I remember very distinctly my G-ma turning 50. Her 3 daughters went allll out on a HUGE 50th birthday surprise bash… and it really was her best birthday ever. Now, I KNEW that it was mostly on me to turn up the awesome for her birthday… afterall, I am her only kid!
Now, I don’t mean to brag… but when it comes to my mom… I’m kind of the shizzz when it comes to gifting. She’s SO easy to buy for… and I absolutely love doing nice things for her. When I was a kid… I was artsy. Shocking, right? Every time it was gift giving time I’d ask her, “what do you want me to get you?” Her response was ALWAYS, “Make me something, I love it when you do!” And to the drawing board I’d go… I’d spend days crafting the perfect gift. Now, once I turned into a teenager… I sort of became too cool to make stuff… I don’t think I’ve given my mom an artsy gift since I was 12…
Fast forward to 6 weeks ago… it donned on me… My mom is going to be FIFTY… as in… FIVE ZERO… as in… I better give her THE most amazing gift ever… as in… her birthday is in TWO WEEKS… OH EM GEEEE WHAT AM I GOING TO DO???!?! How the hell did I forget about the importance of this??!? HER BIRTHDAY IS IN TWO WEEEEEEKS!!!!! Now, as I’ve mentioned one million times… our world was in absolute chaos leading up to Vegas, but that’s NO excuse…. I just couldn’t believe that I’d almost let this slip past.
So, I did what any good daughter who had a mom turning 50 would do… I asked my Twitter/Facebook friends 🙂
You guys REALLY came through. I had tons of great ideas… mostly involving spas/massages/pampering… you know… a spa day with me. Now, that’s just not our scene. I mean, I could be wrong… but that just didn’t feel like us. Know what I’m sayin’? Maybe I’ll whip something like that up for 51. 🙂
Back on topic…
MARCIA TUMMINARO TO THE RESCUUUUE!!!!! She responded on Facebook with, “I’d say go with something that’s going to make her FEEL younger. Like, giving her a handmade gift like the kind you used to make when you were a kid. Sentimental stuff never fails!” She was SO right!!!!! As SOON as I saw that I KNEW that I was about to get my craft on! Then another Facebook friend (Kim Browning) chimed in, “How about getting a blank journal and writing your top 50 memories of times spent together?”
HMMM… the wheels started spinning… what if I asked all of the people she’s closest to to write something… anything they wanted… could be as long or as short as they’d like… and with each writing they’d send a single photo… and I’d lay it all out into an album. HMMMMM…. I LIKE THIS IDEA!!!!!
I told Mike my big idea.
“Bobbi, we’re leaving for Vegas in 9 days, how are you going to get this done in time?! You’re always biting off more than you can chew!”
My usual response, “It’ll be easy… I’ll get it done in no time… don’t worry about it…. it’ll be special… I PROMISE!”
“ARGH!” he responded… knowing full well that I’m incapable of doing anything that isn’t ridiculously over the top… ESPECIALLY for a 50th birthday… and ESPECIALLY with the time line I forced myself into.
I started sending emails…. making phone calls… begging asking her family and friends to contribute… and contribute quickly 🙂 I gave them a 2 day deadline. WHEWWW to that!
G-ma, Aunt Karen and Aunt Kay went to work… next thing you know I have a box of my mom’s entire life in pictures. WOW! I was NOT expecting this!!!!! I sorted them… chronologically… Mike started scanning….
Then the stories rolled in. Wow guys. THE STORIES… I LOOOOOOVED reading what people had to say about my mom. This was my absolute favorite part.
I then spent the next 2 days putting together and perfecting every aspect of this album. If you’re a Twitter friend… you knew how hard I worked on it. 🙂
I’m TELLING you… this book was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. This was NOT something I was anticipating happening… I just thought it’d be a cool thing for her… I didn’t realize what it would do for me and our mom/daughter relationship.
Sometimes, as daughters/sons… it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and to see our parents as more than just “my Mom.” We only think about how our parents are effecting us RIGHT now… or we’re guilty of focusing on the negatives in our past. But to see how other people view my mom… you know… as KIM… was something that I’d never been able to do. Hearing everyone’s stories and memories filled me with pride. She loves her family and would do anything for them, and has. She makes people around her happy.
On that note… EVERY single one of you out there need to jump into a project like this for the most important people in your life. To watch my mom and I grow up on these pages… to read the amazing stories… to help our relationship/friendship heal and grow… it really is priceless. Please guys, it’s important… do it. K?
SOOOOO… the album 😀 NOT gonna lie… IT’S FLIPPING AMAAAAAZINNNNNG!!! 😀 😀 😀 What makes it amazing, you ask?
- The photos were the shiz
- The layout is simple/consistent… putting the entire focus on the images/text
- It’s a Renaissance album 🙂
A quick side note: Renaissance has THE best customer service I’ve EVER experienced with ANY company I’ve done business with.
I was on a ridiculous time line (because I waited so long to make this album) that didn’t allow for ANY wiggle room. As a result of that, Renaissance was overnighting the album to KC… where we all were to celebrate her birthday. 🙂 Everything seemed like it was A-OK!
THEN, as I was tracking its every move online, I noticed that FedEx routed it through the wrong hub or something (weird, right?!). The SECOND I noticed this I called Renaissance in a panic. Ken and Tasha were ON it! They were on the phone with the people of FedEx for over an hour ON A FRIDAY NIGHT trying to get them to straighten out the mess to make sure that this album was going to get to me on time… and it did!!!! 😀
I’m leaving out a lot of specifics of this story as to not make this blog entry longer than it already is… but MARK MY WORDS… in my OH SO humble opinion, Renaissance is THEEEEE most amazing album company in existence 🙂 I genuinely can’t think of any other photography vendor who would have gone above and beyond like they did. I’m still totally blown away by them.
Please know that I’m not one to praise a company for any kind of kickbacks (have you ever heard me talk about ANY photog vendor here?). I just think good customer service is a big deal… and I want you all to know of their amazingness 🙂
OOOOKAY… enough words… I’ll get on with the images!!!
I had the cover done in red silk. For YEARS my mom was known for her BRIGHT red lipstick… As a matter of fact, when I close my eyes and picture my mom, that’s exactly how I see her. 😉
Three cutouts. The first, my mom, 1964. The second, mom with her sisters, mom, and me in 1985. The third, mom and me, 2009.
The book was in chronological order. Here’s the first page. I think that these photos were taken before my Mom was born. On the right, that’s what G-ma wrote.
Mom and her sisters.
Mom joined the Air Force in 1978… where she met my dad in 1979.
For this blog entry, I mostly focused on the images of me and my mom, friends of mine & people who’ve influenced my life… but I assure you that there were PLENTY of other photos with her friends and family in there, too.
This is one of my favorite layouts. 1. pregnant 2. in labor (21 hours, WHEW!) 3. fresh Bobbi 4. at home, as a mom. 🙂
I looked just like my daddy.
One of my favorite photos of the entire book. When I was 4, I had an imaginary friend (don’t make fun of me… most only children have one!). My imaginary friend fit in my hand and would ride on my tricycle handle bars. I named my friend after my favorite person. Her name was Karen. That photo… that’s me and Aunt Karen… and you can just TELL how smitten I was with her.
Aunt Karen’s (Mom’s younger sister and a HUGE influence on me) writeup was my favorite… those two are best best best friends. Karen’s included lots and lots of memories and inside jokes.
I often get questions about my dad, as I don’t talk about him much… well, there he is. 🙂 He now lives in Washington state with his three kids. My mom, with the help of Aunt Karen, Aunt Kay, G-ma, Papa and mom’s best friend Judy all helped raise me. I wouldn’t be who I am today if you took just one of those people out of the equation.
Oh, and for those who know me really well… see in the far right photo? In that Smurf stroller? IT’S BABYBLUE!!!!! 
That photo of us in red… that’s the only family photo of my mom and I. It was taken right after the divorce. My mom and dad were living in Alaska when they decided things weren’t working. Mom moved from Alaska back to KC, with a four year old in tow. Can you imagine that? I can’t. Man oh man… you’re such a strong woman. I now have that photo framed on my desk.
QUICK TANGENT: Mom and Dads of the world… GET YOUR FAMILY PHOTO TAKEN!!!! I’ve always known of their importance… but after working on this project… I can’t stress it enough! Even if WalMart is what you can afford, DO IT! Also, it doesn’t matter if you think you’re chubby/not attractive… these photos aren’t for you… they’re for your kids… and they think you’re beautiful. 🙂
That guy there… he’s been the only male constant in my upbringing. He’s my Papa. I lived with my G-ma and Papa off and on my entire life. He passed in 2002. Sucks, big time. 
My mom on Halloween… this is SOOOO her! I think we were both witches that year. It was an easy costume! Wear black clothes, add a pointy had and you’re good to go! That photo on the left? That’s Mindy and me. 🙂 She lived across the street from my G-ma. Her mom, Judy, is my mom’s best friend. See that long ratty hair? I’ve had REALLY long hair my entire life. It was kind of my identity. Then I turned 21 and wanted to be a grown up and cut it all off… I’m weird.
I’m the kind of person who always has a best friend. I moved a LOT LOT LOT growing up… so it was just easier for me to attach myself to one person. I met Corrie in the 7th grade, where I started at that school halfway through the year. I was very unusual, quirky, wore ugly clothes, had that long nasty hair, was strangely confident and overly dramatic. No one liked me… which was usually the case. Corrie, however, she found me interesting. She invited me to her house to spend the night. We’ve been best friends ever since. She’s my Grigh. 🙂 I know that she loves me regardless of my successes/failures and would see me no differently if I chose to be a garbage man. I’m her Grigh… and I tell the best stories 😉 Afterall… if I were a garbage man, you KNOW I’d have some great stories!
I was a Sparkette at Indiana State 🙂 We got to perform the halftime show at the Colts/Bengals game in 1999. Mom and Aunt Karen cheered me on… where they somehow were able to sneak on to the sidelines. Here we are in the parking lot after the game. Mom was so proud. 
Then I joined the Army National Guard. That photo of me hugging my mom… that’s the day I graduated basic training. She, along with my Aunt Karen drove to North Carolina to watch me graduate. Top 3 most amazing mo
ments of my life. 
And then… I got married. 🙂 Also in the top 3 most amazing moments of my life. 
Here’s the last layout of the album… where I wrote my story. 🙂 The photo on the left… Lauren took that last summer. The photo on the right, I took that 3 years ago. There I am… allll grown up. There’s mom…. alllll grown up. 🙂 I love this page. Big time. 
If you’re interested in reading what I wrote… here’s an excerpt…
Mom, I love you.
I couldn’t have asked for a more fun person to be my Mom. When you’re around, I can’t help but have fun. You shimmy, dance, sinnnnnng loudly, make that goofy face you make, you’re just so weird and I love it!
I remember very vividly being 3 years old and hiding in your bed under the covers and you would lie on top “AHHHH!!! SO COMFORTABLE!!! WAAAIT!!! WHAT’S THIS LUMP UNDER MY BED… AND WHY IS IT GIGGLING?!” I’d laugh hysterically, “MOM IT’S ME SILLY!”
I also remember wanting to be just like you. I’ll never forget being 4 years old; you came to pick me up from daycare in Alaska with all of your long hair cut off… I was so upset, “MOM! NOW WE DON’T LOOK ALIKE!”
By the time I was 8 we were moved in with G-ma. I had a countdown to Fridays. After all, Friday was “our night” which usually consisted of egg rolls from the local Chinese restaurant or if I was REALLY lucky, I got to eat canned hot tamales, YUM! Then we’d usually go the $1.50 movie theater, only after going to WalMart to sneakily stuff candy in your purse.
I remember waking up, at 9 years old, with my chest hurting… “Ohhh Bobbi, you’re going to be just like your Momma with big boobs…” “But Mom, all of the kids at school are calling me Boobie!” You said, and I’ll never forget, “Bobbi Michelle, if you laugh at yourself first, no one has anything left to say.” I’ve since lived my life that way.
At 11 years old, you found the “shoe shirt,” needless to say, my “wanting to be just like you” stage wore off. I’m convinced you only wore it so much because I hated it! Do you still have that ugly thing?! I bet you do just to potentially antagonize me!
You bought me a computer when I was 12. In 1993, that was a HUGE deal! Computers weren’t the norm then like they are today. Though we never had much money, I never did without. You did what you had to do to make it happen. That computer is still, to this day, the best gift I’ve ever received.
While in college, I came down with a pretty serious case of strep throat. Within 2 hours of calling you, from my DEATHBED (don’t mind the dramatics), you were right by my side, taking me to the doctor and patting my forehead. There is no one in this entire world that I can count on more than I can count on you. You’d drop everything if you knew I needed you.
Now, I’m 28. Though we don’t have the same haircut like we did when I was 4, I am, in many ways… just like my Momba. Like you, I make no apologies for being exactly who I am and have built an incredible business with that mentality. Furthermore, I have your loud laugh, large chest and today I bought my first pair of clicking shoes. But, don’t get your hopes up, big hair and red lipstick are not in any foreseeable future!
Mom, you’re one of my best friends. I love laughing with you. I love who you are. I love seeing you as Kim. You’re confident, silly, hilarious, trustworthy, loving and determined.
I’m proud to have you as my Mom.
I love you, big time.
Bobbi Michelle.
PS. You’re pretty!
Now, it’s time to give it to her. Don’t be mad that I’m posting a photo of a stupid bow… I was proud of the creation. 🙂 
She was SO excited to open it… she was “wigglin'”! 
These next three photos were taken within 1 minute of each other. She went from being surprised… 
to crying… 
to thankful… 
G-ma with her 3 girls… Kim, Karen and Kay.
Each person was able to read out loud what they wrote. On the left, that’s Aunt Kay… the youngest.
On the right, G-ma… with Johnny. 🙂 Johnny was sitting on G-mas front porch when we drove home from Papa’s funeral in 2002. None of us thought anything of him sitting out there… we just thought he was a stray dog. The next morning Mike said… “Sharon, that dog is still on the front porch, and he has icicles hanging from his beard.” Grandma brought him in the house and fried him an egg. The rest is history. 🙂 Oh, and the name Johnny… Papa was OBSESSED with John Deere tractors… need I say more? 🙂
I love how much he cares for her. I’m a lucky girl.
My turn. PS. BOY OH BOY I have some DEEEEEP dimples! 
I made my first home made cake. But… did it with help 🙂 Mom’s favorite… German Chocolate Cake. When I hear that…. BLEHHHHH!!!!!! Coconut… BLEHHHHHHH!!!!!! Needless to say, as I was looking up recipes… I had NO idea what to look for. So, I sent a text to a high school friend who’s now a chef in Chicago… she helped me through the entire process. It was a pretty hard core cake! I mean… we’re talking… I ROASTED THE COCONUT!!!!! Yeah, HARD CORE!!!!! So, thanks Allison! 
The night of her party… Mike set up a photo booth 🙂 She LOVED it!!!! Here I am testing the light 😉
One more test shot 😉
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?? Melt my heart into one ZILLLLLLION pieces!!!!!
I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without these two ladies. That’s the famous Aunt Karen on the left.
FIIIIIINALLY!!!!! OUR FIRST FAMILY PICTURE SINCE 1985!!!!!!!!!!
That’s Linda… she’s their adopted “SEEEEEESTER” PS. Mike’s fun 🙂
Judy, Mindy’s mom. I spent every weekend at her house for mannnnny years. 🙂 We decided to wear matching outfits 😉 SPEAKING of that green jacket… I SWEAR to you I have more clothes than that… it just seems that every time there’s a camera present it’s what I’m wearing. Though, I will admit… I do feel pretty when I’m wearing it 😉
GRIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Three generations… THIS IS MY FAAAAAVORITE!!!!! ❗ I’m so glad we took this photo. This was my only request 🙂
If you read this entire entry… MAD props to you. Thank you for caring. 🙂
To everyone who contributed your time and love to the album… I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for making my mom happy. Thank you for showing me the side of her I could never see. Thank you for being a part of our lives.
Mike, thank you for all that you do for us. I love you SO incredibly much. I’m lucky to have you in my world. Oh yes, I am. 😉
Mom, HIP HIP HAPPIDY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!. Hope it was perfect. I love you.
LOVE!
~bobbi ❗
Sigh…tears! I just love this post. So beautiful. I feel the same way about my mom. Happy Birthday to her, and what an awesome gift you gave her, Bobbi!
Oh Bobbi you made me cry! Amazing gift.
pretty amazing and really really cool…and i read the whole thing. 🙂
A truly priceless gift you have given your mom, and yourself. I once did a geneology album for my grandmother including photos and info for 11 generations. It’s an amazing feeling to put something so special together. It’s one of my G.G.s most cherished possessions. Great job, Bobbi. 🙂
You choked me up 🙂 (but then I laughed at the kids calling you Boobie, because, well, 9-year-old humor cracks me up) You have an amazing family, Bobbi. You can see how much you all love each other, and that’s super rad.
Bobbi your post made me cry. So sweet and what a beautiful gift.
Aw Bobbi, what a wonderful blog post, and such an incredible gift. I love the way you all love each other 😀
What an amazing gift!!! You are so sweet!!
…it’s hard NOT to get choked up reading this bobbi. your love for your mom, mike…your family…is palpable. as a parent, the love for my kids is beyond anything i’ve ever experienced – it has opened my eyes, similar to what you discovered when you assembled this incredible gift, and allowed me to see my parents for everything else that they are…as significant contributors/friends/family to so many people (other than just my brother and i). family is incredible.
it’s awesome when things ‘click’ for us as children…and we recognize + truly appreciate the sacrifice and hard work of our ‘rents.
i’ll repeat what others have already said – amazing gift!
OMG Bobbi!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
That was just lovely!!!!
Wow… I don’t even know you or your mother but this post brought me to tears. What an amazing gift!
Lump in my throat. Tears streaming down my face. Amazing gift, amazing words, amazing FAMILY.
PS – You do look great in that green jacket!
Best.gift.in.the.history.of.gifts.
Oh Bobbi, this is SOOO amazing. I seriously teared up reading through this whole thing. Every word. Because the love just poured through every sentence.
So proud of you friend. Thanks for making us all stop to take a moment and be thankful of who we are and where we came from. Okay, off to call my own mom now!!!!!
You, Miss Bobbi, are a good egg.
And I, clearly, am an emotional mess, because after reading this I feel like I need to call my mama and tell her how much I love her.
After I stop crying of course 🙂
oh wow that was the most beautiful gift ever!
Aww, Bobbi you are so sweet! This sent the tears rolling down my cheeks. It also made me decide to quit hiding from the camera no matter how much I hate having my picture taken…..maybe.
great story, and amazing gift – thanks for making me cry at work this morning! your family is just beautiful 🙂
Bobbi…you are BOSS! Totally AH.MAY.ZING! Thank you so much for sharing with us 🙂
High Five!
What an amazing present! I really loved reading this post – it definitely made me tear up:) Your mom must be SO happy with that gift – who wouldn’t want to feel loved like that? Just amazing:)
This is THE BEST GIFT EVER!! There’s just so much heart, soul and love in it! Love, love, love it!
Thank you for sharing this. It was inspiring! You just seem like an amazing and such a REAL person! I enjoy reading your blog so much.
Bobbi, thank you for sharing so much of yourself and your family on this blog. This entry was so beautifully written and I love that you shared so many stories and pictures. My husband and I live with my parents right now (saving money….living the life) and I’ve been having a tough time being back under their roof. Unfortunately this has led to a lot of fights, especially between my mom and I. Reading this makes me realize how insignificant all that crap is that we fight about and how I should never take her, or my dad, for granted. Years later I’ll look back on this time that we lived with them and thank my lucky stars that I got to do it again even after I became a full-grown adult, so I need to make the most of it! Thanks for making all of us readers realize how important our parents are…not just as moms and dads, but as people. You rock! And you get the best daughter of the year award for that one, mad props.
oh my goodness, I am a flipping mess right now. I know how much of your time, effort, and heart you put into this…it seriously HAS to be the best gift I have ever heard given. I loved everything you wrote to your Momba.(I couldn’t even see the screen through my tears.) And I loved seeing those sweet photos of you as a lil’ girl…precious as could be. Oh man, thank you for making my morning so sweet. You are a gift to your mama, and this world my friend.
Wow…you’ve really inspired me to try and do something half as nice for my Mom’s 50th birthday! Truly a wonderful present!
Beautiful, just beautiful 🙂
awww this is the sweetest gift i’ve ever seen 🙂 looove love love it!
No fair! This made me cry! What a fabulous gift to give to your mom for her birthday. Thank you for sharing it with us.
All I can say is WOW.
so incredibly touching and amazing……you rock Bobbi!
Wow, again…you never cease to amaze me! What an awesome gift and I can’t believe you put it together so quickly! You and your mom seem to have a relationship just like my mom and I. She was my rock growing up [sans a dad] so this totally struck a chord with me. Your mom is very lucky to have you…and vice versa 🙂
This has to be the best gift ever. Seriously the sweetest, most incredible gift! Tears in my eyes as I read the entire thing. I don’t even know you or your Momba, but I feel like I do after reading this, and you are both such beautiful people, so rich in love and so inspirational. I love all of your blog posts, but this one is, as you say, the bomb.com.
Bobbi ~ gyrl, you are awesome! tears stream down my face at what an incredible gift this is. i began a photo restoration project a year ago of generations back & this inspires me to create a deadline! thank you for sharing something so incredibly personal & inspiring….this my friend, is why we do what we do for a living!
thank you <3 shawna
Wow!! I love the picture of your mom opening the present. It is so filled with love and emotion. I have followed your blog for a long time and never posted till now. I just wanted to tell you you are an amazing daughter.
Wow. Awesome. Speechless. My mom turns 50 next January… I think I now have the perfect idea for her birthday present. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! That.Was.AMAZING! And since my parent’s 50TH WEDDING anniversary is in June, you know what I’m going to be working on for the next three months! I only hope mine comes out half as amazing as yours. Your mom is a lucky woman to have a kid like you 😉
From a mom’s point of view–a perfect gift! I’ll bet she looks at it at least once a day and sees something she didn’t see the last time.
And your blog entry–priceless. Thanks for sharing your life with us. We all love you :)Hope you know that!
That is an amazing present, worthy of an amazing woman. You are very lucky to have one another. And you’ve totally got my wheels turning. I thinking of what books I can design now.
What an amazing, beautiful, emotion-filled present!!! I want you to know that I cried reading your post and have loved, loved, LOVED reading your blogs and gazing at your (and Mike’s) incredible talent over the years!!! I lost my Mom 9 months ago and my Dad 12 years ago. Although that’s a fact of life and it happens to families everyday all over the world….it still affects me every day. Their influence, love, examples, character, etc. How I wish I could have given my Mom something so amazing for her to cherish!!! I appreciate you sharing such a personal thing and for being you!!! THANK YOU!!!!
WOW! I just read the entire thing. INCREDIBLE. You are amazing and you and your mom are so lucky to have each other!
This is so amazing! *Tears* Thank you for sharing this with us!
Bobbi!! This completely made me cry. Your mom is an amazing woman, and it looks like you captured her life sooooo well. You rock!
::running off to take a self picture of me and Parker::
Wow Bobbi – what an amazing gift! I’m going to dry my tears and do something like this for my folks 40th wedding anniversary this year. Thanks so much for sharing this personal story – very inspirational!
GRIGH!!! I seriously started tearing up while reading parts of this blog…I kid you not! Job well done 🙂 I wish I had the book right here so I could look at it now. I had forgot about the pictures of her pregnant, in labor, and then with newbaby grigh. OH!! AND BABY BLUE!!!!, and Papa (i know you miss him terribly) was probably one the coolest/most laid back guys I’ve ever known. I love love love the picture of your mom, karen, gma, and kay looking at the book…just love it. Not sure if i ever told you this, but I envy the love your family has for one another…it just comes so natural…and these pictures (both in the book, and the ones of your mom opening it) altogether prove it. Lus You!
LOOOOOOVE! I actually was brought to freakin’ tears!! How dare you, Bobbi? 🙂 ?
What a beautiful gift! I’m tearing up just reading your story. What a cool testament to the power of images 🙂 Great job!
Bobbi, I am baaaawwwling! I am getting right on making my mom an album like this. What an AMAZING gift. And you have one HOT momma!! Fifty looks fab on her.
🙂
Lisa
This is beautiful and I love it!
SO beautiful!! Still wiping away my tears. You deserve a “best daughter’ award for doing this!!
Oh Bobbi,
You made me cry. So special to do for your mom. The relationship you have with your mom and aunt reminds me so much of my family and it makes me laugh and cry all at the same time!
Thank you for sharing such wonderful memories and giving me inspiration to do something similar for my parents 30th anniversary in Sept.
I love your fam! I love the way you love! I will have to do this… my mind is already racing! Thanks for sharing your heart 🙂
wow! that brought tears to my eyes. i lost my mom 5 years ago when she was only 56 and miss her terribly. you are so lucky and your mom is so lucky! so happy to see the celebration – celebrate every day. excellent job!
My heart was seriously squeezing throughout – what an amazing gift to give your Mom for her 50th! 🙂
a beautiful expression from a beautiful heart, friend, such a lovely post. amazing to see how much Mike is a part of the family. you two are such a great team. lots of love *
WOW, Bobbi. This seriously made me cry. What a beautiful gift of lovely memories for your Mom to treasure. Thanks for sharing something so personal. I lost my Mom last summer and am so blessed to have photographs to remember her by. You can never really have enough, can you? 🙂
ok, I’m just another one that’s here crying… happy tears. The photo with Mike & your mama hugging… so awesome. I too will be stealing this idea for my parents 40th anniversary! Thank you so much for sharing, as always, your awesomeness 🙂
Bobbi, you and your Mom are so beautiful – inside and out. I can tell and I don’t even know either of you! And thanks for making me bawl my eyes out! You’re a great daughter. I may have to copy your cute idea for my Mom’s 50th birthday, coming up.
Bobbi, this post totally made me cry. What a priceless gift you gave your momba 🙂 After I straightened myself up, I went back and made a list of how many crazy things we have in common b/c all while reading this I kept going ME TOO!! LOL! Here it is:
-I have a photo of me and my mom just like that one of you and your mom post divorce. I was also 3 or 4 years old. It’s a favorite 🙂
-My middle name is also Michelle
-We are the same age/both 99 grads
-I also met my best friend to this day in the 7th grade
-Our moms turned 50 within 4 months of each other (my gift to mom was special too but I don’t think it holds a candle to yours!!)
Wow Bobbi, wow!!!
You almost made me cry, incredible!
That is such a beautiful book! What a phenomenal gift for your mom, it just looks stunning 🙂
What an awesome idea! The album turned out to be absolutely gorgeous too!
Bobbi. You are amazing. 🙂
Bobbi – this is SUCH a beautiful thing to do for your mom! I just adored this post! I could really go on forever about how special this is, but I don’t think you could have given her a more perfect gift. So thoughtful and super sweet!!!! p.s. you & your family are BEAUTIFUL!!
Bobbi, This is absolutley beautiful! The love you have for your family really shows in every word that you say. What a beautiful gift for your mom, she is SUPER lucky to have you as her daughter! I love and miss you!
Ahhh, Bobbi. I love it oh so much. I mentioned this before, but I wish I’d been able to do something like this for my mom. Or even to have so many photos of her!! She was my best friend and I really miss her.
I think I’m going to try and pull off something like this for my Grandma, Mom’s mom.
P.S My mom was a Kim!!!
wow, bobbi. what an awesome gift.
WOW!!! This was such a sweet post! I was in tears reading it as I think about the way I feel about my children(Jack 4 and Ava 1). I hope they feel this way about me when I am 50! You and your mom have such a wonderful relationship!
Bobbi, Mike…this was amazing. How lucky you are! 🙂
Wow Bobbi, you set the bar high on this one! I can’t imagine what your mom felt like. I would have needed a kleenex box if I got that. Amazing! My mom passed in 1993, so I will have to think of another amazing person to do this for… maybe my husband… we have been together since we were 16 and we are 44 now… we have tons of memories, childhood friends and pictures of it all!
What an amazing gift. Thank you so much for sharing such a special day with us all. So glad I got to be part of the singing to Momba at the trade show 🙂
This post was so touching and seemed so meant to be! From the family picture in 1985 to the one you just took. It all seemed to make a full circle. Happy Birthday Kim…you have an amazing daughter.
ok, I knew when I saw the title I’d probably shed a few tears if I started reading it. I went ahead prepared for a few stray little rollers dribbling down my cheeks, the kind you can easily swish away with the back of your hand and dabb off with the corner of your sleeve. I was not prepared for the dam breaking gushers that ensued! I’m talking streams flowing like hot lava, make up ruining,sniveling,nose running,ugly face making kinda crying! and that’s all I have to say about that.
Oh wow!! What a beautiful story and gift for your mother!! The pictures of her discovering her gift is priceless. 🙂
I love the idea and the photos of your mom opening it are priceless! Great job!
Amazing! My family has been trying to figure out what to do for my Grandma’s 80th and I’ve found the answer!I did read the whole thing and it’s very touching. Props to you for being amazing. I love your blog and aspire to be as creative as you guys are.
Bobbi,
That is the most beautiful birthday gift that I ever seen! Your mom must be so proud of you 🙂 This post makes me want to go see my mom and give her the biggest hug, if only she is not living on the other side of the world. Again, I’m glad I read this blog…it brings tears to my eyes. Well done, girl!!!!
I totally cried reading that, but it really started on the spread of you and your mom all grown up.
Bobbi you are the best daughter. You can totally tell she LOVED LOVED LOVED her present.
My mom turned 50 yesterday… I completely failed at the whole gift thing. I’ll have to make up for it some how… This is GORGEOUS! And wonderful. Your mom is awesome. 🙂
oh bobbi! what an amazing gift! your mom must feel so lucky and blessed to have YOU as her daughter and mike as such a loving son in law. this seriously has to be the greatest gift of all. your words were just so touching…great job girly!
beautiful present….
What a fabulous and beautiful gift. Incredibly awesome!
Wonderful story, wonderful gift. And you are such a beautiful woman…so is your Mom, her “seesters,” and your Grandma. Oh, and Mike! Thanks for sharing the story.
Simply beautiful Bobbi! What an AMAZING gift! Thanks so much for sharing this post with us. You’re so right about the importance of family pictures. Family is so important and capturing those memories is truly priceless!
Bobbi, that was AMAZING. I’ve always been a huge fan of you and Mike, and how incredibly talented you two are, but what you did for your mom is outstanding. 🙂
You made me cry! What a wonderful idea:) My mom turns fifty this year…and what an awesome idea:) And I TOTALLY AGREE….YOU MUST take family photos….Since our first baby in 2001, I MAKE, DEMAND, and SCREAM that my husband joins in (even though he “UGH!”s every single year) its essential! Congrats on pulling this one off….its amazing what creative rush-hour individuals can accomplish in hours & days vs. months 🙂
FABULOUS!
P.S….my bro lives in Indianapolis….and someday I’m LOOKING YOU UP, making an appointment and seeing your beautiful red hair! And you and Mike are on my family photo photographer list for one of the upcoming XMas cards:)
awwwwwwwwww. that’s the best gift bobbi! very thoughtful…love it.
i never met you, but i follow your blog. and from reading all of the entries, i feel like i know you – and now i feel like i just met your family. AMAZING gift! thank you for sharing this with the world. I just called my mom and told her how much i love her. 🙂
stumbled across your talk at wppi (um, hilarious), added you on twitter, came across this post-so glad i did. it’s good for the soul to find other people who find the positives in a rough situation and build something good out of it. thanks for putting it on the internet for all to see, i sincerely hope it’s catching…
Bobbi, this is beautiful gift and a beautiful post. Thanks so much for sharing….I loved being able to ‘get to know you’ more personally through this post (of which I entirely read). You are an incredible daughter! I will definitely do something like this for my mom and dad in the future. I got the bug to do something crafty for Christmas this past year before Elijah was born and I designed and printed a family cookbook….it was the funnest project I’ve ever worked on and was definitely a favorite gift. I know how much effort you put into that album and I’m POSITIVE your mom will always cherish it! Love to you and thanks for this post.
wow!! what an amazing present! I’m already thinking of what I need to do to get this rolling for my mom’s 60th next year!! That is seriously the sweetest thing; thank you for sharing! You had me in tears!!
You are so blessed to have a mom instil the wonderful value of being able to laugh at yourself and making no apologies for who you are! You are an inspiration!! I guess i have your mom to thank 😉
Wow guys… I’m absolutely blown away by the response 🙂 Thank you. Really. 🙂 I just hope that, with sharing this project, that many MANY MANY more books like these are made. I genuinely cannot tell you how amazing of an experience it was for me. If we ever have kids… I can’t wait to show it to them. 🙂 Love you guys.
Bobbi, you are the best daughter ever. I absolutely cried while reading this. You are so amazing. Your family is so lucky to have you.
And to your mother, Happy Birthday! You are blessed.
bobbi ~ i read the whole entry, and LOVED it. thank you for sharing with us. i love the book, and can’t wait to get to work on my own project books. thanks again. chantelle
I love how you’re so open – everything about this post touched my heart. I’m even a little misty 🙂
Thank you!
What an awesome gift! I can only imagine how much this must have meant to both you and your mom. I’ve been wondering what to do for my parent’s upcoming 40th anniversary, and now I think I’ve been inspired to do the same,
That album was as you would say, “amazingness”!! I loved reading about it! Thanks for sharing so much. What an inspiration!
Absolutely AMAZING! What a wonderful gift for both your mom and you! And THIS is why photogs do what they do!
WOW! I hope to be that kind of mother. You have an amazing relationship with her. And you pulled it off well! Great job, the book looks amazing. 🙂 And I bet she loves it. Who wouldn’t. And she looks AMAZING at 50! And your grandma as well. Seriously, don’t look their age AT ALL! They look so much younger! Anyway, great job! 🙂
I have been stalking this one facebook. I have been waiting to see if you would post something about it since I could tell it was a pretty awesome endeavor. I think this is a beautiful, loving, heartfelt gift, for a beautiful, loving, heartfelt woman, from her beautiful, loving, heartfelt daughter. This is awesome. Happy Birthday to your Momba! You two are such blessed people!
Wow, what an amazing gift Bobbi! You are so sweet. But I know what you mean by learning so much about your parent when you do something like that. My sister and I did a 30 minute slideshow for my parents’ surprise 40th wedding anniversary party. My sister and I both cried together as we were going through all of their photos. It’s such an amazing experience learning about their lives from another perspective. I’m so glad you got to have that experience! It brought more tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing it! You’re super sweet! 🙂
I was doing just fine until I got to the pic of you and your mom kissing, and then the tears couldn’t be turned off. We all have our family ‘crap’ – but you are so very lucky to have family that loves you for you – and you love them right back. How beautiful is that!!
Michelle
ps – Mike is HOT! Like.really.hot (just sayin’ – not trying to be disrespectful) and you look a.may.zing. You can tell you have been working out.
i was dyyyying to see what you were planning on making for her, and…
that. was. amazing!!!
she is one lucky momba!!! (remind me to send lucy you’re way when i turn the big 5-0!)
Absolutely beautiful, Bobbi!!! I loved everything about this post. Hugs to you…
Well, MAD props to me because I was transfixed!!
My Mom’s birthday is tomorrow. She’ll be 68 and I know she would love love love an album like this. Thank you for some great inspiration!
P.S.- I heart the photobooth.
P.P.S.- You and Mike doing any workshops in 2010?
Tears. I have them trickling down. Bobbi & Mike….stunning, simply stunning. Thank you for sharing. =)
I think you must be the best daughter in the world. What an amazing gift.
wow…beautiful, amazing, thoughtful, heartfelt, priceless, I could go on and on. you two are lucky to have each other 🙂
Oh yeah, not only did I read the whole thing, I ended up a big ol’ teary eyed mess by the end.
Thank you Bobbi for your inspiration. Thank you for sharing so much of your self.
Michelle, re: Mike being hot 😀 I could NOT agree more!!!!!! And, you’re far from being disrespectful… 😀 I’m LOVING his longer hair 🙂 HOT HOT HOT!!!!!
I don’t know if someone else has said this but that picture of you in the red shirt as a little kid. That’s a 100% Bobbi face right there. 😀
Amazing post. Awesome job. 🙂
that was so awesome! what a wonderful tribute to your mother! and thanks for making me cry!!! 🙂
Bobbi, this is amazing! My dad is turning 60 this year and he would LOVE this. Thanks for the killer idea!
Don’t know you, your husband or your family and this brought tears to my eyes. It’s beautiful. I don’t know how you did it so quickly either. I’ve done those cheapy little photo books from Snapfish and it took me FOREVER. This is truly amazing. P.S. Big, deep dimples are the bomb!!!
So beautiful! and such a fan-tab-ulous idea! I can’t wait to see my mommy this weekend and give her a big hug and kiss — and I’m gonna have my husband take a picture of us!!
Wow, tears over here too. What an amazing gift!
tears…that was absolutely beautiful Bobbi! Your mom is very lucky to have you as her daughter as well! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Girrlllllll…I just read the entire thing. LOVED IT! My Dad was the photographer in my family, so I have a three ring binders of my child hood in black and whites. I’ve been meaning to get them organized and printed…you have now inspired me to GET ON IT. Miss you :o)
Bobbi…this is AMAZING! You did such a wonderful job and you can just feel the love you have for your family through the words you write and the pictures you take…I love it!
I created a book like this to give to my parents and in-laws the night before I got married. I gathered a ton of pictures of our parents before they were married, their wedding days, honeymoons, then our baby pictures and childhood, all the way up to when we met and became best friends and then fell in love. I’m so glad that I created that book…it got many tears and both of our parents still show it to everyone that comes over and hasn’t seen it yet :o) I love cherished gifts that last forever.
Thanks for sharing with the world…hopefully you have inspired people to create a book like this for themselves or their family members…and to take pictures! Sorry….that was rather long…just had to tell you :o)
Oh, Bobbi! I have followed your site for quite some time now. I’ll admit, I maybe follow it a bit too obsessively. I’m in graduate school, and sometimes your new posts are the only things that give me smiles on days too filled with research and writing, writing, writing, writing … each day, I eagerly pull up the blog and cross my fingers that there is new Bobbi & Mike goodness awaiting on my computer screen. Often, I close my eyes while I wait for it to quickly load, then I’ll carefully open my eyes and peek at the screen. If there’s a new post, it’s like opening a present!
This one made me cry. I, too, have a mama who has given me the world, when the world hasn’t always given her what she deserved. Thanks for being a great daughter and making your mama’s 50th so special.
Also, thanks for giving me so many smiles throughout the last few months. You and your hubby are so fun, and I’m hoping that someday I get to make the call asking you to photograph MY wedding!
That is amazing! My mom is turning 50 later this year. Maybe I’ll have to do this for her too!
AHHH-MAAYYY-ZING!!! I LOVED that entire blog post!! Thank you for sharing it with everyone! And happy b-day to your precious mommy! <3
This was just a wonderful gift. And, Bobbie, you seem like a wonderful person. Thanks for sharing. Logan
I’m back… with a question. I’m TOTALLY doing this for my mom for her 50th next year. It’s decided. 😀 However, how did you get all of the pictures for the album? Did you scan them to work with them… the ones that were actually prints? Thanks so much. You rock my socks off!
Kelly, I scanned them 🙂 Honest… it was time consuming. Though, very worth it 😀
Perfect! Thank you!
Thankfully, I have 9 months. HAHA!
Yes what awesome gift. I have much more to say. Bobbi you and Mikey are the gifts that keep on giving. I am going to once again post on this blog entry. I have been very busy. I love you.
Momba
I wanted to share this with my mother because I wanted to show her what is possible with our family photos. It touched her to see this. Thank you for sharing.
PS her friend swears she knows your mom. Is her name Kim?
email me if it is because that would be a SMALL world
Bobbi… what a bwautiful blog post. I read every single word and bawled my eyes out. Happy Birthday KIM, you have an amazing daughter.
That is so awesome. So thoughtful, and so stylishly done. I did the same thing for my parents’ 50th anniversary a couple years ago — 50 years of family pictures, whew! That took me YEARS (literally) to put together, so I can’t imagine the work you put into this in two weeks. Holy cow, I swear your energy level could power a small town.
Bawling….I’m bawling…….
Bobbi MIchelle,
You are the most thoughtful daughter that a Mom could have. You spoke of how you pulled “My Album” together. It’s unbelievable how you did it in record time. You asked me while I was waiting to open my gift if I had a clue as to what it was. I did not and was more surprised than I have ever been on any given Birthday.
You and Mikey made my “Big 50” the best. I love Mikey so much. One of my favorite photos is the one of Mikey and I. The look on his face and in his eyes shows how much he truly loves your Momba. The fajita dinner was awesome and the homemade German chocolate cake was sinfully good. The two of you setting up the photo booth at my party was the topper. So many people showed up that I never would have expected and those people and memories were captured on film thanks to you and Mikey.
Bobbi were right when you made the statement that our relationship has healed and grown…… “It is priceless.” I have to say, that to me, is even a better gift than “My Album”.
I love you.
Thank you,
Bobbi and Mikey,
Momba
LOVE this post. Being an only child too, I recognize the bond that you have with your mom and think it’s awesome that you shared! Thanks!
totally made me tear up!!! beautiful!
For somebody who hasn’t had a mom since she was 7 viewing this was tearful experience. Props to both of you for making her day special!!! 🙂
Oh Bobby, I’m crying like a baby! THAT is possibly the most beautiful gift ever! I am often sad thinking back to my childhood knowing that my parents didn’t get one family photo, not one. To see your family portraits in an album makes me want to drag my Mother over and show her how much it would have meant for me to have photos like yours. You did an amazing job putting that album together, I can tell it took you hours and hours, but I know it was a labour of love. Go you!
HA. I just wrote..cried like a baby!THAT is possibly the most beautiful gift ever! and then realised Cathy wrote the same thing.. it must be true.. i am so pleased your mother knows how loved she is..best gift of all..and LOVING that album and customer service.. YAY R. Albums!
I have been waiting to read this post so I could actually read the whole thing (so funny that you gave props to read the whole thing! ha!). I am so glad I did! This was so sweet, I am bawling!
Isn’t it amazing to see all the dynamics of how several people look at one person? We all see our moms as the relationships we have with them: as our moms. But the dynamic that she’s someones daughter, someones sister, someones friend and the relationships they all have together. What an amazing way to capture all of that in one place. Truly a special gift!
i am super-impressed with this entire entry! yay for awesome moms and cool daughters!!!!!!!
i’m new to your blog. and just read this in googlereader…and had to come to the real post…to CRY MY EYES OUT. your relationship with your mom resembles mine so much and i absolutely loved this. congratulations on being awesome. 🙂
Well I guess I’m the 140th person to comment…holy cats lady!! 🙂 So glad your mom loved this gift…she’ll treasure it and be able to pick it up and look at it anytime she’s down. Love it!!!
Hi Bobbi! I’m one of your avid fans and have been following yours and Mike’s work for the past year (but never left any comments). This entry was very emotional and moved me to tears. I love your work and your posts. This is such a memorable gift that you’ve given your mom. Your mom is an inspiration to mothers everywhere and even though I don’t know you personally, I can tell how amazing of a lady she’s raised! Keep up the great work! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
Wow. I am so incredibly moved by this post!!!!!!! What a thoughtful, generous, warm person you are… And to think I only *just* discovered you – you’ve set yourself a high expectation missy!!! 🙂 This post rules and thank you so so so much for sharing. Amazing.
What a fantastic gift, Bobbi. Someone’s life and relationships summarized in one masterpiece album. Kind of sobering, too, like “This is your life.” Thank you for reminding us how important it is to share our hearts/thoughts with our loved ones.
crying?.. yes. you and your mom remind me of me and my mom.. i just called her and told her i love her. happy 50th momba. i hope it was a great one. bobbi, i hope i have a daughter as awesome as you are someday. i hope all is well. love, bre
I just turned 50 a few weeks ago too!
I did read it all! I did cry!
Isn’t family just the most important thing ever!
You are awesome! What a treasured gift!
Bobbi. I read a lot of blogs pretty much every day. This entry made me cry. A lot. It made me think about a lot of things both happy and sad ( in a good way). I dont know you at all, but I am so proud of you. Your mom and family are equally lucky to have such a fun, awesome, talented and loving person such as yourself in their life. Mushy I know, but you do it too missy! Anyway, thank you for sharing such personal information with all of us. We are special too it seems.
This was a GREAT gift. My dad turns 60 next month. Ideas are flowin sista… 🙂
Thank you.
Jackie 🙂
simply the most beautiful post I have ever read on anyone’s blog. What a treasure you are to your mom, Bobbi…..you are both truly blessed…..
I’m in tears too! I’m feeling the love oooze out of my monitor. Thank you for sharing in so much!
[…] Price:[productprice id=B0047NVUOQ web=com]Read More[amazon-product-reviews]Large Chocolate Calculator – Chocolator An ideal Birthday gift, Secret Santa or st…l' and the 'Mmmmmm!' in […]
Fantabulous!!! Awe inspiring and yes I cried. What a gift you have in Each other. I’m so glad I stumbled on your page. This is the reason I started taking pictures. Love & Peace
Wow, I just stumbled onto this post, and I’m so touched by the awesomeness here. You’re a special person, and its truly amazing that you created something SO incredible and beautiful in such little time! I’m inspired!!
Simply Beautiful! I Love, LOVE. And you my dear are LOVE.
My contemporary folio
http://single.dating.eblog.space/?leaf.kassidy
best sex dating website п»їonline dating free local sex ads webcam contact free australian chat rooms
Есть такая услуга – добровольное медицинское обслуживание (или ДМО).
Она предполагает, что вы вносите небольшую сумму за абонемент и ходит на прием в течение года БЕСПЛАТНО.
Однако опросы показывают, что лишь 3% жителей города знают об этом.
Почему?
Да потому что частным клиникам выгоднее брать плату за каждый визит.
А если какой-нибудь сотрудник клиники попытается посоветовать добровольное медицинское обслуживание клиенту – это сулит ему увольнением.
Информация о ДМО уже вызвала много возмущений, сразу после того как информацию об услуге рассекретил один врач.
Его уволили “по собственному желанию”, после того, как он предложил ДМО постоянному клиенту.
Страшно, что информация по ДМО присутствуют в открытом доступе, просто находили на эту информацию только случайные люди.
Как отстоять свои права?
О правилах оказания такой услуги и обязанностях частных клиник можно узнать, сделав запрос в Яндексе: “добровольное медицинское обслуживание”.
Обязательно обслуживание, а не страхование.
34j5c6h86
Производствосветодиодных табло для спорта, бегущих строк, табло для АЗС
welcome you hurry fuck me, and slay every last drop my nickname (Svetik39)
Copy the link and go to me… bit.ly/2xKLUZx
8072570440067
My up to date network contract:
http://daniel.forum.telrock.net
Chit my modish contract
http://arab.egypt.adultnet.in/?post.berenice
dictators moncton viobe idiots michaels
Basically, I want it to be on the main page where all of my posts go but then I also want to be able to put it on a separate page of my blog dedicated to only that subject. Hopefully this makes sense!.
Chit my new contract
http://arab.girls.tv.yopoint.in/?entry-alaina
dvd nazem descent sleeping gb