A Birthday Wish for Mom

Today is the birthday of the greatest woman I know -- MY MOM!

Well don't be so surprised, Mom! You're pretty wonderful! 

Seriously though, if I could have chosen the perfect mother, it'd be her. She has every single quality you could hope for in a mama. (And hopefully that statement prevents her from kicking my ass over posting that photo, which was taken when I successfully surprised her with a trip home last summer. Luckily she has a good sense of humor.)

In case you're wondering what makes Anne so awesome, here are some of the highlights from my Best Mom Ever Checklist, in no particular order:

• Warm and kind
• Gives great advice
• Awesome cook!
• Always calm and level-headed
• Listens to my stories without judgment
• Really funny -- without meaning to be
• Generous in both material and spirit
• Does my laundry when I come home
• Laidback and confident, wears sweatpants unapologetically (see photo above)
• Beautiful on the inside and out
• Puts up with me and my antics
• Puts up with my dad, his antics, and his Italian charm
• Puts up with my little brother and his endless babbling about the Marine Corps, creatine, beer, and girls
• Puts up with Lucked out with my big brother
• Runs down teenage candy thieves on Halloween
• Looks awesome after 50 (and hopefully passed on her good genetics)
• Is cool as they come!!
• Must be good at this whole mom thing because she raised three rowdy kids, and none of us have been arrested or gone to jail yet. The proof is in the pudding.

Despite living in Orange County for the last 25 years, she's retained the charm and values of a true Midwestern girl. I look up to her for lots of reasons, but primarily for the value she places on people and her relationships. She's salt of the earth -- dependable and true as they come -- and I'm very lucky to count her not only as my mom, but as my best friend, too.

Since her birthday really snuck up on me this year (seriously, how is it the middle of November already?), here's hoping this photo montage and blog post make up for not putting a card in the mail. And thank God for online shopping and overnight shipping, or she wouldn't be getting a timely gift either.

Enjoy your day, Mom, and may this be your best year yet!

Drinks this summer in Chicago.

I told you she's cool as they come!
At the Great Jones County Fair beer tent.

In Iowa with my brothers, sis-in-law, Grandpa, uncle, and cousins after our annual family river float.

With my lil bro before his junior Homecoming in 2008.

At G-Money's Boot Camp graduation last year.

Christmas 2010.
(Ok, we get that you're a Marine, Gianluca. You do look nice, though.)

USD graduation 2008.

[Special thanks to Brianne for capturing the photo magic up top and actually sending me the pictures this time. Love you Beezy!]