Siblings & Cousins!

       

Sherrie & Mike

Chuck & Mary

           Recently, we had a birthday party for Mom - 86 years!  Dinner attendees at our house included my brother and sister-in-law, Chuck & Mary, and my sister and brother-in-law, Sherrie & Mike.  We were even able to keep the gathering a surprise.  Chuck & Mary brought Mom a special cheesecake from Central Market (love that place!)  Mom enjoyed the occasion immensely.

Uncle Curtis & Mom (Chloe)

Mom, Chloe with Kylie & little Chloe!

          Then a few days later, we joined lots of cousins in celebrating Mom's brother's, 90th birthday!  Uncle Curtis Southern is her only living sibling, so this was a real treat for Mom, in fact, for all of us.  It was difficult for them to find a restaurant with a separate room large enough to accommodate all of us, but what fun we had.  I saw cousins I had not seen since I was a teenager!  And other cousins that I had not met at all except through Facebook - amazing how that works these days.
       
Mom was especially blessed by getting to meet a special little family member who was also named Chloe - and they even had on matching animal print clothes.  What a fun surprise!

Cousins:  Chuck, Michael, Gary, Bonnie, Margaret Ann, Debbie & Karen

          Life is full of surprises, and the biggest surprise was on me.  I was born in Weatherford, Texas, and raised in Mineral Wells; but, we moved to the Northwest after I completed 8th grade, so I never expected to be living in the same area again - and especially getting to see so many of my cousins I hadn't seen in many years.  Some surprises are just fun...and this was one of them!