Happy Birthday Mom aka Nana

Today was my mom's 73rd birthday! Happy Birthday mom. We celebrated by having a dinner for her at my sisters house. My sister made a great dinner. Open face roast beef sandwiches with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon and corn. Mmmm!

I baked my mom's favorite; chocolate cake with milk chocolate frosting and we also had Brownie Fudge Ice Cream and Cookies and Cream Ice Cream. And of course, chips and salsa...it wouldn't be our family if we didn't have chips and homemade salsa!

My mom Tomasa is the youngest of ten children, Nicolasa, Leonor, Jesus, Eustino, Maria, Casimira, Eliza, Herminia and Elena. Of the ten children only five are still living, my mom, Eustino, Maria, Casimira and Herminia. A couple of weeks ago my mom made the trip back to Phoenix, Arizona with her sister Casimira to visit another sister, Herminia that was in the hospital. My cousin Norrie was kind enough to send some pictures of the brother and sisters that are remaining.

This is from left to right, my mother Tomasa aka Tome, her brother Eustino aka Tino; her sister Casimira aka Casi or Casey and her other sister Maria.


Here again from left to right my Uncle Tino, my mom Tomasa and my Aunt Casi and in the wheelchair the sister they all went to visit, my Aunt Herminia aka Minnie.

My Aunt Herminia unfortunately had a brief stay in the hospital but by the time my mom and her sister Casi came back Herminia was home and doing much better.

These brothers and sisters all went through so much together and now these are the only ones left.

Here's a picture of my mom surrounded by some of her grandchildren today at her birthday party.

In the blue sweatsuit is Clarissa, standing in the back is Isaac, in the Billabong sweatshirt is Freddie and the baby of the family Melissa. Melissa is pretty darned thrilled by the candles!

Here's Issac and Fred again. My mom's grandsons.


Here are my mom's sons....on the left Jaime and then Fred. What is it about fire that turns grown men into little boys?


And my mom's daughters, me and my sister Lisa. That's me on the left. Lisa, thank you so much for opening your home to us. We had a great time and you're an awesome cook!

It was a fun day for all of us as it is almost every time we get together. December birthdays are always difficult because there's already so much to do to get ready for Christmas but this year especially it was important to get together and celebrate our mothers birthday.

Happy Birthday Mom...we all love you so much!