Grandma's Birthday

Rylee has been looking forward to this day all week.  It’s Grandma’s birthday!! Rylee and her Grandma “A-hamsen” are BFF’s.  Ya can’t blame Ry for liking her Grandma so much.  Anyone who knows her will have nothing but good things to say about her.  She is a very kind, caring lady who puts others before herself. 

My mom has always been a wonderful mother, putting her children before herself and making sure we always had what we needed (and usually what we wanted too). She has always been a great friend to me, even when she had to be a parent and we didn’t see eye-to-eye.  My mom and I talk almost every day either through phone, email or text.  She also calls to talk to Rylee on a regular basis.  Just yesterday Rylee brought me my phone and said, “I need to make a call”.  When I asked who she needed to call….”Grandma”.  She called Grandma and told her that we wrapped her present and were going to bring it to her on Friday at the picnic.  Good thing she didn’t tell her what the present was :)

Before I was anywhere close to being married, my mom would always tell me that she was ready to be a grandma and didn’t even care if I was married or not.  She has been a terrific Grandma thus far (I don’t have any doubts that it will continue).  My mom lives for her grandchildren.  I’m pretty sure every item on her bucket list includes doing something with her grandkids.  She is always willing to baby-sit and will make arrangements to see the kids if it has been too long since she has seen them (too long for her is about 10 days).  She always knows what Rylee is in to and what her latest favorite things are.  She does a very good job of actively participating in the kids’ lives and gives them her undivided attention when she is with them. 

Rylee always wants to go to Grandma’s house.  Not only because Grandma (and Grandpa) spoil her, but also because she loves Grandma and Grandpa’s pets.  She helps take care of them.  Today she held a phone up to the dog’s ear and said “talk to Grandma” :)  Rylee knows Grandma’s house so well that when we are about a block away she says “almost to Grandma’s house”. 

Today was probably the best birthday my mom has had in a very long time! First, my brother and his daughter (who just moved back to Iowa this week after living in Georgia for 6 years) took my mom flowers at work.  Then we all met my mom at a park in Ames for a picnic lunch.  It’s the first birthday that she has gotten to have her kids and grandkids all together.  She is one happy Grandma today!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!  We love you!!  Thanks for all you do!!