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Grandchildren hilariously act out iconic real life photos for grandfather's 70th birthday

They've raised the bar for grandkids everywhere.

Image via Canva

Grandchildren surprise their grandpa for his 70th birthday by acting out his old photos.

You only turn 70 once--and the milestone birthday is a big one to celebrate. For grandparents, there is nothing better to commemorate the special day than with their kids and grandkids. And one family went above and beyond to make their grandpa feel special on his big day.

Aimee (@athomeiwthaimee), a stay-at-home mom and certified personal trainer, shared a hilarious video with her followers on Instagram of an epic birthday surprise her family pulled off for her dad, 'Papa'. At his 70th birthday, all of Papa's grandchildren dressed up and recreated old photos of him throughout the years. Each one came out individually to show him to roaring laughter that is contagious.

"Papa's 70th Birthday photo recreations 🤣❤️🤣," she captioned the post, adding, "We surprised our dad for his 70th birthday. All of his grandchildren recreated old photos of him."

In the video, it begins with Papa sitting in the family's living room in front of a mantle covered in 70th birthday cards. He is sitting in a chair, waiting for the first grandchild to come out in costume. And it did not disappoint--the first grandson is dressed in an altar boy outfit, recreating a photo of Papa standing in front of an altar at church as a young boy. "Oh my goodness," he says as his grandson walks out.

The second recreation is a vintage golf photo, and another grandson comes out wearing a red tank top and jean shorts rocking a fake mustache just like his Papa did back in the day. He's also holding a golf club. "That's awesome," he says laughing as he shakes his grandson's hand.


golfMoon Walk Dance GIFGiphy

A third grandson comes out dressed up as Papa posing pensively on a tree in a yellow button down, navy shorts and striped crew socks--with a fake mustache, of course. "I love the mustaches! Look at those socks, they're beautiful!" he says. "I made them," his grandson responds.

For the fourth look, his granddaughter comes out in a bathrobe and fake mustache to recreate a lazy morning photo. The sixth look is another grandson dressed as Papa in a previous Halloween costume--a poker dealer, complete with a see-through visor, bow tie, button-up white shirt and arm band. "I remember that!" Papa says.

And the looks just keep coming. For the seventh recreation, another granddaughter comes out in a midlife outfit of Papa wearing a checkered button-down, jeans and glasses with the mustache. She stands next to him to pose exactly as he did in the original photo, and the family laughs loudly.

snowmobileCriss Angel Snow GIF by DefyTVGiphy

The eighth look is Papa from an old photo on a snow mobile, rocking a retro snowsuit. His grandson comes out in a nearly identical one. "That is awesome," Papa says to him.

There is a ninth look, and for this one Papa was in baseball coach mode. Another grandson comes out in a red polo, red and white ball cap and fake mustache to recreate the photo, and Papa is loving every second.

California RaisinCalifornia Raisins GIFGiphy

For the grand finale and tenth look, another grandchild comes out dressed like a California Raisin to mimic a previous Halloween costume. The family's laughter is boisterous and from the gut, and viewers fully enjoyed watching the family come together to celebrate Papa. "People from background should be hired for sitcoms 😭," one commented. Another wrote, "The moustache was the main character in all this!!! 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣" And another viewer added, "Now that is a life well lived and a family well adjusted ❤️."

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Identity

One woman's question asking if life gets better after 30 went viral. Here are the best responses.

No, you don't have to have life "figured out."

Photo by Marina Barcelos on Unsplash

A recent Twitter thread highlights life after turning 30.

There's something really scary about turning 30. Society places so much emphasis on reaching your fourth decade of life, giving it more importance than it actually needs. At 30, apparently, you're supposed to have figured out all the big things, including your career and your love life. It reminds me of the movie "13 Going on 30" when teenage Jenna is sitting in the closet repeating "30 and flirty and thriving" over to herself as some sort of mantra. I don't know about your experience, but the concept of "30 and flirty and thriving" for me ended up being a total myth. That's what people are trying to tell a Twitter user who needed reassurance that life "gets better" after 30.

Katherine Morgan, known as blktinabelcher on Twitter, is a writer and bookseller who asked a question of the Twitter hive mind to set her mind at ease.

"I’m 28, so I’m almost there, but can people in their 30s and older please (gently) tell me that it’s going to get better and I don’t need to have figured out my entire life in two years?" she wrote. The tweet took off, with more than 100,000 likes and thousands of replies. While everyone phrased their responses differently, the general consensus was you don't have to have anything figured out before you turn 30.

Here are some of the best replies:

"I feel like I ain’t even start living until I was 30. You good," prolific author Jason Reynolds said.

"I'm more than twice your age, and it's getting better and I'm just now starting to figure it out. You are way ahead of schedule," said user Dean Gloster.

"The good news is you don't need to figure your life out in 2 years. The semi-bad news is never fully gets figured out. That's a myth. You'll be growing and changing your whole life, and there will be periods of confusion in there. There will also be periods of stability." — sosomanysarahs

"I'm seventy in less than a month. Every decade was better than the one before. I'm so looking forward to this next one." — sandralambert

"I’m 34. You definitely do NOT need to have it all figured out. I don’t. And I’m okay with that. And things definitely do get better, there’s no doubt about that. You’ve got this. Your 30s come with a hell of a lot more clarity." — _gregorryyy

"I turned my corner at 46. It got better not because I was older, but because I finally cut loose/healed all that was holding me back. 30 is arbitrary. You’ll get there." — author Deesha Philyaw

What is it about turning 30 that scares people so much? Research on the topic turns up millions of articles about the fear and anxiety attached to the 30th birthday. I remember the way my stomach would churn as the calendar got closer to my 30th birthday. I experienced an overwhelming sense of dread because I didn't feel I had accomplished all the things that TV, films and magazines told me I should have by then.

In an article for Forbes, writer Frances Bridges points out that "thirty may not be 'that young,' but it is definitely young enough that if you do not like your job, your partner, the city you live in, etc., you can change your life and still be the success you envisioned."

That's the thing! We treat turning 30 like an ending, when should be a beginning. Now that I'm in my mid-30s, I feel like the most settled, current version of myself to date. Are there still major life changes happening? Of course, that's called being alive. There is something to be said about the emotional shifts of growing older. The more life you live, the more your perspective changes and you become more settled in who you are.

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Joy

Retired Tuskegee Airman is asking people to send him cards to celebrate his 100th birthday

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File:Tuskegee Airmen - Circa May 1942 to Aug 1943.jpg - Wikimedia ...

Every year, we take another trip around the sun, should we be so lucky. People celebrate their birthdays in all sorts of ways. Some buy a fancy dress complete with a professional photoshoot and a party with a thousand of their closest friends, while others are content with an episode of their favorite TV show and a bag of popcorn. A retired Tuskegee Airman who is coming up on a huge milestone birthday has decided to celebrate by getting birthday cards from people across America. Retired Sgt. Victor Butler is turning 100 on May 21, 2022 and is believed to be the last surviving Tuskegee Airman in the state of Rhode Island.

The name comes from the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama where the first Black Army Air Corps fighter pilots to fight in World War II were trained. The tails of their planes were painted red, earning them the nickname "Red Tails." At the Tuskegee Army Air Field, 932 pilots were trained but there were thousands of others trained as mechanics, cooks and assistants who were all part of the experience. Eventually the U.S. military was desegregated in part due to the encouragement received after the phenomenal efforts of the Red Tails during the war.

Butler was trained as a mechanic and recounted some of his experiences when speaking to WJAR saying, “Being in Tuskegee, Alabama, it wasn't very acceptable to white people for Black soldiers to be walking around.” People were able to get a glimpse into the training, treatment and heroism of the historical group of airmen in the movie Red Tails that was released in 2012.

Though his home is full of medals and other memorabilia from his time in the service, he says he passes the time putting together puzzles and he wants very little for his birthday. Butler says his birthday is “just another day,” but he would like for people to send him birthday cards. Victor says “Oh, I’ll read every one.” While talking to the news station, he also took a moment to share his observation and gratitude saying, “There are so many people that have lost their home and I am very fortunate to have a nice home and wife and my family who come to visit me often.”

Butler made sure to include some life advice while taking a break from his puzzles: "Just enjoy life as it is. Be thankful," he said. "I'm thankful that I have a nice wife and a nice home to live in." What a great way to show appreciation to someone who not only helped fight in a World War but is turning a whole century old, by granting his birthday wish. It’s not every day we get to interact with folks whose lives made it into history books.

If you would like to send a card to Mr. Butler, you can send them to:

Victor W. Butler

C/O Gary Butler

P.O. Box 3523

Cranston, RI 02910

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Cards are pouring in from around the world in response to one girl's heartbreaking photo.

Hallee Sorenson's 18th birthday was a major letdown.

Hallee, who has autism, was supposed to have a big birthday celebration at a local bowling alley in Bangor, Maine. She had the ice cream. She had the cake. She had the balloons. All she needed was some good company. 

Only none of her friends ever showed up. Hallee was devastated.

But Hallee's cousin took to social media to make sure her 19th birthday would more than make up for it.

When Hallee's cousin, Rebecca Guilford, posted a photo of Hallee eating her birthday cake alone in that bowling alley, the heartbreaking image went viral.

But this was no call for pity. Rebecca asked people to not only share the story, but to send cards and gifts so that Hallee's next birthday, which is in July, would be her best one ever.

Her message reads:

"But you can help make this years birthday incredible!! I would love to flood her mailbox with birthday cards, from all over! Hal loves getting mail- this would be the best birthday gift she could ask for. If you could find it in your heart to take a few mins out of your day and send her a card, I would be forever greatful. This would mean a lot to her mother as well, for as you can imagine, watching your child cry into her birthday cake breaks your heart. If there is anyone who deserves a great birthday, this is the girl."

What started as a simple request ballooned into an unbelievable show of support, with gifts and cards pouring in from all over the world.

From @xKiiraaa in Germany. Photo used with permission.

From @vicky_tymz in the UK. Photo used with permission.

Users on Twitter shared the story, and their cards, using the hashtag #CardsforHallee.

From @littlepol. Photo used with permission.

From Helen Hedley in the U.K. Photo used with permission.

Businesses, police departments, and schools chipped in with their own birthday wishes (and a free meal, if Hallee ever finds herself in Texas!).

From Norma's Cafe in Dallas, Texas. Photo used with permission.

From Matthew Scher and his fifth grade class at @PS153X. Photo used with permission.

And the story exploded on Reddit, where thousands of users wrote that they sent cards, puzzles, stuffed animals, and in one case, flight vouchers so Hallee could go explore a new city.

From @spicoli83. Photo used with permission.

The Bangor Daily News wrote that the stream of delivery trucks at the Sorensons' home has been nonstop, with some carrying up to 5,000 cards at once.

While all the cards and gifts have been a bountiful surprise for Hallee and her family — Hallee's mother told the Bangor Daily News they'd be donating most of the presents — the response so far has been magnificent and truly heartwarming.

Thousands upon thousands of strangers banded together to support someone who needed a little cheering up, spending their own time and money to make the world just a tiny bit brighter.

It's beautiful to see. And a reminder that the world can still get together to spread love.

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