Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday! She is 50! Does this woman look 50 to you? Here is why I love my mom:

1. She takes great care of herself. She taught me about the importance of exercise and fitness. This woman has been exercising 5-6 times a week for 20 years. She teaches 4-5 fitness classes a week, walks, lifts weights, etc. She looks amazing. Whenever we go out together, people think she's my sister.

(She's going to kill me for using this picture, but doesn't she look good?)

2. My mom is a fabulous Grandma. She calls me and is actually interested in hearing every little detail about Addyson, including her bowel movements. She asks how she slept the night before. She worries about her and is always telling me to call the pediatrician to ask her about this or ask her about that. She carries around a Grandma "brag book" with pictures of Addy and shows them to anyone silly enough to stop and look (they'll get an earful)! It just kills her that she lives in another state from her grandbaby.

3. Mom saved my life after Addyson was born. She came and stayed for a week and I literally would not have survived without her. She cooked meals, did laundry, cleaned my bathroom, dusted and vacuumed, and washed my sheets. She made me laugh when I had the baby blues. She took care of Addyson in the middle of the night so I could sleep. She drove me around on errands because I was too loopy on painkillers. I tried to convince her to move in permanently, but she convinced me I could handle being a mom. She was right.

4. Mom is hilarious. She looks at the world in a way that no one else does. She always has a recent story to tell about some thing she noticed that I wouldn't have. She cracks me up daily. My favorite thing is when we laugh hysterically on the phone together. (Mom, what do you think about Jordan School District elections? :)

5. My mom loves her family unconditionally. She doesn't judge her kids for their choices. She accepts people for who and what they are. She loves me with all my faults and imperfections. She is a great wife who puts her marriage first in her life.

Roxy, Mom, Dad, and Tyler

6. My mom is a great example of sacrificing to serve others. She is always taking someone dinner, dropping off a treat to someone, watching someone's dog while they are out of town, or working to make someone's birthday special. She never says no when you ask her to do something. A few years ago, I was coming to SLC for Christmas and I needed some new shoes to wear but didn't have time to go buy some before I left to go out of town. I called her and asked her to go find some black, pointy toed, high heeled boots in a size 6. She dropped everything and went out shopping. When I got to her house, the boots were waiting for me. They were just what I wanted and she didn't even make me pay her back for them! How great is that?

This last year, I called her and told her I wanted to bless Addyson (2 days before Christmas) at her house while we were there visiting. She cleaned, invited people, planned food and had everything perfect for the blessing (also on the spur of the moment).

7. Mom and I are very much alike and like the same things. We love books, a clean house, and going out to eat. She taught me everything I know about how to be organized, write thank you notes, plan in advance, magnify church callings and entertain. We have the same taste in music and movies.

8. Most of all, my mom is a great friend. She cares about me and the mundane details of my life. She wants to know all about everything I do. She calls me daily and sends me text messages daily. I love to be with her because she is so much fun. I know that she would do anything for me and that she loves me.

Mom, don't think of it as being 50...think of it as being 5 perfect 10's!

I love you! Happy Birthday!