Loves shopping....

She still thinks that everyone orders everything from catalogs. Everything.

Really enjoys art...

She may or may not be getting a statue of my husbands head for us for Christmas. I can't wait to open that box.

Likes to share her heritage....

Once wrote out a family tree for me. She went back seven generations. Unfortunately, she knew no ones names past her grandparents. Instead of just stopping, she kept going and listed 16 great great grand parents as " ???? Born ? - Died ?". Very informative.

Cares about her neighbors...

She is still feuding with a life long friend and neighbor over a line spray painted in the road. Apparently there is some confusion between markings from road crews and a possible link to a drug ring using a spray painted line in the road as a covert indication of their presence and operation on their street.

Has seen places...

She loved her extended visit in Holland. She told me in great detail about the tulips, her friend's trip to the hospital, and the long drive home. Yes... Drive. She spoke for an hour and failed to mention she was talking about Holland, Michigan rather than the country. I am sure she found my story from my visit to actual Holland confusing.

Keeps up with her finances....

She keeps her receipts for everything. This came in handy when she was screaming at her brother about some wood and sandpaper purchased over a decade ago. She won that argument.

Is a collector...

Has kept every greeting card given to her for the past twenty five years...

has a complex personality.....

She closely resembles, in physical appearances AND personality traits, the mother from "Everybody Loves Raymond" and Maxine, the grumpy old woman from greeting cards.

once tried to give me...

A jumpsuit from the 1970s. It was black and white polka dots and polyester. It in no way resembled anything I (or any normal person) would ever wear today or any time in the future (except for maybe as a Halloween costume). She not only insulted my taste in clothes by attempting to give it to me but she also added "I wore this when I was younger. You would look great in it if you can fit into it. You are a lot larger than I ever was." (I was 6 months pregnant at the time and still a size 6)......

likes to be prepared...

She loves Sam's Club because she can buy bulk quantities of her kitty supplies. Unfortunately she can not pick up the ridiculously large bags of litter so we must do it for her.


MISSION: Fill up the entire car with cat litter for my MIL, leave the store without being recognized by anyone, and deliver a half ton of litter to crazy cat lady.

This is an actual photo taken of our vehicle loaded down with cat litter the last time we went to visit her.

loves shopping....

She loves it so much actually she always makes a list of things we "need" shortly after she arrives for a visit.

loves good organization...

Upon arriving home from the hospital after giving birth to my first son, she had reorganized some of my cabinets, a closet, and a portion of the nursery. She is not allowed in our home anymore without direct supervision.

is in tune with meteorological events...

She is SO in tune with weather events that her doctor told her to take anti-anxiety meds if there is going to be a storm in her vicinity.

Loves taking pictures...

She said during her last visit, "I need a good family picture. You (my husband) stand over there with the boys while I take this picture." I guess I'm not part of the family. Lol