Dear Mom,

Thank you for putting up with me especially when I was a teenager. I hope you know I have never hated you even though I may have said it at age 13. I’m glad we have gotten closer to each other as I grew out of that rebellious phase. You’ve been there for me through all the good and bad times. I love how safe I feel around you all the time. Even though you lecture too much… even to strangers and ask a million of questions, you always have a way of making me feel better after I’m uncertain of something. Being around you and Dad makes all my worries go away knowing that I am always safe with you. Thank you for pushing me when I don’t ask for it. I may not verbally thank you for doing but know that I do appreciate it….most of the time! I love how we laugh so hard that we’re crying and cannot look at each other until we both stop laughing. You’re such a cool and fun mom to be with and that’s why we love spending Friday nights with you.

I promise I will let you and dad live with us when you’re too old to be living by yourselves because you guys have done so much for me even when you didn’t have to.

Love your #1 daughter,

Steph Anne

P.S. I’m sorry I broke your tailbone when I was born!

This morning I made myself a smoothie and headed out the door to work. I glanced over to other drivers and saw them sipping on their morning coffee. I was probably the only one with a smoothie. I wondered who was going to have more energy throughout the day – me or these coffee lovers! I finished my smoothie just when there was heavy traffic because of a car accident. I’m one of those drivers who like to see what happened. I was driving in the far left lane and the accident and cops were in the right shoulder of the freeway.

I was coming up to the scene and saw that the first car was the same as my Mom’s car. I quickly glanced over at the driver and it was my Mom! She was staring up ahead and just sitting in her car. Everything was happening too quickly while I was driving and by the time I realized I wanted to pull over… I couldn’t.

It hit me hard that I just passed her and I couldn’t do anything or pull over. I started wheezing and crying. Also it’s the time of the month so I’d like to blame some of it on that too. I was a hot mess!

I got to work and finally after a while she got to work and e-mailed me.

Mom: Basically I was just driving along, about 10-15 mph when I heard the impact from the 3rd car hitting the car behind me, then felt the impact from the second car hitting me.  It all happened so fast, and needless to say I was very surprised when it happened. My bumper is all screwed up, and will need replacing.

Me: I saw the accident and recognized your car then saw you and I know no one else in Phoenix has the same hair do so I knew it was you.

Mom: My bumper and side panels are popped off. That makes me feel good to know that no one in Phoenix has the same hair do. Is my hair really that weird???

Me: LOL no it’s not that weird. Just that you’ve had the same hair for SO many years that I can recognize you from anywhere. The guy got out to talk to you?

Mom: Yes.  They both got out of their car on the passenger side.  I had a skirt on and decided I didn’t need to throw my back out trying to crawl over the middle console to get out.  I think I made a good decision!

Me: I can’t imagine you trying to do that anyways!

Mom: I would have if I was 30!!

My Mom is fine with no injuries. I’m grateful for that! Gotta love her sense of humor with all of this though. I also realized that every car accident I’ve been in I have always cried. I think I don’t do well in those kind of situations. I just hope I won’t be 60 and still crying in these kind of situations. Pfft!

Oh, and I still have energy!!! I think all the coffee lovers are exhausted by now…unless they’re drinking more coffee.  I don’t hate coffee lovers… I’m actually jealous because I have tried to like coffee and I hate it but love the smell. Bummer, I know.

My Mom warned me the bunch (Mom, Dad, Grandma & Dad’s best friend Craig) were going to come over tonight to wish us Happy Anniversary since we didn’t see them last night. I usually can’t hear the doorbell (I need to get a doorbell flasher soon!) so Tyler tells me that they’re here and I see my dad dressed like this…

What the heck!? This is not what he normally wears everyday. He has seen Tyler wear black gym shoes before and thinks it’s okay for him to wear black socks & shoes with shorts. We tried explaining to him that he cannot do that! Grandma had the giggles and could not stop giggling over dad’s outfit.

Then Mom tells us to leave and go to our room while she went to the car to get something for us. The bunch got us a gift for our anniversary and I’m in love with it!

I would have never thought of getting something like this! I love how I can change it later on with seashells, pine cones, pumpkins, and etc. Just perfect!

The rest of the evening was full of more laughing & spilling our drinks.

Grandma took a shot of Goldschlager! I think my Mom scared Tyler a little bit…

Mom: Did you do it last night?!

Tyler: What?

Mom: You heard me!!

Dad’s best friend, Craig, is in town visiting. They’ve been best friends since the bachelor days! I swear men have it easier with friendships than women do.

Mom insisted we pucker up! I have to admit I was one of those girls in high school who puckered up when taking pictures of myself and unfortunately my sister was paying attention to me because she does it now all the time. Apparently Mom wants to do the same now…

I’m thankful for… my family who makes me laugh all the time and is always there for me especially when we only live 5 miles away from each other. Tyler’s family who we wish we could see more often & we’re already counting down the days when we’ll see them next time. My awesome friends and new blogging friends who I love talking to through gchat, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and e-mail. AND SO MUCH MORE!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!