Guess what today is??
The birthday of another VIP in my life. The woman who brought me into this wonderful world: my momma.
Like I did for my pops’ birthday, I thought I’d celebrate her birthday with a few memories in the form of pictures.
Welp, there they are.
These are about the only picture of my mom and I that could I find in the first 10 years of my life. I was baffled. Then it dawned on me…
Mom was always our family photographer. She is hardly in any of the pictures. And the family pictures that she is in, I can distinctly remember her setting the timer on the film SLR camera on the tripod and literally running to join the family before the shutter clicked. In fact, I’m pretty sure the picture above was an accidental misfire of the camera as she was attempting to set the timer to capture our family picture before Christmas morning mass. Now whether this is before or after she made us all cram on the couch to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” I can’t be certain. 🙂
Since she is related to my amazing grandmother, she is also a Super Woman. My mom assisted my grandma in the making of my wedding dress, they both have kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without either of them. Remember when you were a kid and people would joke about how you turn into your mother when you grow up?
I wouldn’t mind one bit if I turned into this amazing woman. In fact, I’d be pleased if I could be half the woman she is when I grow up. (Or am I already grown up?)
She did, after all, teach me how to be a lady.
She provided me with my first pair of pumps. A staple in a girl’s life.
Some of my favorite memories are with her when she visited me in Colorado. We’d go for hikes/adventures, dined on fantastic food, and shared wonderful conversations in the most beautiful city.
We have drank many a Guiness in Ireland together.
We laughed until we cried SEVERAL times about the hysterical picture of her kissing the Blarney Stone. We got her again with it at Christmas. What a trooper.
But, it just goes to show how loved this special lady is. I don’t know if she has any clue how much love is surrounding her in the picture above and every day. Maybe she does.
So, since today is her birthday (and since I’m maybe just a teensy bit homesick) I want to honor her and let her know just how much we, “the Circus” love her and appreciate everything she has done for us over the years.
She’s always been there for me. She’s most certainly wiped a tear or two away and is always capable of bringing a smile to my face, even if it has to be over the phone when we are miles apart. (Thankfully, Skype and FaceTime allow us to see each other.)
And she has always ensured that I receive the most acclaimed royal treatments, because being a Princess isn’t easy. 😉
This picture is my all-time favorite, taken by our amazing photographer during my bridal portrait shoot a few days before the wedding. My mom spent the whole day with me doing a “dry run” of the wedding day primping and it (as well as the wedding) would have been a disaster without her.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! I love you!
(and miss you, dad and the family dearly, so hurry up and plan a trip to Germany!!)
Alison Donlon says
I LOVE this post 😉 Happy Birthday, Mom! Miss you so much, Em 😉 Love you!
cburtnett says
Thank you Emily! I must admit that I may have been shed a tear it two reading this! Love you and miss you!
Bridget says
what a sweet sweet post!!! Happy Birthday, Connie!
Tamera says
All of the pictures are wonderful — even the ones she's not in, because she was the photographer! So much love! Connie, I hope you had a wonderful birthday. Emily, you did her justice with this wonderful post :^)