A Successful Century Plus One Birthday Bash

With all of the rush of activity during December, I have always had a special challenge because my Mother's birthday is on December 12th and we have tried to go to Southern Utah (LaVerkin, Utah) and have a special family dinner and party for her. Last year at this time, she turned 100 so the party was held for over 200 friends and family. This year Mother is living at the Beehive House in Hurricane, Utah when her 24/7 care became a bit more than the 5 of us could handle. Although she fought this move and declared that she would never be happy, six months later, we find her very much enjoying all of the attention she gets there and the constant activity they have going on. Some of the family check on her daily and at times we are there for a couple of hours at a time.
On Wednesday, Dec. 10th, Garth and I traveled to LaVerkin and spent 3 days with Mother. We were delighted to get in on their Christmas party given by the owner on Wednesday evening.


More and more Mother is claiming one of the two recliners in the living area as her own. The owner of the Beehive Homes is very good about knowing each resident personally.



Here Mother and her best friend at the "home" are waiting for the Christmas party to begin.





On one of the couches sit my Aunt Edna and her friend, Glenna. Incidentally, Glenna is Mother's worst enemy there because she has used her bathroom and eaten some chocolate in Mother's room. While we were there, Glenna was moved to a Level 2 Care facility so Mother should be happier.






After we had sung songs and talked about traditions, etc. Santa and Mrs. Santa arrived with bags of goodies for each of the residents












Most of them sat on Santa's knee to tell him what they wanted for Christmas but Mother didn't want to get out of her chair so they went to her.









On Friday, Mother's birthday, we went over in the morning and I gave her the newest dress I had made for her. I figured she needed something red for the Christmas season. I also found this vest in one of her drawers and took it over to her. In the past she has told us to take things back to the house but when she saw the vest she said, "Oh, I like that."














There is a couple, Sandy & Allen Foote, who volunteer their time to provide activities and entertainment for the residents. At first Mother wouldn't join in anything except for once a month when Allen came and provided a concert of songs that would be especially remembered by the residents. Because Mother liked it so much, he started going to the house weekly.

















He scheduled his concert to be on Mother's birthday and she loved it! She was one happy person with all of the attention on her all day long. The people at the "home" served cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to her at lunch time







Sandy told me that Mother is even joining in now with the Bingo games and other activities - something she absolutely refused to do when she first moved into the "home". Sandy made her this lovely crocheted afghan.








As a family we owe a lot to this sweet lady at the left. Her name is Lola Gibson and she is quite a bit younger than Mother but has some serious health issues and can't take care of herself so is living at the Beehive House. She calls our mother, Grandma and can get her to do most anything she wants her to - even watching Jazz basketball games! (Mother never went to a basketball games that I remember). If she thinks people aren't taking good care of Mother she will tell the help.











Friday evening, after the residents had eaten, we all went to the "home" and took gifts and two kinds of cake to serve to the residents and anyone who came to wish Mother well.








Amazingly enough, except for Quinta's husband, Dell, all of Mother's children and their spouses are still living. Here we have Back: LuDeen and Fred Lundin, Eric Nielson, Garth and Janice Hansen & Janice and Corrin Nielson. Sitting we have Marsha Nielson, Mother (Ruth G. Nielson) and Quinta Beatty.









Mother and her daughters: LuDeen, Mother, Janice (That's me) & Quinta.









Mother and her two sons: Eric and Corrin













Two of Mother's sisters-in law (Aunt Edna Gubler & Aung Genevieve Gubler) and her only living sister, Aunt Ardella Heiner.












Mother and her gifts: Two pink roses representing 100 (upper rose) & one from Corrin and Janice, a box of chocolates from Eric and Marsha, two lovely fleece jackets made by LuDeen and we all went in on the fiberoptics flower arrangement in front.