A Labor Day Birthday Feast for Mom

This Labor Day weekend was more than just the close of summer—it was a chance to celebrate the most important woman in our lives: my mom. The best mom and Nana we could ever ask for.

We gathered around the table and made a meal worthy of the occasion. Juicy filet mignon cooked to perfection, topped with peppers and onions and a vibrant chimichurri. The last of Pennsylvania’s summer corn, golden and sweet from the farmers market. Smushed garden potatoes that tasted of hard work and sunshine. And a fresh garden salad, filled with crisp greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs—all grown with care right in our backyard.

We clinked glasses with refreshing half-and-half iced tea and lemonade, and savored the deep, rich notes of homemade elderberry wine. Every bite and sip felt like a love letter to summer, family, and Mom herself.

But the food was just the backdrop. The real joy was celebrating the woman who ties us all together. This was the first of Mom’s birthdays with baby River, and it made the day that much sweeter. JT was practically bursting with excitement to share his Nana’s birthday with baby River—two of her greatest joys right there at the table with her.

We laughed, we shared stories, we soaked in the warm late-summer air. It was a simple evening, but it was filled with so much love. Because that’s one of the things that Mom brings out in all of us: Love, joy, and gratitude for life’s little blessings.

Here’s to Mom, the heart of our family, the best mom and Nana we could ever imagine. Happy Birthday—we love you more than words could ever say