Telling the Birthday Girl (Mom)- April 17, 2010

I wanted to tell Mom a special way. She could become a Grandma on her birthday! Greyson and I have been throwing around ideas for several weeks as to how to tell her. I wanted Mom, my sister Julie, my brother-in-law Kevin, Mom’s husband Jeff, and my step-siblings all together to tell them. Julie and Kevin couldn’t be there so we invited everyone else over for a cook-out and game night.

We play games. That’s what we do. Our Apples To Apples and Catch Phrase nights are epic. Beach vacations are late nights of great drinks and card games. But, today I had other motives of course.

Greyson tried to record it but the camera was acting up. Our little scheme went like this…. I had everyone sit around the table together. (Greyson was in the kitchen trying to be sneaky with the camera.) I said that because Mom and Jeff were turning 55 in October we should take a family trip together. (I had collected brochures from God-awful cheesy tourist spots when I was in South Carolina with Sara.) I started laying down brochures for the Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach, South of the Border etc. Jeff was thrilled with this idea. Bryce, my very hip step-brother was looking at me like I was insane.

But, then I said, “Mom, we have this thing on your actual birthday. Greyson and I will be there and we hope you will be there too.” I laid down the brochure for the Rex Birth Center. She looked up at me with teary eyes and the funny look she gets when she hears good news. She got up and hugged me, tight.

We called my Grandparents, her parents, and they were so excited. My Granddaddy said the news made his whole week. We called my Aunts and Uncles. My Aunt even said, “I was beginning to wonder if you knew how that happened.”

I showed her the ultrasound pictures and we all laughed and talked. We played a new game until I couldn’t stay awake any longer. I love my family. They are awesome.