Happy Birthday Mom | Grandma | Donna Koop!

(picture taken fall of 2009)

What we love about the birthday girl:

Caeden says:

1. I like her mixer.

2. I like that she makes me jello.

3. I like playing with Grandma's stove.

4. She gives good hugs.

5. I love her .

6. She plays games with me.

Val says:

6. She is patient and loving.

7. Always up for anything.

8. Has the energy of someone in their 20's.

9. Can find the humor in most anything.

10. She creates amazing quilts that are complete works of art.

11. She makes me a better Mom by the example she sets.

12. Her desserts.

13. Master of recycling. The original "green" movement could have easily started with her.

14. Cracks me up with her special (gambling) purse.

15. Genuine. What you see is what you get.

16. Her sense of adventure.

17. Gives advice only when asked (which is something I am trying very hard to emulate!)

18. Her newsy emails make me feel like we don't live 7 hours apart.

19. She is a wonderful friend to all who know her. For those of you who are lucky enough to call her a friend, you know this to be true.

20. She has the most beautiful skin. If only we could all age as gracefully and beautifully as she does.

21. Knows just what to say to the kids to make them feel like they are the center of her world.

22. Incredible work ethic.

23. Letting a big huge dog that sheds everywhere into her house. Loves Lucy without making us feel guilty that she really didn't want a pet in the house. (It doesn't go unnoticed, Mom).

24. Sneaks blueberries into our freezer to keep us well stocked when we have run out of our own.

25. Keeps the cleanest car around.

26. Tolerates Dave (kidding Dad! Sort of ...) :)

27. Cries when we say good bye (it's sweet and endearing)

28. She is the best mother in law I could have ever asked for.

Claire says:

29. She feeds me pancakes.

30. She reads to me.

31. She loves me and takes such good care of me when I visit.

Wayne says:

32. Her silent strength
33. Her ability to put everyone at ease
34. Her ability to sit at a penny slot machine for hours

We love you so very much!

Happy Birthday!

P.S. This would have been so much cleverer if we could have gotten to 61.

P.P.S. Caeden wanted to add: Thank you for taking such good care of me when I visit.