The best plan of action when it's your Mom's birthday is to invite every single person you know and force her to endure the madness of a super dinner party at Steuben's while she has an ear ache.
Yeah, I'm that daughter.
I think at some point you just STOP talking about how old you are and start celebrating how you far you've made it.
My mother...has made it.
She's a gem in the world - I'm sorry if you don't know her, but take my word for it, she's the best.
I really did invite almost every single person I know to this party.
Lovely Amber, rockin' Miriam, dreamy Maura Bryn...
My philosophy is that if these people can get down with me...then Mom is a natural fit.
I had the meatloaf.
Don't knock it until you've tried it.
Seriously, if you've never been to Steuben's...get your ass down there.
EVERYTHING is good.
And also, not that I need to bring it up again - but there is a dreamy bartender that knows his business. Hit him up. He works evenings.
The delightful Delicious Dia and Sandy Hens (SISTER FROM ANOTHER MISTER, YO!)!!
Tim's down there...being demure.
Karin and Mike.
These people travel all the way from Colorado Springs and they are always ready to party.
I'm honored to know them. I stole them from Spencer. They're mine now!
I bought a grip load of cupcakes from Gigi's over on 6th and Grant.
Do yourself a favor and stop there! They have flavors you always wish existed!
I'm sorry you have to look at this gross picture of me, but that lighter and it's flame were too over the top not to post.
Mom was overwhelmed by our serenade.
I can't reiterate how terrible a song 'Happy Birthday' is to sing.
It's literally in no one's range. It's painful.
Little did I know that Mom's ear was popping and she couldn't hear any of us!
Everybody got a cupcake of their own to pig out on.
Kristin clearly loves red velvet.
Mama Kel is all over this one.
And me, I got this malted chocolate nonsense with a straw for novelty.
It was fun...being with these people and sharing my Mom, but sadly she was straight miserable and if there's anything I hate...it's when my Mom isn't happy.
I quickly tabulated the bill (Which no one should ever let me do...) and took her home where we applied a heating pad and watched 'Arrested Development'.
She's the best kind of Mom.
I didn't mention that Mom brought Wynnie along for the trip, did I ?
Isn't she adorable? Like a tiny hilarious furry comedian...She cracks me up!
We took her for a walk through the city...and found a little street fair.
Mom and I split a snow cone.
Mom got a little out of order when I forced her to get the Tiger's Blood.
"I don't like Tiger's Blood!"
Sheesh.
Wynston had some snow cone too...how could we deprive her?
Just for the record, Wynnie loves Tiger's Blood.
My Mom.
Seriously, do you have any idea how lucky I got when fate handed me to her?
She makes me laugh so hard because she knows me, she gets me.
Wynnie is sort of the baby of the family now...
I guess it's not me anymore.
She's cute...so, I'll allow it.
After our major walk about...we ditched Wynnie and made our way up to Red Rocks.
Mom looks like she's waving the paparazzi off...
I bought Mom tickets to see Kansas, Styx and Foreigner...
She's terrible at these kinds of pics.
I didn't post the best (worst) of these photos.
Some of them we laughed at so much that we seriously had to stop trying and just drink beer.
We're family.
So proud.
So, Kansas was up first and I gotta say...beyond, "Carry On My Wayward Son"...I don't know a lot of their catalog.
Still, when they sang the aforementioned song...I sang my guts out.
Actually, I sang it karaoke style with Bob Marshall and my BFF Jen at my friends' wedding.
It was mind blowing. I'm sure of it.
This is what my mother has in her pockets.
Candy, change, and dog treats.
SUCH A WEIRDO DOG LADY.
Mom made me take this picture of this sad butt.
Styx was pretty bad ass, but Mom kept being taken aback by how none of the original singers were in the bands.
She stomped her feet and got super upset until their new singer started and he sounded EXACTLY like the old singer.
Tommy Shaw looks exactly the same as he always has and may very well be a robot.
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto.
They saved the best for last.
As a kid, my Mom used to take me on A LOT of road trips through Wyoming.
Back then, I could tell you the quickest route from Cheyenne to Rawlins, why Arlington was the worst place on the planet, and tell you all about the hobo pools in Thermopolis.
And on every road trip...Mom blasted the Foreigner.
Again, their new lead singer sounds exactly like the old one.
And he's younger...so, he can really run around the stage and rock out.
URGENT.
EMERGENCY.
At the end, they brought out some kids to sing along to "I Want to Know What Love Is".
If you had a lighter...you'd have broke it out.
Sadly, the crowd was filled with old people and they were all texting their kids on their iPhones about how expensive the Coors Light was.
But me and LKH were having a blast!
It was a memory maker for sure...especially the couple that stood next to Mom and were feeling each other up while tokin' up on the ganj.
Poor Mom.
I love you Linda!
You're the best weapon I have in my arsenal...because it's all love.
So much love that I hardly know how or why it works!
Happy Birthday!
This is my sister.
Miriam gets it.
Borrowed a bike from the Denver Bike Share...
Totally not worth it, but that's a discussion for another day!
Our bike ride took us down Broadway to Barry's on Broadway where they have a new skeeball game!
Miriam kicked our asses repeatedly!
Cute!
Yes. They DO give you a free shot when you get over 30,000 points!
I was on a mission.
We tore up the place...
We're sisters!
Later, we headed over to Governor's Park for some food and camaraderie!
I told ya...
And spirit animal forever, Tim was there too!
Even good old Marcelo showed up!
And Dustin with his awesome t-shirt that I covet.
We snacked...
laughed...
and just generally looked good.
Told ya.
And I realized something...
When all the people you love are in one place...it makes it hard to imagine being anywhere else.
And I'm lucky as hell.
