"Sana helwa ya Gameel!

That's Arabic for:

"Zum Geburstag viel Glück!"

which is German for:

"Happy Birthday to you!!!"

and I'm still a day late in a birthday post for my mom.

Asher and Ivy now proudly sing the birthday song in 3 languages and did it on skype for my mom . I think it's hilarious.

Asher learned at school.

Ivy of course just picks up whatever Asher does.

I tried to teach them a 4th (Spanish) but I don't think they trust that I really know what I'm talking about.

Random thoughts/ facts/ tidbits and trivia about my mom.

• She is usually full of them* (*them as in random facts, tidbits and trivia)
• my kids call her "Grandma" or "Grandma Cutler". John's mom is "Nana" and the whole great grandparent thing just confuses them.
• brown fizzy beverages (Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper) are called "Grandma's juice". The kids can share if it's caffeine free (which her 'juice' usually is).
• she's sewed 2 out of my 3 prom dresses. (the two cute ones. the third was just an embarrassment- wish I had a photo to share)
• my mom and I share birthday weeks (along with 2 of my 3 sisters-in-law)
• she lived over in this part of the world when she was my age (but she had FOUR kids. and it was Saudi Arabia not Dubai, and she didn't have a blog or skype or even a telephone for that matter)
• she's rarely in photos cuz she's always the one taking them. Same with me.
• if there's a seafood option on the menu- she'll most likely be ordering it.
• Costco is her "corner market" equivalent
• she's not afraid to drive long distances by herself and she's gladly done it many, many, many times to help me out.
• she is thoughtful and creative in gifting things that someone collects and if you don't have a collection she'll come up with one for you.
• she still reads the newspaper every morning.
• she loves a good road trip/ vacation every summer and spring break.
• she's one year closer to 60 but not there yet!

Happy Birthday- we love you!