*singing loudly and out of key* Happy Birfday to you! Happy Birfday to you! Happy Birfday, Dear Mommy! Happy Birfday to you! And many more!!! *end bad singing*

I love you, Mom! I hope you are having a wonderful birfday!!! And I can’t wait to see you!!!

I truly thank God, and especially on this day, that he gave me you as my mother!

Thank you abundantly for willingly providing to me such a love that overlooked so many faults and mistakes, that this child never doubted she was cherished, despite her treasury of shortcomings and weaknesses.

Thank you immensely for the abundance of patience you rendered to this child, who was so lacking in common sense that she was still considered a blonde long after those shining golden locks of a tot began to dim.

Thank you for teaching me that a husband, for the benefit of his children, must love their mother ardently, which by God’s grace, this child and her children have indeed had the good fortune to receive.

Each year my gratitude for your mothering increases. As my life continues to change as a woman, wife and mother, I recognize more and more sacrifices that you cheerfully made for this child, who is still overwhelmed at the extent of such sacrifices. Each time I recognize something new, I am astonished and embarrassed that it is just now that I have eyes to see such things.

May God greatly bless you, uphold you and grant you long life!!!

We had a fun family day on the 4th!

We were able to do most of the traditional things: hot coals grilling our beefy hamburgers and hot dogs; chocolate faces and fingers from homemade chocolate chip cookies;

The Boy Playing

swimming pools made of plastic; children spraying/splashing their parents; parents warning their children not to spray or splash them; lots of sunscreen; a little beer; and plenty of Louisiana heat and humidity about which to complain.

Sissy Playing

The Boy was just so happy to be outside AND playing in water. For those of you who are unaware, until recently, the only times The Boy really cried was when we would take him out of the bathtub or would bring him inside from playing outside. (However, much to our dismay, he has broadened his horizons and will cry about other things now.)

Sissy doing what she termed “The Whale”

Sissy had a fun time jumping and running and sliding in the pool. And if you hadn’t guessed, she is the culprit who takes great delight in attempting (and oftentimes successfully accomplishing) the saturation of her parents mama!

Sissy also developed The Whale, as illustrated herein. It was pretty funny! I am not convinced the pictures do it justice.

Hydrating

Dad also rescued a little baby bird from certain ill-fate, when he spotted her right before he ran over her with the lawn mower! We tried to nurse “Tweety-Bird Sissy” back to health. We prepared a comfy, cushy basket for her (which you can see behind The Boy as he’s drinking his juice), gave her fresh water (she liked to climb in the little bowl of water like a bath), and offered her a shot glass of flaxseed (that’s all we had!). Unfortunately, Tweety-Bird Sissy did not make it. But we think she was at least more comfortable in her last hours.

Resting

And due to popular demand, we watched Star Whores again!

Then . . . Well . . . As is the tradition on all the best of holidays, we took a nap.