Parker Hippich, 12 months, gets a lift from mom, Tessa Hippich, during Petals and Poses on Saturday at Waterside Place.
Photo by Jay Heater
East County
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Appreciation was one of the most common themes during the Petals and Poses event to honor mothers at Waterside Place on Saturday.
"Being a mom can be a rollercoaster, with mostly ups," said Heritage Harbour's Kirsten Parker, who attended with her mom, Linda Fanning. Having my own son (17-year-old Caden) has made me appreciate my mother."
Fanning said she just appreciates being blessed with two wonderful grandchildren.
The event featured plenty of booths for flowers, snacks, and services for moms. It also included a fashion show.
Funds generated by the event were donated to the Mothers Helping Mothers nonprofit.
Cheri DeVries, the executive director of Mothers Helping Mothers, said the funds are important, but spreading the awareness of the nonprofit's mission was even bigger.
Sarasota's Katy Akers, who brought her daughters, 2-year-old Lulu, and 4-year-old Vivi, to the event, said it was a blessing to be with them on the Mother's Day weekend.
"God gave me them as a gift," she said.
Joelle, Adelina (13 months), Tom, and Gianna Sicking of Lakewood Ranch enjoy the Petals and Poses event Saturday, but Joelle says it isn't much different than their normal routine, being together and loving Waterside Place.
Photo by Jay Heater
Karen Medford, the owner of Sirius Day Spa of Waterside Place, had a booth at the Petals and Poses event, in part to showcase the fashions she offers that are designed by Anna Vice.
Photo by Jay Heater
Emma and Kylee Kwan of Lakewood Ranch feel the support given during the Mother's Day event Saturday. Is being a mother hard? "Yeah," Kylee says. "But it's rewarding."
Photo by Jay Heater
Mom Mariah Cason and grandma Juanita Tiona bring Eloise Cason to the Petals and Poses event at Waterside Place Saturday.
Photo by Jay Heater
Kristen Parker made sure her mom, Linda Fanning, had some pretty flowers at the Petals and Poses event at Waterside Place Saturday. Both live down the street from each other in Heritage Harbour.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Taryn Thomore enjoys the event with her daughter, Kensley Kratz. "It's a good day to celebrate the bond you have, and the journey," Thomore says.
Photo by Jay Heater
Cheri DeVries and Amanda Hale of Mothers Helping Mothers sell a raffle ticket to Bradenton's Mabel Gomez, who brought her kids, Luca, Jeyden, and Phoenix to Petals and Poses.
Photo by Jay Heater
Heritage Harbour's Parker Hippich, 12, is having a ball in the kids' zone at the Petals and Poses event Saturday at Waterside Place.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Katy Akers lets daughters Vivi, 4, and Lulu, 2, show off the face painting they had done at the Petals and Poses event.
Photo by Jay Heater
Port Charlotte's Janine Hewitt, Weeki Wachee's Cynthia Zappone, and Punta Gorda's Melinda Means and Sue Coldiron meet for a day of fun at Petals and Poses at Waterside Place.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
