Fifty & Forty Eight is a whole lot of Love

Brother mathew and mark

 

Today is my brother Mat and my brother Mark's birthday. They are not twins, though they were born on the same day two years apart. My four brothers read my blog, except only two of them comment on it. Mat is the most verbal… as you know.

Mat is the most verbal in our family whether on my blog or not on my blog, period.

Though Mark runs a close second in the verbal department, because he is a dang good story teller.

 

 

 

Brothers and mom

 

Last summer my three brothers actually let me take a photo of them with my mom. Unfortuantely, Zane, my youngest brother wasn't there that day.

The most surprising thing in this photo is my brother Mat is not making a face!

 

 

 

Zane and molly

 

 

This is my brother Zane with his daughter Molly. Zane turned FORTY last month. My baby brother turned forty, it is hard to believe. I was fourteen when he was born.

 

 

 

pumpkin head

 

When my brother Mat met his wife Shelley for the first time he was wearing a pumpkin on his head. It was Halloween. Shelley fell in love– at first sight.

Little did she know, Mat really was a Pumpkin Head under the pumpkin.

Mat makes a good pie… I have had his apricot pie and it was worthy of every bite.

 

 

Family willows

 

The last time I was home was in November.

I miss my family every single day. The pain of not being with them I carry even though I am happy. Pain and happiness can ride in the same pocket, the trick is carrying them both separately so they don't bother each other.

After twenty some years of living abroad I manage to do it well- most days.

 

 

 

mat with old helmet

 

Happy FIFTY birthday Choopie!

My brother Mat as you know, doesn't like when I post about the brocante… as if he doesn't like old things… He lives in an old house, he is wearing an old helmet and he is OLD.

No figure verses go figure is Mat with one "T".

 

 

 

surprise

 

Hey Mark are you surprised to see yourself here?

Happy Birthday Loving Brother!

The one who always shared his candy, his time and helps out with everything and everyone…

I think my brother Mark is so giving because he had to share his birthday with Pumpkin Head Mat.

 

mat's design

 

My brother Mark wearing a tee shirt that my brother Mat designed for the annual Honda Ninety ride.

Love runs deep in our family.

Even if my brother Mat teases me about the brocante.

 

 

 

family

See what love creates!

Happy Birthday Mat and Mark, I wish I was there to help you blow out those candles, cause boy are you gonna need help to do so!

 

 

 



Comments

29 responses to “Fifty & Forty Eight is a whole lot of Love”

  1. Happy birthday to brothers two years apart from a gal who shares her birthday with her brother who is two years older!

  2. Happy birthday to the boys, even if one is crazy enough not to love the Brocante!
    Wonderful post to them.

  3. “Pain and happiness can ride in the same pocket…”
    Corey,
    I know the rub of these words well, since I once lived apart from my family too — for what now seems an unbelievably swift twenty years. Though not separated by an ocean, the result was the same in that I got home only a few times a year. But boy hidy — (an expression I picked up from my Texas years)– were those times of homecoming sweet! Connections create balance I was told a few days ago. And who knows that maybe the connection between pain and happiness riding in the same pocket also helps keep us balanced. Just as wishing two beloved brothers happy birthday from afar.
    Always, thanks for sharing your thoughts, deep and wide.

  4. so much love, with the other side of the coin, pain at being apart, but as you carry them all in your heart you really are not separated.
    Annie v.

  5. There is a lot of goodness in those faces. Lucky girl to have such fine brothers!

  6. Brother Mathew

    Thanks for the wishes Sister. All is well. 50 and healthy with a wonderful family. I never ask for more than that. Going for a bicycle ride today!

  7. Happy Birthday you boys!
    Always a treat to see you both.
    Love, Mary Hall

  8. Corey, as you sagely observed sometime ago, if you went back to Willows for every single family event, you’d be lucky to get to spend perhaps a couple weeks a year at your own home in Provence with French Husband and the kids (not to mention French Annie). Besides, haven’t a good many family members come from California to visit you in Provence, which they’d never have
    Most of us make tradeoffs in life, and just have to adopt the attitude that we’re going to try to make the best of them — which I believe you have!

  9. Ack! Posted before completing sentence. Should read:
    Besides, haven’t a good many family members come from California to visit you in Provence, which they’d never have been able to do if you didn’t live there?

  10. P.S. Please tell us re the cow painting in the background of the last photo. Also, the pumpkin-heads photo is reminiscent of Monica donning a raw turkey on her head in a Thanksgiving episode of “Friends”!

  11. They read your blog!?!? Wow. My brother doesn’t even know I HAVE a blog. Happy birthday to Corey’s brothers!

  12. Such a loving post. It’s hard to hold all of those feelings — love, happiness, sadness — but you do it so well.

  13. My first and last motorcycle ride was on the back of a ‘mini’ bike. Thanks to Mat and Mark….Happy Birthday to the Amaro Brothers! Here’s to poppin’ a big wheelie 🙂

  14. Brenda L. from TN.

    Happy Birthday to Mat and Mark!!
    You have a very loving family and are SOOOO lucky to be a member of such a large family….I am so jealous!!
    Having a brother or sister would have been nice!
    I was an only child and I married an only child so my two boys don’t have any aunts or uncles (they do have great-aunts and uncles tho but not so many now) and they don’t have any 1st cousins…which I think is sad and for which I am sorry….because my 1st cousins and I were close growing up as I see you were….so having a big family is super nice!

  15. denisesolsrud@hotmail.com

    Happy Birthday to mat(with one T)and mark. brothers are the best. what a great bunch of brothers. don’t know all of you,but i trust,corey because she is also pretty terrific. Bestest,Denise

  16. Happy Birthday Old Brother!
    I love you!
    xxx

  17. Happy Birthday Star!
    xxxx

  18. Having only one older sister I can’t imagine what growing up with 4 brothers must be like! Looks like a big happy family so here’s a toast to the birthday boys!
    By the way, we had a cat named Pumpkinhead once!

  19. Of Coco’s four brothers, I know which one she’s marry. Hint: his birthday is today.

  20. SHE’D marry … lest there be any confusion.

  21. Such a loving post. I always wanted a big family. You do it well! Happy birthday, Mat and Mark! We feel like we know you both. May your day be wonderful and full.
    carol

  22. It is hard to be separated from family, even if you are happy. I know this.
    Do your brothers ever come to visit you in France? If I had a sibling living in France, I would visit so much that I would need my own guest cottage ;P

  23. You guys are like wine, getting older and getting even better.
    Best wishes…

  24. Sweet b-day wishes to the brothers and happy, safe bicycling!
    Love the post!

  25. Diane Belforte Lewis

    Happy birthday to my good lookin’ cousins Mat and Mark!
    from your city cousin #2

  26. A lovely heart warming post Corey – well done.!!

  27. Happy Birthday fellas!

  28. Happy , Blessed, Wonderful Birthdays and many to follow!!!!

  29. Julie Pendleton

    My father and his brother were born on the same day two years apart also. I always thought that was so cool. They didn’t share the same sentiment. They always hated sharing their birthdays and having one cake. I hope your brothers had a wonderful day and their own cakes!

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