1. I love Mom's chocolate chip cookies: perfectly undercooked, gooey but still crunchy, and supremely chocolaty. Rarely created to maintain the appeal, they're usually gone in less time than they took to bake.
2. I love that Mom's nose turns red when she's emotional, an alert that tears are imminent.
3. I love the jangle of Mom's keys. Like Pavlov's pups I come running at the signal.
4. I love Mom's omelets. They're the best I've ever tasted. They beat out any restaurant's. I'll say specifically why: they have the perfect filling-to-egg ratio, and they're always fluffy.
5. I love the way Mom wraps Christmas presents. They're beautiful and shiny.
6. I love how Mom decorates for Christmas. It's so warm and inviting, it's the perfect setting for the holidays. Her efforts are really appreciated there.
7. I love how Mom is always able to find a deal. She'll always find something cheaper than what I paid for it.
8. I love how Mom is always so happy to see us when she picks us up from the airport. It's the most welcoming feeling when someone is that happy to see you.
9. I love that, even if they were together all day, Meredith and Olivia are always so excited to see Gramma at the door.
10. I love that Mom is always willing to join me on shopping excursions. Any time, any place. See also: Number 7.
11. I love Mom's reubens. I'm close in my re-creation, but somehow hers are always better.
12. I love that, no matter how poorly I played, Mom was always willing to cheer me on in any sport I attempted. I mean, really, track?
13. I love Mom's ever-present willingness to help. Help decorate, help babysit, help make dinner, help highlight my hair, whatever.
14. I love that Mom listens to the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana with the girls. (And secretly likes it.)
15. I love that Mom went through the terrible twos (and threes) with Olivia and was still willing to have her around two days each week.
16. I love that Mom drove over eight hours in a moving van to Chicago BY HERSELF to help us pack and move out of there. And then put us up in her home with a dog and a cat filthying up the place for A WHOLE MONTH! And on top of that, she seemed genuinely happy to do so! I'm continually amazed by her limitless generosity.
17. I love that Mom treats Stella just like another grandkid. She even makes an effort - however futile - to be nice to Kitty.
18. I love my memories of watching Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock movies with Mom.
19. I love Mom's giant library of (technically pirated) VHS movies recorded from the HBO and Showtime broadcasts throughout the 80s. Three movies to a tape, she must have one of the largest collections in the state. She really mastered that VCR timer.
20. I love that Mom made staying home sick from school so awesome, simply by being a good mom - extra blankets, mac 'n cheese, and the VHS copy of Cloak and Dagger.
21. I love that Mom is a good bowler. Pretty sure the skills are somehow related to that little hop-step.
22. I love that Mom had a first generation Ford Mustang, and then a safety orange '72 Oldsmobile Cultass Convertible, and then a Dodge Caravan. Two of the most bitchin'-est muscle cars of all time, and then a minivan.
23. I love that Mom rocked a personalized license plate on aforementioned bitchin' '72 Olds Cutlass that read: "Neeet".
24. I love that the first time I came out to San Francisco Mom told me: "Oh yeah, I was around Haight-Ashbury visiting my friend's sister in 1969." Hmmm, yeah, nothing really of interest culturally going on in 1969 San Francisco. I'm sure there would't be any interesting stories to share with your children...
25. I love that Mom went through all that schooling to become an interior designer, and then put it all aside to be the World's Greatest Gramma.
26. I love Mom's energy. She can keep up with the girls and is always willing to let them do all the messy things I find ways to avoid. Paint, playdoh, glitter, beads, etc. - nothing is too much for Gramma.
27. I love that Mom is the handyman of the Horine house. No offense to Dad of course.
28. I love that Mom (and Dad) introduced us to travel at such young ages. Horine Family vacations and trips are key memory-making devices. (See: gelato in Italy, broccoli pizza in NYC, moving sea shells in Texas, tiny airplane rides to Florida, etc.)
29. I love how easily frustrated Mom is by board games. The pressure gets to her and she cracks every time. The best part is that she always knows the answer, she just can't recall it under such intense scrutiny.
30. I love the way Mom wholeheartedly welcomed Sean and Jessica into the family. There wasn't ever really a trial period or anything either...
31. I love that Mom took about ten 16 year-old girls to Chicago one summer just because we wanted to go. AND she took us to the theater.
32. I love the way Mom spits. Makes me laugh just thinking about it. Like the time she got sick after eating scallops...and that other time she ate scallops...
33. I love that Mom worked so hard to buy me a Cabbage Patch Kid the year I HAD to have one. And that she hid it behind the tree and convinced me that the ugly homemade (not by her) doll was just as good.
34. Speaking of homemade, I am still immensely impressed that Mom sewed doll clothes, Barbie clothes, Halloween costumes, recital outfits and, oh yeah, a large stuffed dog while we were little. I'm lucky to sew buttons back on.
35. I loved how beautiful Mom looked at my wedding. And how happy she was.
36. I love that I really only have one memory of Mom getting drunk. It was the margaritas at Annie's Santa Fe that got her.
37. I love that Mom made the best birthday cakes a kid could ever hope for. Do they even still make a Superman birthday cake mold? The detailing on the icing must've taken hours.
38. I loved dancing with Mom to Frank Sinatra at my wedding.
39. I love how Mom gets toys for Stella and Kitty. I'm always a little surprised by that, even though I shouldn't be. But it always makes me feel like these little, filthy animals are wholly welcomed into her family too.
40. I love that Mom let Meredith pick the color of her last two cars (Blue & Red). I mean, who does that? Let's let a four year old pick out a car color.
41. I love that Mom always ensures that Jess has a vegetarian option for our big family dinners. And it's usually my favorite: Mom's eggplant parmesan. Just another testament to her generosity and grace.
42. I love how Mom always subtly throws out her wish for another family trip to Italy. It'll happen someday, right Don?
43. I love how comfortable Mom's house is. Even though I didn't grow up there, I'm as comfy as though I had. That big chair is perfect for curling up with a book, or loading 2 kids and an adult (or two) for a movie.
44. I love that I'm the only person I know who got to celebrate his half-birthday.
45. I love that Mom bought me an electric guitar when I was 12. And then drove me to weekly lessons for years. And was often my sole audience.
46. I love how involved Mom always was at school - computer class (Mom taught computer class?!), every carnival, field trips. And I barely remember even being annoyed by that, like most kids would be.
47. I love that Mom and I were both college students at the same time.
48. I love that when Mom "runs" to hurry up - crossing the street, for example - she actually covers distance more slowly that when she's walking.
49. I love that Mom championed for me to study abroad, knowing how many memories and adventures would result.
50. I love Mom's meatballs. Mmmmmm, meatballs.
51. I love that Mom never said a word when, after being sent to our room for some sort of infraction, we would communicate secretely through the air vents in our rooms and complain about how harsh the punishment was.
52. I love that there was an unending supply of Little Debbie and Hostess snacks in the kitchen.
53. On a related note, I love that our house was the house all of our friends seemed to gravitate to. Maybe some of the credit goes to the snack supply, but "cool parents" were a key component.
54. I love that when I tell my friends that my mom is turning 60 they are genuinely surprised.
55. I love that Gramma is my Gramma.
56. I love that Gramma is my Gramma.
57. I love that Mom is my mother-in-law.
58. I love that Mom is my mom.
59. I love that Mom is my mother-in-law.
60. I love that Mom is my mom.
