Happy Birthday Mom!

Since we can't see you in person today the kids have a birthday message for you!



Nathan was very concerned that we wouldn't be having cake with you, so he insisted we eat some in your honor- these kids sure do love you!

All of you that don't know my mom let me tell you- she's awesome (all of you that do know her already know she's awesome!) Since this is such an important birthday (don't worry, I won't give away her age, let's just say she's still really young!) I tried to come up with something special...so here's my list of some of the reasons why my mom rocks and some great memories I have of her.

*She's fun! She loves laughing and playing games.  I have so many memories of playing hearts, her teaching me how to play cribbage, gestures, pictionary, charades, fruit basket (anyone remember that game?), life size Clue (so jealous Rachel always got to be Miss Scarlett), the flour game, mini golf, competitive croquet (nope- that's not a high society game with her...lots and lots of trash talk!)...the list goes on and on.
*She is seriously one of the best cooks ever. She's not one of those people who makes crazy fancy food- she just makes really really really good food.  I seriously don't know how she made such great food, every day, my whole life (and always had it perfectly ready at the same time!) And don't even get me started on desserts...so good! Being her daughter automatically made it so I never had any problems being too skinny. I think people who don't eat much just don't understand how amazing food really can be.
*She loves people watching- there's no one better to go sit and watch all the world's crazies with than my mom. She cracks me up! 
*If you're wondering where I got my stubborn streak from, look no further than my mother :) In oh so many ways we are exactly the same person...which made for some fun times when I was a teenager :)  I like when people compare me to her, because I think she's great.
*There aren't many women who, when they're told that their husband is being transferred to Amman, Jordan for work, say "ok, let's go".  Even fewer who go with a 2 year old, a 1 year old, and 7 months pregnant.  And even fewer who do that and agree to go to Islamabad, Pakistan with kids ages 9, 8, 7, and 1 while pregnant...she's a trooper!
*She buys me clothes (and shoes, and purses....). In our poverty stricken state the only reason I haven't looked homeless for the past 5 years (and let's be honest, my whole life) is because she is so incredibly generous. Is it odd that I get fashion tips and advice from my mom? She's just that fashionable and hip. And I love that she's not afraid to tell me when I look awful :)
*I honestly can't remember a year of my life (minus living overseas) that she hasn't gone to girls camp. Everybody loves her! She was the kind of early morning seminary teacher I wished I had...so jealous that other kids got to have her as a teacher and I never did!
*She taught me how to be frugal- I still remember when I was a little girl helping her wash out the ziploc bags so we could reuse them.  She also made almost all our clothes when we were little.  And I had no idea Halloween costumes are normally bought at a store, and I think she altered almost every single one of my dresses in high school to make them modest (while still looking really good which honestly, is super difficult!)...my mom is seriously talented.
*I still remember when she would type with 2 fingers...let's just say that's long gone as she is super cool with her iPhone and iPad.  She knows things about technology that I don't and acts like I'm such a loser when I have no idea what she's talking about :) I'm really not kidding when I say one of my goals is to be a cool as she is!
*You can look her up on ratemyteachers.com and her scores are stellar...let me quote some of the entries for you ---"God's gift to teaching. Possibly the greatest human being in existence."  "Definitely very cool!" "She really knows how to teach her class! She ROX! :)"   Yep- that's my mom, and no I didn't write those.
*She's way competitive.  Just get her family together with any sort of game (hearts is preferred) and watch them go.  That german Schmidt family stubbornness and competitiveness runs deep in all of them! She is also super athletic- her high school time was filled with sports, sports, and more sports.  I played all the same sports as her in high school and I always knew no matter how good I did she had done better than me...and surprisingly I was totally ok with that, I thought it was pretty cool that she was so talented.
*I used to dream that someday she'd let me perm my hair just like she did...the 80's/early 90's were such a great time! (Remember how I said she was fashionable?!?!) Thankfully when that fad ended so did her perms :)

So Happy Birthday Mom- you are one amazing woman and I love you so much! Can't wait to see you in August!