Happy Birthday, Kathy!

Today is a significant birthday for my mother-in-law Kathleen Petty.  I thought I would help her celebrate online, since I won't get to spend the day with her.  I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful woman as my mother-in-law.  When Justin and I first started dating I was very intimidated by what he told me about his mother.  For starters, not only did she graduate from Stanford University, but she created her own major and she graduated with honors in Humanities and cum laude.  She raised three boys who were all born within 17 months of each other and managed to stay sane.  She is a "Master Gardener" and currently works at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens and has the most fabulous yard you'll ever see.  Our favorite time of year to visit is the summer so we can pick all the raspberries and boysenberries we can eat.  She is a superb and innovative cook.  Who else makes pickled lemons to put in her salads and makes her own delicious currant jelly from currants she grew herself.  She has a talent for making vegetables interesting and don't even get me started on her desserts.  She is an avid backpacker and is the most fit Grandma I know.  She is an excellent Gospel Doctrine or Relief Society teacher (two callings I hope to never have).  To round out her accomplishments she also plays the piano and paints.  At least Kathy used do watercolors because hanging on the walls of her mother's house are several paintings that she created.  Last, but certainly not least, she is a very fun "Gram" to her six (soon to be seven) grandchildren.  How many Grandmas would jump off the deck of the Alta cabin into the snow below or go sledding with the kids?  Fortunately for me, once I met her I quickly got over my intimidation because she is also one of the kindest, unassuming and welcoming women I've come to know.  I have always felt just as at home at her house as I do at my own mother's house.  I look up to her in almost every way, which is why when Blythe was born Justin and I gave her the middle name of Kathleen in the hopes that she will emulate her grandmother.  In honor of her 60th birthday I'm posting some retrospective photos of Kathy for everyone to enjoy, especially all her friends who blog stalk me.  

She was an adorable little girl. . .

And a fashionable college student.

Her gorgeous engagement photo,

which she claims doesn't look like her.

I beg to differ.

This is such a sweet photo of Kathy with baby Justin.

The Petty Family circa 1974.

The original "green" family; who knew a 

family of five could travel via one bike!

Would you guess that this woman is the mother

of three teenage boys?

Chuck, Justin and Kathy in 

Concord, MA last June. 

 

Gram and my girls very early one morning at Kalaloch

Beach on the Olympic Peninsula last summer.

I don't want anyone to think that Kathy is entirely free of faults.  After being a part of her family for almost 14 years I feel qualified to report that she does not enjoy shopping and she is incapable of sleeping in. The only ways in which I even remotely outperform her are at bargain shopping and at doing laundry.  

Happy Birthday Kathy!

We love you!