Mama Llama

This is my beautiful mama. Today is her birthday.

We have magical birthdays that are exactly 6 months apart, which makes my half-birthday her birthday and vice versa.

She always made my birthdays extra-special. When I was little, all my friends loved her because she made up games like dropping clothespins into a mason jar while standing on a chair, and there were prizes for everyone.
She snowshoed and sledded my friends down to the snowy cabin for my 14th birthday, so we could build an igloo and then have a fashion show.
When I turned 16, she rolled out butcher paper across the garage and let my friends have a finger painting, crazy dancing, messy paintball fight.
She always made dinner in honor of our birthdays; at my request, she slaved away at homemade chicken fettucine alfredo and then helped the kids find 18th century English costumes for my family party when I was 18.
My first birthday at college, she drove to my dorm and found a way to get in (she can do anything!). I came home to find my tiny bed decorated and a piece of my favorite birthday cheesecake in the fridge with a note from my mama llama.
One year, she and my sister snuck into my apartment, silently decorated, and left without me knowing. I woke up surrounded by giant balloons, from floor to ceiling. I couldn't even get out of my room!

She's basically the best mom, ever--and not just because she knows how to make a birthday special.
She loves us kids so much; I know she'd do anything to make me happy.
Love you, Mama! Happy Birthday!