practically 50

Happy pi day everyone!! This is the one day that people who don't like math, like math!! And I definitely fall into that category. I mean, pie is good. I just pretend everyone is celebrating the the tasty dessert (or breakfast) and not some nerdy number :) 3.14159ksdkdflasd...blah blah blah.

But most importantly... Happy Birthday to my lovely Mother!!!!!

Yep.


We have been giving her a hard time for a while now about how she is "practically 50". She has been in denial for the past couple years that 50 was right around the corner, but hopefully she embraces her new life as a 50 year old today!!! And what better place to be 50 than in Hawaii (soo jealous) right?! Right...

Hawaii.... yep. Still can't stop thinking about it and how much I wish I was there.
Provo < Kauai


Anyway, here is one of those classic "50 things I love about my Mom" things for her 50th birthday of course!!
 Ready? Go.

{practically} 50 things you may or may not know about Becky Schlappi. 

Look at that stunning 50 year old!!

1. You will never find a more genuine and kind person than my mother.
2. My mom tells things how they are. No beating around the bush with this 50 year old!!
3. My mom loves her kids and there is no denying that. We all know there is nothing she wouldn't do for her children, and we definitely don't deserve how great she is to all of us.
4. My mom has the biggest sweet tooth. I definitely inherited that from her.
5. Becky Schlappi is known for her wonderful blonde moments. We quote her on them frequently...
6. "It's modest, it's just too short!"
7. "It's not mean if it's true..."
8. My mom puts up with us kids. We tease too much and give her a hard time daily. We shouldn't, but we do... Sorry mom! I really do love you!
9. My mom loooves the beach. Which probably explains the spontaneous Hawaii trip for spring break. She get's that one from her dad.
10. Now my mom isn't one of those let's-just-relax-at-the-beach-ers. Oh no. She loves boogie boarding and will go as far as asking little children if she can borrow their boogie board to go if she has forgotten hers. Also if she can't get anyone else to brave the cold water with her she will go out alone. She will not miss out on any prime time boogie boarding!
11. Although my mom loves the beach, she is also a master snowmobiler and 4-wheeler. You should see her at the dunes. 
12. My mom loves to spoil her grandkids. Well, grandkid... Brigham is one spoiled dude!
13.  Becky is known to be doing 100,000 things at once. She is superwoman
14. If mom ever thinks of someone she has to call, or something she has to do, it is done right then and there. Even if it is mid conversation, she will call to confirm a visiting teaching appointment
15. My mom makes the most incredible quilts!! Nate and I just put the one she gave us on our bed and we are in love with it. Nate never knew he could like a quilt so much.
16. My mom is a wallyballer. Yep. She will do anything and everything in her power to get me to go play with her. She also plays at least once a week with the ward... and don't you mess with my mom while playing wallyball, she is aggressive! Maybe I got that from her too... huh.. weird
17. I love our annual "girls trips". My mom loves to take all her daughters out for a week once a year and spoils us rotten. It's wonderful.
18. My mom taught me how to work. And how to work hard. There would be many mornings during the summer that I would wake up and see my mom outside with piles of yard work or out doing the lawn. She is definitely not afraid to get her nails dirty!
19. I love that my mom loves the Lord. I love that I know that and that she has been a great example to me throughout my life. There have been many occasions where I would walk in on her kneeling in prayer next to her bed. Or wake up and see her studying her scriptures early in the morning. My mom is dedicated to the gospel and I love that.
20. My mom loves vacations. Any and all vacations. It is not unusual to be on our way home from one vacation and all she talks about is what vacation we will be going on next.
21. My mom is notorious for having secret spots for bags of treats so she can munch on them and this family of 7 wouldn't devour them in half an hour. Luckily I am really good at finding those spots... Like that one drawer in the laundry room... Or the side of her seat in the car. You could count on either finding Cinnamon Bears or those gross orange candy Circus Peanuts. I will never understand why she likes those...
22. She and I are similar in that we both hate shopping. Once we went shopping for my Wedding Dinner dress and it was a nightmare. We were both ready to be done after 1 hour and unfortunately this little adventure took 2 days and almost 10 hours... We rewarded ourselves with some good food after. Like always. We love lunch
23. I always remember as a kid that while shopping my mom she will stop in See's Candy's to get us all a free sample. Now that See's Candy's isn't in most malls anymore she will buy some mini pretzel bites to share as we shop.  Classic.
24. My mom had the funniest nick names for us kids growing up. She still calls my little brother Nate, Nate-Bug. He loves it, I'm sure.
25. My mom loves to hike. She always would try to get me to hike with her, but I was a stubborn child and thought 4-wheeling was better. So I was a snob and wouldn't go hiking. Even in beautiful Sedona. I know regret that of course...
26. My mom used to make matching clothes for Tara and I. It ranged from ruffly dresses to puffy paint shirts. Those were the days...
27. My mom is the most beautiful piano player and an awesome piano teacher!! There isn't a piece you could put in from of her that she couldn't play... well, with a few exceptions... she may need to practice for an hour on those ones ;)
28. My mom loves her FT (which means Family Time in Becky lingo). Don't you dare try and deprive her of her FT. It must be because she loves her family so much :)
29. My mom is such a trusting person! She leaves the door unlocked and the keys in the car all the time... tells people to "just walk in!" if we aren't home. It hasn't come back to bite her too often... so that's good I guess!!
30. My mom is the most supportive mother. I don't think she missed a soccer game or a pole vault meet of mine. She may have dragged her quilt along with her so she could work on it during her down time... but she always made sure she was there for me. 
31. She was my biggest cheerleader!! I have vivid memories or hearing her voice yelling - SCORE A GOAL!!! SHOOT! SCORE!! As I was back playing defense... those were some good times...
32. My mom is one of the most active 50 year old's out there. Among playing wallyball weekly, to yoga,  to swimming laps, and hiking as often as possible, she loves getting out and being active.
33. My mom loves purple. I used to give her a hard time about it until a couple years ago when I started liking purple... whoops.
34. My mom is smart. She is honestly one of the most quick and intelligent people you will meet! There isn't a thing that she can't figure out and do wonderfully.
35.  My mom is one of the most loving people. She honestly loves everyone she encounters and you can tell by the way she treats people.
36. My mom love gelato!!! Seriously buy her gelato and she will love you forever. Except she already does love you according to #35. So buy her some and she love you more. Or take you to lunch!
37. My mom loves to read. Especially books that have a little history in them. She loves learning and continuously tries to learn new things.
38. My mom is as low-maintenance as it gets and she raised her daughters the same way. She doesn't need a gallon of make up or a weekly pedicure and manicure to look beautiful as her 50 year old self! 
39. My mom loves loves lovess games. Any and all games. Card games. Board games. You name it and she's in!! As a kid she would bribe me with a later curfew or even not having to do the dishes if I would play Settlers of Catan with her. No this is not a joke. My mom is obsessed with Settlers.
40. Another game my mom is a complete fanatic about is Nertz! Nertz is a very high paced card game. My mom screams and hits other people a lot in Nertz.... another example of her competitive nature :)
41. My mom has the prettiest blue eyes!! Unfortunately only my oldest brother Ryan inherited her beautiful eyes... but that's okay!
42. My mom is hilarious. Not that she tells jokes, but she is just funny. Also, I love it when my mom laughs until she cries. It happens sometimes, and those times are some good times.
43. My mom is one of the most generous and welcoming people. She will give all her time and her energy to help a friend out. She always tries to make people feel at home and loves having people over.
44. My mom is great!!! Really. No mom will get as great as her. Maybe if I am half as great as she is someday... my kids will love me half as much as I love her :) 

Love you mom!!!

 The End.

Well that's the end of my practically 50 things that I love about my mother. I'm sure I could have kept going, but I thought practically 50 was fitting :)
My mom truly is an incredible woman and I admire her more than she will ever know.


Happy Birthday Mom!!!