After the surprise "mayoral" presentation and another hour or so of eating and chatting, we brought in the birthday cake and gifts to culminate the event. Again, I think my Mom was a little bit moist in the eyes, clearly feeling the love and affection from everyone at the event.
I think I can speak for the Lavigne children here, and say this: we thank her for being a wonderful mother for all of these past sixty-five plus years (i.e. the time period stretching back to when the first of us children were born). I personally wish at this point to apologize for when I was a child - for any time I was a pain in the rear!