Happy Birthday Georgia-Mom!!

One of my very favorite people on this planet turns 59 today! She is someone definitely worth celebrating and in honor of her, here are 59 things I know or admire about her:

1. She was born in Bremerton, Washington.
2. She is the fourth of eight children.
   
3. She currently lives in McKinney, Texas.
4. She loves to wear bright colors and busy patterns. (Her children don't always appreciate that.)
5. She is a wonderful writer.
6. She doesn't like to, but she is also a wonderful speaker.
7. She loves to do crossword puzzles.
8. She was baptized and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the YMCA pool.
9. She graduated from BYU in psychology.
10. She was on the BYU Ballroom Dance team.
11. She has taught her children and many others to folk and ballroom dance.
12. She now loves to play Dance Dance Revolution.
13. She is a night owl.
14. She washes her hair in the sink.
15. She started her own book club.
16. She loves cake.
17. She grew up on a lake.
18. She was on the Yearbook staff in High School.
19. She wears knee high stockings pretty much every day.
    
20. She drove across the country with a girlfriend when she graduated from college.
21. She taught herself to play the piano (which she thinks means that she plays it wrong!)
22. She is the only person I know who loves to eat rice cakes.
23. She has very watery eyes.
24. She doesn't like to get her face wet.
25. She likes to eat dry Apple Jacks when playing games.
    
26. She sings alto.
27. She has had many jobs but my favorite is when she sold marriage licenses in Las Vegas!
28. She had eight children in less than 11 years.
29. She delivered her 6th child by herself in the bathtub.
30. She listens to all kinds of music.
31. She is a white (which helps balance out her spouse who is very red!)
    
32. She was recently called as the Stake Relief Society President.
33. She will try just about any food.
34. She gives really sound advice.
    
35. She can still do a front handspring.
36. She wears trifocals.
37. She has a fabulous library of LDS books.
38. She makes really yummy divinity.
    
39. She not only listens but really hears what you are saying.
40. She wants to go to Paris. (And I want to go with her!)
41. She works for a quilting company, even though she doesn't quilt.
42. She has 9 grandchildren. (holding Ethan, fall 2004)
    
43. She went para-sailing in Mazatlan last Thanksgiving.
44. She loves the rain.
45. She has been on vacation with my family in San Diego and many times in Las Vegas.
46. She is not a competitive person.
47. She is 5' 5" and wears a size 5.5 shoe. (at least she used to.)
    
48. She wishes she lived closer to more family.
49. She is an excellent teacher.
50. She has a sweet tooth. (She's one of the few people who actually like Circus Peanuts!)
51. She is a homebody.
52. She always has Kleenex in her purse.
53. She has a lot of clutter around her house, but don't mistake that for unorganized! (I had to add her wording to the list: except for my personal spaces, my house looks uncluttered. but don't mistake that for organized!)
54. She has come after the birth of all five of my children and made it to both baptisms.
    
55. She will tell you that living the gospel is absolutely the best way to be happy.
56. She is always a really good sport.
57. She makes cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning.
58. She finally hired someone to clean her house.
    
59. And if you ask my kids they'll tell you, "She's the nicest person ever!"

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you and wish we could be with you on your special day!