happy birthday / mother's day.

tonight we all met up at stone mill bbq and steakhouse for father's day and mother's day.  we try not to lump the two together whenever possible, but our family is getting so large and schedules are so crazy with work, travel, justin's shifts, in-laws' events and more, this year we just had to do them together. 

travis, haley, sierra, dakota, justin, lindsay, parker, mom, and karen all came to help us celebrate my dad and my mom. 

i must get better about snapping photos at these types of things -- even if it's just from my phone.  we had a great time laughing and enjoying each other's company.  parker loved being carried around the restaurant looking at all of the animals and paintings on the wall.

sierra and dakota had to leave just after dinner, but everyone else came back to our house for a few minutes after dinner.  travis and i had mom's mother's day gift in the garage -- a beautiful rocking chair. 

she saw it as she was walking up the driveway and gasped, "oh look at that chair! isn't that gorgeous??" 

i told her the mother's day fairy had left it. 

"for you?" 

"no, not for me -- for you!" 

"for me????"  she moved up the driveway so quickly.  she just couldn't wait to try it out.  i was so glad she liked it. 

all my life i can remember her and my dad trying to find incredible rocking chairs.  one fell out of the back of the truck when we were moving from new hampshire back to oklahoma.  i still remember them being sad about it.  so i thought the rocking chair was a great idea when travis suggested it, but am always a little apprehensive when giving others gifts.  i want them to love it!  

and she did.  :) 

my dad sat in it though and decided it made a better granddaddy chair.  hmm ... i guess it's a good thing father's day is coming up in about a month. 

in other news: the l-shaped desk and the piers in the office have found a new home. justin and lindsay needed furniture for their home office, and we have been trying to clean out that room since haley moved in.  it's nice when everything works out so perfectly. 

i am so blessed to have such an incredible family.  as it goes i get to see them pretty often, but sometimes i'm sad i don't see them a little more.  i love you guys.