Mom's 50th... (Part 1)

My mom turned 50 on September 15th of this year and we had been planning for a while before that on how we were going to make her special day as special as she is... I am going to do this post in a two part, cuz we had too much fun with this whole thing and I know a lot of our family could not join us, so I would like for them to see all we put together...

(my mother was the cutest kid!)

We decided on a trip to vegas along with a Garth Brooks concert, and a small birthday party before.... these are the photos we had up to share at the party, Katie also made a beautiful video with many more memories to share! We had everyone write thier favorite memory of mom, so I thought I would share those as well...

(My mom, Grandma June, Uncle Will and Uncle Mike)

Sweet baby sister...

Should have known what a survivor you would be when at 6 weeks old in Alaska when the cat got into your crib and was trying to suck the milk from your tiny body you screamed bloody murder and your Sisue came to your rescue. We looked for that damn cat for 2 hours and finally found it in the rafters in the basement of our quarters. Mom and Dad said it was a miracle we scared it away and you survived. And you've been a survivor ever since. Remember our favorite saying, "It's always darkest before it goes TOTALLY BLACK!". I remember singing to you to sleep every night the year we were "sleeping buddies" while Bob was in Viet nam. Remember the burglar and me holding you in front as we grabbed a knife and were ready to attack? We used to take you to the drive in movies with us and to our apartment to do "Hairdials". Then the teen-age years and camping trips and Cory almost driving the tractor through our new addition. The precious days that Kelsie, Katie, and Amy were born. Years of birthday and anniversary and holidays spent together with our families. We've been through the good times and the "crying times" and God gave us each other so we could encourage and love each other in this crazy world and spend eternity together! I'm so thankful you're my baby sister. Come grow old with me...the best is yet to come! I love you!

-Sister Sue

(Mom, holding me, with Grandpa Seth and Grandma June)

 Nothing defines grace and love like my Aunt Kelly's smile... she has that warmth that Grandma June had and you can really see it in her smile! I love her baby blues. Man one gorgeous lady.

-Micah

(Us girls in Grandmas dining room)

The funniest moment with Kel was when we were playing Wii at our house and she ate it while getting into her tennis game! As she went up for a killer swing, her feet came out from underneath her and she completely fell flat on her back! (This was funny after I found out she was ok =) Luv ya Kel!

-Ricky

(I am not sure who the girl is in the striped shirt, but I do know this is Grandma cooking, Auntie Sue and Mom)

My favorite memory is jumping in the pond with her while it was snowing. We were very "Happy" and jumped from the jacuzzi into the pond and back again bringing all the grass and mud with us. Which in turn, did not make a happy Uncle Bob in the morning... sine it was his jacuzzi!

-Pat

(My mom, Me and Kate)

From accidently feeding me maggots on an old granola bar when I was little (and laughing as I made her call the hospital to see if I was going to be ok)... to her accidently sitting on a freshly sharpened pencil and the end breaking off, you know where, (hence me calling the hospital for her to make sure she did not have lead poisining)... with my mom, there is never a dull moment! And that is what makes life with her in it... THE BEST!!! Happy 50th mom... here is to 50 more years of making way more laughable moments!!! I love you with all my heart!

-Kels

(I think that is me Auntie Sue is holding?!?... but look at the legs on thse Armstead women.... WOW!!!)

Kelly!!!! I have soooo many fond memories of you!!! Every single second I'm around you! I love you mommy Kelly! Your amazing!

Love,

BECCA

(My mom and her mom)

Kelly, My favorite memory with you has got to be Katie's bachelorette party. I has so much fun getting muddy with you! That was the first real time I hung out with the Arizaga girls and you made me feel right a home!

-Love,

Nikki

(Now you see why we all love dogs so much!)

Too many to count! We have been through our (Well, my life) together. She is not only my aunt, but one of my best friends. I remember playing monopoly and her sharing her "screwdriver" -drink- with me when I was about 12 :) At Grandma June's house in Grand Terrace before we jumped in the pool at midnight. I love it when Mom and Kel would get into whipped cream fights. She can always make me smile or laugh until I cry. She is always diong something to crack me up! She let me spend the night when I was having hard days. And when I broke up with my boyfriend. she was always there to listen to me. Everyone wants to got to Aunt Kel's because it is so much fun! Especially when she makes sour cream lemon pie :) She just makes every place and everything a little more fun.

-Tracy

(Me loving on my Mom!)

From the moment my mother met eyes with her first granchild there was a bond made that is always going to last! They adore each other in a way that you can't put into words, you can just see it. She mastered her colicky younger days... and has begun to teach her teh art of her "No one can top pies" (ok, mainly just letting her lick the beaters full of sugary goodness). They are two peas in a pod, and I thank God on a daily basis for blessing my baby girl with the most amazing grandmother!

- Kelsie and Karly

(So pretty!)

One of my favorite Kelly moments is a recent one...In the words of crazy McCain herself..."There was a mama with two baby skunks in the garage and I shooed them away with a broom and some fruit =)!" Her excuse for being late to work.

-David

(Her senior picture!)

There are too many memories to count of my mom! A couple of my fondest are... when she put the legs of the rocking chair on sideways =/ Another is one of my favorites... in my many attempts to go to bed at night, mom always has just one more story to tell me... "Ok, good night mom!"... "Good night Amy... but wait, you would not believe what happned today...." SHE IS MY MOM AND NOBODY ELSES!!!! =)

-Amy

(Sunbaithing, my mom and I)

The #1 in our four girls! Her laughter and 'Happy Dance' alone can make all my worries fade away. I live for those crazy McCain moments that only she can create! I love her beauty and her giving heart. That resemble Grandma June in so many ways. She's the Alaskan born, fighting Irish, lotto playin', God praising, 3 girl raising, hard working, home cooking, fun loving, snort laughing, garage burning =), happy dancing... one and only Kelly and I am blessed to call her mom!

-Kate

(This picture cracks me up... my mom trying to get teh phone from me and as you can see mom is pregnant with Katie. Karly's new thing is she wants to answer the phone EVERY time it rings, and it took me FOREVER to get the phone away from her the other night... she was having a good ol conversation with Grandma Kel!)

(mom and Uncle mike)

(mom and her Dad)

(teaching me how to walk =)

Aunt Cathy and Mom

The four siblings (Mike, Sue, Kelly and Will)

Mom and her first ride!

Mom and her BABY Amy (Amy was a ham from day one... we said" look sweet" and she played the role really well!)

Cute baby Kate and Mom

Katie and Mom.... so sweet... love this picture!

Messy Amy and Mom

Another one of my favorites! This is one of my favorite memories... Grandma June, Grandma Leah, Mom and the rest of us.. sitting by a fire outside, whiskey and cokes in hand and lots of laughs!

I never realized my mom had such cute dimples... she's just got it all going for her huh!?!

So cute!

All the Grandmas, including Margaret and my mom!

My mom and Karly

Baby Micah and her Aunt Kel!

The boys and their baby girl!

The Four Girls!

Mom and Grandma June

The Armstead girls again!

My Beautiful Mom and Me

Us again... Everyone says the first child you will take ten million pictures of... the rest, not so much! I am going to try to not give into this trend with the next, but we will see =/

See what I mean =/

Tracy, Mom and Me!

Mom and Amy getting groovy!

The two peas!

Ahhhh I love these two!

Our traditional family snow man!

Mom and Amy

Love this picture too... my grandmas old kitchen brings back so many WONDERFUL memories... here is mom, Amy and Grandma!

Four girls plus our little bug makes us 5! =) The Birthday party for Mom was so relaxing and fun... full of laughter and good times! Thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed our mom with us!!! Thank you Kathie for mom's german chocolate cake, Tracy for the seven layer dip, and Auntie Sue and Uncle Bob for the poppers and pico de gallo... YUM! Katie the video was so wonderful! My mom enjoyed herself all night long, and I KNOW she appreciated every second of it... Then we were off to Vegas....

TO BE CONTINUED...

(If anyone who did not get a chance to write a message to mom would like to add one to the comments on this blog, I will add it to her memory book! =)