A special gift

I celebrated my birthday this past weekend by going to visit my mom and dad. I love to go to their house. I always relax when I’m there and really enjoy time in their home. Both my mom and dad are excellent cooks and the boys will concur with the statement that we eat well at Mamaliz’s! My birthday dinner was delicious and the key lime tart was the perfect birthday dessert.

My mother is the consummate gift giver, and always gives gifts with special meaning. I wish I had an ounce of her thoughtfulness and creativity when it comes to gift giving. For my birthday, she took a smocked dress that I wore when I was 4 or 5 and had it beautifully mounted and framed. Then she made a copy of a family picture in which I was wearing the dress and framed it, too. The dress now occupies a special spot above the piano where I can look up and see it as I sit at my desk.

Here's the dress...

and here's my family and a 5 year old me wearing the little dress!