Happy Birthday Mom! 

You take care of everyone around you. You are the most beautiful person I know on the inside (and the outside!). And you make everyone around you feel extra beautiful too by encouraging us to take care and pamper ourselves :) You do the worst fake smile for pictures but when you smile for real you look like a little kid again and if you laugh hard enough you start snorting lol. You go out of your way to make everything special and memorable. You threw me an amazing bridal tea party that was beyond anything I ever dreamed of but you used to make even Wednesday Survivor Nights the highlight of the week. You always need at least three drinks around you - an extra large half hot chocolate half coffee, an aloe water, and regular water. Two drinks isn't enough even if they are full. You pretend you don't like dogs but then you let them on the couch when no one's around (it's ok, we all do it too lol). You set an example every day for Jacob and I with your hard work and determination. You taught me to fake it til I make it and to always follow my gut and be aware of my surroundings. Somehow when I call you and I'm upset you always know when I need you to tell me it's ok, or tell me to toughen up. You are a bit of a yeller and sometimes I have to close my eyes when you're driving but you are always so generous with your time. You find the best things at Lululemon. You went a little nuts when Tom Splash flew away and you always put the puzzle pieces in the wrong spots and blame us when you can't find your pieces (right Aunt Frances?!). You are impossible to shop for, you vacuum outside and  you leave the garbage bag on top of the garbage haha! You need your own reality show because you get yourself in situations that don't even seem real (cue the squirrel in the house last week). You came to meet me in Paris for the best Christmas full of crepes and markets and the endless search for coffee. You make the best fried rice and lentils and chow mein macaroons. You taught me to love baking and to be independent and that I can do anything. I love you for everything you've done to get us all where we are today, and everything you do to keep our family so strong. But I think it's about time you stop cutting Jacob's toenails LOL. Sorry Tj let your birthday present pants blow away, but I hope you have a good birthday week anyways! 

Love you xoxo

P.S. Happy Mother's Day to my mom and my aunties :) And also to all my mommy friends and the moms-to-be and the doggo moms!