Happy Birthday MOM and Grayma

Jenn and Mom made and decorated this cake for Grandma's 80th birthday

















Grandma taught the girls to use the tube to race their cars down. They thought that was pretty cool.

Mom helped me make a curtain for one of my windows.






Happy Birthday! We are not going to reveal your age but we are going to list 59 reasons why we love you, things about you and memories we have with you. They are in no particular order...

1. Mom is an avid gardener. Her vegetables look like she fed steroids to them. She is also a wealth of knowledge about anything one would want to know about gardening.
2. Mom loves to play with her grandkids. She lets them dig in the dirt along side her. She reads to them and treats them like they are the most special kid. Everyone loves coming to Grandma's house.
3. In high school, Mom always had advice for everyone. I remember friends in high school that would come to my mom and ask about a girl or a guy. Mom would always give her honest opinion and would never sugar coat it. Sometimes my friends liked what she said and other times they didn't, but they always came back!
4. Mom is an excellent cook.
5. Mom is very resourceful. She knows how to make something work for free! I remember many painting projects, or collecting rocks, or sewing something out of something we already. We created some really cool things and it cost close to nothing.
6. Mom is a hard worker. She isn't afraid to get dirty and get it done.
7. Mom loves to learn. She is a wealth of resources with just her knowledge, but she also isn't afraid to do her research in order to learn something. Growing up, Mom was always reading how to books and self improvement books. I admire that about her.
8. I remember one time when I didn't do my chores in the morning and the deal was that if I didn't get them done then I had to walk to school. Well, I had to walk to school. My mom came too. I hated having to be late to school, but it made it bearable because my mom was there to do it with me.
9. I can remember picking out a pattern and fabric at the fabric store and the next day I would have a brand new outfit to wear to school.
10. Mom was always very good to the animals we had growing up.
11. For our birthdays, Mom would play her music box that had "Happy Birthday" on it. As we moved away to college and married life she still played it.
12. Mom was an avid supporter at my bb and vb games. She would cheer really loud and whistle. I always knew where my mom was in the stands.
13. Mom loves George Strait. Enough said.
14. Mom loves to dance and sing. I remember thinking my mom had the best voice because it sounded like an opera singer (it had vibrato).
15. When Brooklyn was born she came down to Utah and while Brittney placed her with us for adoption Mom was at Costco waiting to meet Brooklyn. The first time she met Brooklyn was at Costco. If you knew Mom and Costco then you would understand that it was the perfect place to meet. :)
16. Mom also made Brooklyn's blessing/sealing dress. It was a beautiful dress.
17. Mom can make the best foods out of leftovers. The only problem is that she can never repeat the same dish.
18. All of my boyfriends were scared of Mom. Tom was even scared of Mom all the way up until we got married. Now Tom and Mom have a really good relationship. He's not scared anymore.
19. Mom grew up with 1 sister and 4 brothers. Her nickname growing up was Stinky.
20. Mom, technically, has 13 brothers and sisters. Her Dad married again when her mom passed away.
21. When we lived in Utah, Mom came to visit quite often. While she was there we kept her busy with projects. Mom loves doing projects.
22. Mom is very organized.
23. When something doesn't work then Mom will figure out a way until it does work.
24. Mom was a stay-at-home mom. It was always nice to come home to her. She made sure we had a snack when we got home.
25. Mom hated the TV on on Sundays.
26. Mom has always been active in the gospel. She always fulfilled her callings and was an excellent example of what I need to do and be.
27. Mom's favorite candy are anything cinnamon flavored. Mom always had cinnamon hearts in the house.
28. Mom came and supported me when I ran my marathon. Everytime she saw me she gave me big thumbs up. That meant a lot to me that she came.
29. Mom loves to listen to country music on her radio. She also listens to talk radio.
30. Mom likes to wear red and blue. She is branching out to pink, but red is a staple for her.
31. Mom likes to go to classes where she can learn. When we lived in Utah she came to the gardening classes with me.
32. Mom and Dad have been married 35 years.
33. The girls call the Boise house Grandma's house and the cabin is Grandpa's house.
34. Mom has been to several countries. She is quite the traveler. Still, her favorite place is Hawaii. She cries every time she has to leave.
35. Mom made Dad commit to marry her the same day that he got home from his mission.
36. Mom's mom (Grandma Ruth) died when mom was in her 20's. I can't imagine not having Mom around. Mom is such a strong person.
37. Mom lives with constant pain, but never complains. She continues on with her day and doesn't let it stop her.
38. Mom loves to be outside.
39. She gave birth to 6 kids. The doctors told her she should stop after a few kids because of her health, but she knew she needed to have more.
40. She has 11 grandkids and 1 on the way! (We are hopefully adopting!)
41. Mom is frugal but still spoils us. She will often take me shopping to get new clothes.
42. Mom is very computer saavy. She knows her way around any website and any document.
43. She is fortunate enough to have all of her kids and grandbabies in Idaho.
44. All of our friends called her Mama Faye. I think that was the same for my siblings friends as well.
45. Mom's favorite song of George Strait's is "I just want to dance with you" In fact, her only wish from my Dad for her birthday was to dance to that song.'
46. Mom is very stylish. She has great taste and always looks her best.
47. Mom graduated from BYU...and that's ok...we don't hold it against her.
48. Mom plants hundreds of flowers in her yard...and all of them from seed. Again, she has an amazing green thumb.
49. I never doubt that she loves me and wants the best for me. She is usually encouraging and uplifting. But again, she tells it like it is so sometimes what she tells me is hard to hear.
50. Her car is really her truck. She can fit more in her SUV than most people can fit in their truck bed. I've seen anything from plants to bags of dirt in there.
51. She loves to go cherry picking and go to the small town parades.
52. She is an avid canner, food storage person, and very knowledgeable in emergency preparedness.
53. She doesn't gossip. She usually has good things to say about almost everyone.
54. She is very patient.
55. She was very good about letting us teach swimming lessons in her back yard. Her grass would get trompled, flowers would be picked and sprinkler heads messed with, but she always fixed it with a smile.
56. She tries to make everyone feel welcome. She opens her home to many people and never turns anyone away.
57. Her favorite shows are the old Nick at Nite shows. She also loves the old murder mysteries like Murder She Wrote, Matlock and Monk.
58. Her favorite all time movie is Pure Country.
59. Last, but not least...we love her very much and feel so blessed to have her in our lives. Thank you for your example to me about how to treat people, how to live my life, and your Christlike attributes. I hope your birthday is simply the best. We wish we could have been there for you on your big day.

Note: I know I missed a lot, but here is a small glimpse into the life of my mom.