Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday! We hope you appreciate this ‘birthday blog’ and thought you’d see it as a fitting way to memorialize and celebrate this milestone in the digital age. We hope you enjoy it and the rest of your special day. Maybe you should even get to eat breakfast on that special blue Birthday Plate. Do we still have that on display in the family room?

This first photo I’m attaching is from your trip to South America when you and Dad visited our digs in Uruguay. And the second is of you in Carmel giving Ravenna her bedtime bottle, which she now craves instead of fights. We’ll give you some credit for helping us win that battle.

Lastly, thank you for all the motherly and grandmotherly advice you’ve provided over the past 6 months with Ravenna, and of course over the past 32 years, with me. We wish we could all be there with you in person to celebrate. Have a great day and enjoy!

Love,

Graham

Noah

Karen,

Thanks for always indulging my plant-loving side. The cactus made it back to Bozeman just fine…but I noticed after Kitty took this photo that it needed some water!

I’ve always enjoyed your political discussions and varied reading interests you share with me. Thanks for being the best MIL ever!

Clover says happy birthday and will lick your face as a birthday present next time you come visit!

Noah

from Kitty

Dear Madre,

Happy 70^th birthday! Hope you enjoy your birthday blog along with your morning cup of coffee.

Here are some fun memories I thought of to share!

· When we were all little, you used to make this powdered tea that I thought was AMAZING. Looking back, I think it was crystal light or nestea, but it was the best thing ever as a kid.

· Sticking with the theme of drinks, you used to always have hot apple cider waiting for us after a long day of skiing in Tahoe.

· Driving across country, and going through the Cumberland Gap was quite an adventure. Did you ever tell dad how far out of our way we drove just to get to the town of Evarts, Kentucky?

· You used to put a smiley face on my lunch bag, every day, in elementary school.

· And thanks for always indulging my artsy side and signing me up for art classes throughout childhood.

Happy Birthday!

Kitty

Happy Birthday from Jill

Dear Karen,
Happy Birthday! Today we celebrate you and all you are: an intelligent, strong woman, mother of three, grandmother of soon-to-be three, loving wife and matriarch. Ever since we first met (right around this time, six years ago) you have made me feel so welcome and at ease in your family. I appreciate how honest and open you've always been with me, and I've enjoyed sharing interests in reading, cooking, knitting, photography, and travel. I have always considered myself lucky to have you and Don as my parents-in-law, and now I count Ravenna lucky to have you as her grandparents. I'd also like to thank you for the wonderful job you did of raising your son, whose strength and excellence as a husband and father attest to your and Don's parenting skills. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, full of love and cheer. Love, Jill

Happy Birthday From France

Hello from Paris. This is a wonderful idea. It is Nils writing on behalf of my mother; I'm afraid it is too late to send you pictures, nethertheless, we send you some, even if it don't go to the birthday ebook, you will show them to your mother afterwards.

I would have send some earlier, but mother never told me about this, so I am force to go to emergency procedures.

It just happens that Morten Springborg have been visiting us, so we made some pictures of our dinner. You make your choice. I will send the pictures in separates Emails, as they are too big to be sent in one Email, and I don't have the time to figure out how to reduce them on my mother's computer.

With all our love from the Dobler family (and I think I can speak on behalf of the Springborgs as well).

Nils Dobler

photos: (probably in the wrong order)

Photo 1 : Happy birthday.
With Guillaume Bigot (Birgit's husband), Bibi (Birgit), Nils (Dobler), Morten (Springborg) and Dorte (Dobler)

Photo 2 : dinner at the Dobler
With the same, but in a different order

Photo 3 : Nils
Me at the Piano (I know, I know, I shouldn't send this :-)

Brett Johnstone

Happy birthday from Brett in Dallas!
This is me with my new keyboard.

Happy Birthday from Iryne

What an amazing event...I had the idea you were at least 10 years younger!!You made me feel younger just with your ideas and your great spirit and literaryknowledge. One of the best things that has happened to me in Newport Beach wasto meet up with you all and you brought youth and your vibrancy to us. Keep upthe inspiration--with love from the oldest living member (I believe) Iryne