Happy Birthday Mumbly!

Today, the most amazing woman was born; my mom, Patricia!

I want to take a moment and tell you about how awesome she is:

She was a small town girl from Maine and met a big city man who was in the Navy...(I think she fell in love with his humor, then his eyes) they met, married and shipped off to Puerto Rico. There I was born and a few years later, my younger (he is not little anymore) brother was born.

The Navy took us all over the world, and my mom was the best! My dad would ship out, and one of us kids would be in the emergency room. My earliest memories of my mom is rocking on her lap, with my ear in pain. (yep, eardrum burst, tubes, that was me). My mom does this thing on my head when I am sick or pretending so she will do it..she runs her fingers thru the side of my head and just sings or hums (I seem to remember alot of Simon and Garfunkle hums). It is the most soothing feel in the world. I find myself when my own kids crawl in my lap, bringing my hands up to their hair and the same tunes begin to be hummed.

My mom is not one to be molded, she is who she is and because of that I have independance. I fought that wanting to fit in for many years, but am so thankful, that I gave it up to be me!

My parents have been married for some 45 years, perfect no..but my mom has this motto: Death til us part, you want a divorce, I'll shoot you! That about sums up her spirit! They are both retired now from paying jobs, but that doesn't stop them. For 3 months in the summer they host a campgrounds on a beach off California in their RV. This gives my mom the much needed ocean for the small town girl from Maine's coast. My dad is there cookin' in the RV and still making her laugh!

Mom now has 6 grandkids! She is an incredable Nana, making gifts, picking up little things here and there and loving them all so much. Now that we live again in California, a mere 1 and 1/2 hour drive away, we are able to see her so much more. My brother is above us in Oregon, so at least we are all on the same coast! Below is a montage of pictures from the whole family!

My mom isn't perfect, but she is pretty darn close in my eyes!

I love you mumbly!

Anne Marie (cause that is what my mom calls me)

Never lose your joy!