23 - Thankful For The Best Mom Ever!

23 More Days!!!

 - I'm thankful to God for allowing my mother to see 60 years on this earth.  She's going to kill me for putting her business in the streets, but Irene Leslie is the best mother a girl could ever ask for. I would be crazy not to include this memorable moment.  
Read more and see photos below...

My sibs and I showed her just how much we appreciate her with a big 60th birthday bash this past February in Alabama. Yes, Alabama!  Three reasons:  it's my family's Mississippi-Florida half-way point; my lil' bro, Zermon, and his wife live there; and to hit two birds with one stone, Lon and Zermon ran the Mercedes Benz Half Marathon in Birmingham.  We packed a lot into one weekend!

The big weekend started with a celebration at the Catfish House in Prattville (near Montgomery) on Friday night.  We lavished Mom with gifts and ate some really great food.  If you ever go to the Catfish House, you have to try the "Setup" as your appetizer - white beans served in a little kettle, cole slaw and the best hushpuppies you'll ever taste.  It's so country, but sooo good.

Posing for a pic with mom: Big bro, Larry; little sis, Melissa and on the end little bro, Zermon (big sis, Marilyn - couldn't make it.) 

Saturday, we went out for breakfast and then headed to Birmingham for part two of the celebration - a shopping spree.

  

Sunday, the guys got up early and ran the half-marathon.  They walked away with beautiful Mercedes Benz medallions.  Beside the natural runner's high, I think they only run these races for the medals.  :-)  Lon now has the Disney Marathon medal in sight.

It was a very memorable weekend.   I only hope I can be half the mother my mom continues to be.  I'm still trying to unlock her secret to raising five children by herself and still look great at 60.  She continues to amaze all of us sibs.  

Her latest endeavor is also awe-inspiring. She's been a power walker for years, but she recently caught the runner's bug from her boys.  She has run several 5K races, and she has placed in two of them - one for first place in her age group. 

One day, I'm going to be just like her!