Sunday, May 1st, my MawMaw turned 87 years old. We waited until tonight to celebrate, so that my uncle Mike, who lives in Dallas, could be here. My grandmother is a very special lady and loved SO much by SO many. She has 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 16 grandchildren. She is such a beautiful and magnificent woman. She is always there with a warm tender hug and an encouraging word. Some of my best childhood memories are with her - from family vacations to sitting for hours at her house and playing paper dolls. And when Michael was born, she would come over everyday for weeks to be with us and help me after my mom had to go back to work. At that time, I had never really been about babies much and was scared to death I was going to do something wrong. And now I love going over to her house and hearing all her memories about her life. She remembers EVERYTHING!
Courtney, MawMaw and Michael
The party actually began for me and Becky on Thursday night. Becky came over to help with the cake. I had never really worked with fondant before, and since Becky is a pro (she has a certificate from Hobby Lobby cake decorating class saying so), she came over to help and teach. We have decided we will NOT be going into cake decorating business anytime soon.
The pink flowers are fondant, the rest is icing.
Since we were having so many (I think we counted 35 that came), we made a batch of cupcakes too. My cousin Kathy's husband, Larry, told me those were the best cupcakes he had eaten in a long time. So when she asked me for my recipe, I had to bury my pride and tell her the truth. Pillsbury white cake mix. It really is the moistest cake mix that I have found.
Courtney and I made a Happy Birthday sign for the party with scrap booking materials
I decorated the tables with bowls full of milk chocolate and strawberry whoppers. 
The strawberry whoppers were definitely the best
Uncle Mike and me before everyone started arriving
My cousin Kathy, Courtney and Makynzi
Kathy's husband, Larry
Hudson, Seth, Poppy, Becky, Rodney and my mom
The birthday girl!
Not really a good quality picture: Uncle David, Michael, Rod and Jeffrey. I'm impressed they are all chewing with their mouth closed!
Vicki showing off her happy plate
Waymon, Clay and Kristin
My aunt Denise and cousin Teri
Matt, our newest family member, and my cousin Staci
My cousin Hannah with my MawMaw. Hannah and Staci call her Nonnie.
Uncle Mike ALWAYS has his video camera out
Courtney and Rodney. Normally Jeffrey is the one that is the aggravater, but tonight it was Rodney
Mom was taking pictures of everyone to put in her address book .
Becky and me
Opening cards/presents
David getting an iphone lesson from Becky
Two of my cousin Kristin's boys: Taylor and Brenton
And Cody
Michael and Rod doing what they do best - kicking back and relaxing
Courtney, Makynzi, Matt and Staci having a serious conversation
Waymon, Jeffrey and Teri
We all wrote about a special memory of my grandma, and my cousin Teri put them all in a scrapbook for her
There was a intense game of Twister going on up in Courtney's room
A sweet picture of Rodney and MawMaw
and another with mom and the kids
Sweet niece/uncle bonding
My mom is anemic and has trouble keeping her hemoglobin up. Every month, around the 1st, Michael gives her a B12 shot. Scary, huh? I realize he gives shots to dogs at the clinic, but my mom is a human. But she allows it. So I don't argue. She has to go to the doctor every 2 weeks to get her blood counts checked. And if her counts are below 12, she has to get a shot of Aranesp. She just had to get one this week. But sometimes can go several months without getting one.
If that were me getting a shot, I would not be smiling.
Opening cards/presents
David getting an iphone lesson from Becky
Two of my cousin Kristin's boys: Taylor and Brenton
And Cody
Michael and Rod doing what they do best - kicking back and relaxing
Courtney, Makynzi, Matt and Staci having a serious conversation
Waymon, Jeffrey and Teri
We all wrote about a special memory of my grandma, and my cousin Teri put them all in a scrapbook for her
There was a intense game of Twister going on up in Courtney's room
A sweet picture of Rodney and MawMaw
and another with mom and the kids
Sweet niece/uncle bonding
My mom is anemic and has trouble keeping her hemoglobin up. Every month, around the 1st, Michael gives her a B12 shot. Scary, huh? I realize he gives shots to dogs at the clinic, but my mom is a human. But she allows it. So I don't argue. She has to go to the doctor every 2 weeks to get her blood counts checked. And if her counts are below 12, she has to get a shot of Aranesp. She just had to get one this week. But sometimes can go several months without getting one.
If that were me getting a shot, I would not be smiling. 
It was a great night with family celebrating my MawMaw's 87th birthday. And I hope it made her feel as special as she truly is. I am lucky to be her grandaughter.
Rod is shouting BT (which means bedtime around our house). Or I could go on and on about how great my MawMaw is. Good Night!
