Mother's Day part 2 (and Gabe's bday too)

Our awesome (now 12 year old) nephew Gabe's bday is always right around Mother's Day and this year, it was on Mother's Day so we got to celebrate his bday too as well as my mom and my sister (and me)

Just had to include this pic of Rio - she was super happy to be riding the horse!

Happy birthday Gabe!  Love you so much!

Austin, Jax and Halle sharing the love with him

 Unwrapping my parents gift to him - pretty cute idea right?

 Seriously?  What 13 year old boy loves kids this much!  My nephew Zak - that's who!  We're so lucky to have him

 Papa Dougie feeding Logan some yummy bday/Mother's Day cake

 At Sky's house enjoying her always yummy desserts

 Sky, my mom and I

Love you mom!  You're honestly the most optimistic person I know!  I both envy and love your love of life and people! Cannot say in words how much you mean to me and cannot thank you enough for all that you do for me and my kids.  I don't think any kid can love their grandma more than mine do!You love without condition and are so talented! You impact my kids life in ways that I can't and I love you for that!

I am lucky, lucky to have my sister Sky.  It's just us in our family and she is THE BEST EXAMPLE of a mommy (my mom too of course) I know.  Loving, patient and a love of learning for herself and her kids are just a few values I treasure in her.  Love you Sky!

 If all you did was look at these pics, you wouldn't think they were Mother's Day pics at all - well, that is because after I took these, my camera died and I didn't get any actual "mother's day" pics with my MIL Bonnie or any of the kids aunts :(

However, here is Uncle Jon with the kiddos on the tramp!  He's so fun!

 Ready... here it comes!  Love how they're all holding hands :)

 I know not a great pic but had to include Uncle Marc too - my kids ADORE him!

 Pure joy!

 

Even though I don't have a pic of my MIL Bonnie, I have to say how much I love her too.

She is probably unlike most MIL's and treats me just like her own - she is self-sacrificing to the 100th degree, she never, ever makes you feel like you're a pain or burden for asking for help and teaches my kids the best kind of "projects" and increases their artistic ability every time she is with them :)

*I didn't pay tribute enough to my mom or my mother in law but I pray I will be like them as a mother and a grandmother*