

A sectional full of kids

Ben and Linda were in town for over a week!  We got to enjoy a long summer visit with them instead of just an in and out party visit.  Yay!

40th Anniversary Party Weekend - Part 1: Mackus

I am so proud to say that my parents have been married for 40 years!  As I grow older, and I hope wiser, I definitely appreciate more and more all the love, patience, understanding and mutual respect that it takes to keep a marriage strong - things that my parents have demonstrated throughout my entire life.  They are wonderful role models to Matt and I, as well as those around them.  Congratulations and thank you, Mom and Dad!  Love you!

Aren't they a good looking pair?!

To celebrate this special occasion, Kristin and I threw them a tropical themed outdoor party at Frame Park, on the shores of the Fox River in Waukesha, with all their family and friends.  Kristin & co. couldn't make the trip since Sebastian was newly arrived on the scene, but they were there in spirit:)  Everything went swimmingly.  All of our carefully laid plans came together and all seemed to have a wonderful time, most importantly our guests of honor.   It felt like a wedding, with so much build up and so many loved ones together at one time.  The evening was over too soon, but it felt great to know that our parents felt loved and appreciated and had a lot of fun, too.  Thanks to everyone who helped make the night a success!

The invitation

Three generations - hopefully Claire will be as lucky in love as Mom and I have been!

We rented a tent in case of inclement weather, which turned out to be very helpful as it rained the first hour of the party!  After that it was pretty nice, and the sun even peeked out for a bit.  We also had a last minute addition of lighting, since we realized it got dark so much earlier than we had been thinking it would.  That was certainly helpful during clean up.  

We rented a selection of surrey bikes for our guests to tool around the lovely park in throughout the party. 

Carpenter's holding down the fort at the guest book table.  

Photo collage - one picture of my parents each year they were married, even a few of the years they dated!

Close ups for those who are curious!

Matt was a GEM, as always, and basically watched the kids all night so I could be the hostess with the mostess with the caterer and music and guests.  They had a great time on these bikes!

Melissa also watched Claire a lot and was our designated "safety officer" to give the rules of the surrey bike to the people taking them out for a spin.

Bahama Bob, our steel drum performer was amazing and really helped make the evening feel tropical and fun!  Love him!  If anyone ever needs a steel drummer, please reach out to me about booking awesome Bahama Bob

We had a tropical themed menu catered by Zilli Hospitality Group and the food was really delicious.

Tropical flowers on every table.  

The cutting of the cake!

Mike and Kaitlin on a ride.

Claire couldn't get enough of the banana coconut mousse!  I didn't blame her!

Ended the night with a very special gift from all the Mackus extended family - a custom poem and 12 bottles of liqueurs, one for each month of the year of their anniversary.  What a thoughtful and awesome idea!