June - The Birthday Month for Our Mom's

June is the month for Claude's mom and my mother's birthday. I've always found it interesting that in May we have Mother's Day and on May 3rd have Papa's birthday and on May 22nd we had Evan's birthday. Then comes June and we have Father's Day and on June 5th is Bonnie's birthday and on June 9th is Mimi's birthday.

This year Claude headed to Utah for Bonnie's birthday. Julie and Cordell coordinated an open house on Saturday, June 13th for Bonnie. Bonnie spent her real birth date in Vancouver, Washington for the baptism of CJ McCombs, one of her grandchildren. There was an announcement in the newspaper so the community knew an open house was being held. They held it at Bonnie's home. Claude said he was able to see many of the people he hasn't seen in years as well as lots of family. He really appreciated this trip because he had a good deal of time to visit with his mother one-on-one. We truly appreciate Julie and Cordell for making sure this happened. Tami provided tables and chairs. People brought treats and a good time was had by all. Claude was also able to take the Drysdale family to the Oaks for an Oak Burger. Rick and Lynette had their rehearsal dinner before their wedding at the Oaks which is in the canyon between Huntsville and Ogden. Our family loves to eat there when we are in Utah. This year young Daniel Drysdale graduated from High School and Lynette received a degree from Weber State University. In honor of these momentous events, Claude took this wonderful family to dinner. For Mimi's birthday, Papa and I agreed to wait until my little sister, Neffie, and her daughter, Chiara, and Chiara's 3 little boys got to town for their visit to celebrate. On the 5th, I had to do something for Mimi. So I stopped and picked up a Twinkie on my way into town. Mimi has no teeth so the Twinkie had prospects for being soft enough for her to enjoy. I got to the nursing home during her lunch time. Papa finished feeding her and then we broke up her birthday Twinkie, sang a bit, and Papa poured a little milk over her Twinkie and fed it to her. Her eyes lit up when she tasted that sweet treat and a great big smile came across her face. Claude left on Wednesday the 10th. Andie and the mini-Marx's arrived Friday afternoon the 12th. Neffie, Chiara, Kenny, Nathan and James arrived Friday the 12th in the early evening. That Friday evening during adult swim (that is after the kids are put the bed) Andie, Neffie and Chiara finished fixing the cupcakes for Mimi's birthday. I baked 47 cupcakes that Friday afternoon. Andie made butterfly wings and antennae out of chocolate melts and brought them already prepared. Andie made up butter cream icing and they iced the cupcakes, put M&M's on to support the wings, then added the wings and antennae. Then they put some more icing on to be the body of the butterfly. Now, butterflies are significant to Mimi and Papa because they made, painted and sold the butterflies you see on the sides of houses and fence posts to raise money to fund their once a month week long trip to serve in the Dallas Temple. They did this for 4 years. Each of their daughters was the proud recipient of a butterfly. So the making of these particular butterfly cupcakes was very special for Mimi and Papa. Saturday we had breakfast and then all of us went out to the cars to head into Georgetown to have a birthday celebration for Mimi. A little problem arose when Chiara's van was stone, cold dead. We tried to jump start it but didn't quite get that right. So we opted for the 'switch the car seats to Sandi's car' and quickly headed into Georgetown. Papa and Mimi were sitting there waiting for us. Mimi was happy to see so many little children as were the residents that came into the multi-purpose room. Papa brought his guitar and we sang a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday". Then Papa sang a special song for Mimi that he used to sing to her when they were first married. The song was written by a man of some significance (I can't remember what right now) for his wife. She had been very disfigured because of an illness and was extremely self-conscious. So he wrote this beautiful love song for her titled "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms". Yeah Papa! He got through it without his voice breaking. It was a sweet moment.

Hayden helped me pass out the beautiful cupcakes. Kenny helped Mimi open her present and we had a very nice visit. Bailey played peek-a-boo around the post with the residents. Nathan sat on Mimi's lap and she got lots of hugs. Chiara held little James and Mimi enjoyed him. It was a great morning and lots of fun for Mimi and the other residents and a true joy of each of her famly members. Here is a picture of the butterfly cupcakes.

You can look at Bailey and tell they were yummy!!

I'll leave the remainder of the pictures and story about Neffie and Chiara's visit until she has time to post to her blog. I will just say that Nathan called me "Gramma" his entire visit. It was just precious.