Birthday Memories

Before I continue with the birthday celebration, I would like to acknowledge this wonderful award from Hootin' Anni. Here is a bit about the award:

The Prémio Dardos is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web.

Receiving this award from Anni means a lot to me. Here is the criteria she used for her choices.

They have all contributed to my enjoyment with their originality of their blogging style either with down home atmosphere, love of family values, humor, or instigating a vivid interest on a given subject which I research further after reading the daily entry. All are inspirational for me in some way. Either their writing style, their humor, their photography, their faith, the recipes, their tours shared, family devotion, many many reasons---

Thank you so much, Anni!




Thank you for your fun and kind comments about my tribute to Mom. It is so interesting - all of my growing up years, everyone thought I looked more like Dad and my sis looked more like Mom. I never once thought I looked like my mom - ever. So many people at the party saw resemblance in some of the pictures - especially the one of her standing in the little Corpus Christi apartment. Several of you have mentioned the same thought. As we have aged, my sis and I seem to look more alike every year. Strange.

On to the celebration --

The fun began Thursday night late when my oldest brother (# 3 in the birth order), my SIL, and two nieces arrived. #5 sibling, my youngest brother and his #3 son, arrived around noon on Saturday. They stayed at our house.

Kristen has been very sick with a nasty virus and has been on heavy duty meds for almost a week now. We've had the kids, all 4 of them, since Friday. That turned out to be an interesting blessing, because if they hadn't been here, they wouldn't have had the chance to have so much fun with their second cousin, who is 13, and about 6 feet, 2 inches tall - just like his dad, who grew that tall at about the same age. He turned out to be the best playmate and the girls were all very sad when their visit ended and they headed back home.

Saturday morning Care Bear did her usual thing - planning the events. She had art class going on and was teaching lessons to her grandpa, sister, and cousin. Then they began playing all sorts of games with plastic and styrofoam cups.






Cousin L turned out to be a fabulous babysitter for the twins, and it was such a blessing to me - he and many others just pitched in and passed around the privilege of playing with them. It took the littles a bit of time to warm up to him, but L soon won them over and they were inseparable most of the day on Saturday.

They pretty much won everyone's hearts.

We had a lovely buffet sandwich and salad lunch.


Care Bear was more interested in writing yet another book than in eating.


We had a great surprise for Mom - her sister, niece, and great-niece flew from Minnesota and arrived while we were eating. Several people formed a wall so Mom couldn't see their arrival at the house.



I have never seen Mom so shocked - she was totally and completely surprised. I don't know why the lighting on this shot is so bad, but you get the idea.



Emma enjoyed the birthday cupcakes as much or more than anyone.



Mom opened her gifts - I love this picture of her modeling her new hand made apron.


My brothers at their best --




The biggest guy takes the couch for a bit of a snooze - everyone was pretty tired by this time of the day.

More to come - the celebration with church family and friends.