Mother's Day 2012

My 16th Mother's Day was nice and quiet and relaxing. I went to Indian Lake with the girls and enjoyed some time relaxing and gabbing. 

I spent a little time lounging in the hammock, looking out at the lake and up at the trees.  We had an evening of drinks and chitchatting by the fire and it was wonderful.

 On Sunday, I was welcomed home with a Welcome Home/Happy Mother's Day sign, with balloons even!

 

Ella gave Silas some rollerblading lessons. Only minor wipe-outs...

 Justin created a frame and mixed concrete so that all 5 of us could
make our handprints and then decorate it. 

Silas hand painted me a wonderful tile with flowers.

 
And made me a book about "My Mom"

 Which he put in this big envelope with his paper flowers and flower pot.

 Ella had this card for me...
So much better than the "mean mom" note that I usually get!

 Ella also created a really wonderful book of poems for me too.
She made "me" on the front - I love that she gave me a Life is Good t-shirt,
which I wear as often as possible.

 This was her opening note:

 Dear Mom,
I'm writing you this letter to tell you how much I love you. I appreciate how
you cheer me and my soccer team on and buy us what we need, I appreciate
that you cook for us and take care of me.
I hope you like my poetry book!
You are the best!
Love, Ella

Mother:
Mother
awesome, loving
cooking
running, very amuesing
excited, funny, happy, joyful
Mommyo

There were a few more wonderful poems that I'll have to post too.  I like flowers, I like some pampering...

but this to me is what makes Mother's Day. Though I did NOT get any cute pictures or art from Mason!  I guess that ship has sailed :(

I feel very blessed to have a wonderful mother, wonderful mom friends and family, and pretty darn good kids that call me mom and seem to appreciate me more than just on Mother's Day...life is good :)

Happy Mother's Day Dear Moms!

Motherhood is scary business...sometimes it doesn't seem like it at the beginning - when things go perfectly and you ease into mothering that newborn baby that sleeps well, eats great and never has an ear infection (like Mason), you might think "hey, this isn't so bad...I can do this!"

You may catch a whiff of fear the first time the baby sleeps through the night and you awake in a panic and rush to make sure he's still breathing, or the night that a fever spikes suddenly and you call the doctor's office in a panic.  Or the loud "thud" and screech of a first broken bone.

Almost 16 years into Motherhood, and I'm still amazed at how much turbulence the heart can withstand...it's capacity to stretch, expand and contract with pride, joy and fear.

The snuggle, first words, a Thank You, kindness when playing with other kids, good grades, great effort...

Losing your 3 year old for 10 minutes at the store, a lump on her neck that sends a cold chill through your body as you think the worst, being bullied and teased.

And so much more that I haven't gotten to experience yet as a Mom.  It's a blessed but scary road.  One that I wouldn't trade for all the wine in the world... 

Thank you Mom and to all the Moms that I know and love!

Mother's Day

I woke up early this morning. Silas James came and stood by my side of the bed, looking at me - "mama?".  I pulled the covers back and said "hop in bud".  He wraps his arm through mine and we both fell back asleep until around 8:30, at which point Si began the non-stop chatter that I know won't end until I give in and converse with him, or convince him to go down and see what daddy is doing. 

I never have high expectations for Mother's Day. Not because it disappoints, but because like most "Hallmark" holidays, I just don't get excited about them. I still think of Mother's Day as a day for other moms. My mom, Justin's mom, new moms.
I give myself a few liberties - I read in bed for awhile, I sniff for the smell of fresh coffee. I just lie in bed enjoying the moment.

Ella brings me banana bread in bed (say that 3 times fast) and I get my coffee.  I get a craft from Ella that reads:

M - My Mom loves me

O - Oh the times I get in trouble you still love me

T - Tells me things a lot

H - Her job helps others

E - Every night she tucks me into bed

R - Relly (really) good at love (I like this one)

We go to get flowers at the nursery to put into the pots that the kids painted for me last year. I start to settle into the day and think that this is a tradition that I love - the flowers, the handmade reminders of their childhood...and the mimosas.

Mason and I go to the store to get potting soil and Mason tells me to come look, he's found something that I'll like.  He's right.  He found a great hammock and stand. I have missed my old hammock since we moved and this one is perfect.  I feel spoiled and self-indulgent when I call Justin and he says "it's Mother's Day - get it" - but I do with a bit of giddiness.

We go to Ella's soccer game, we go to see my mom and dad, we stop at the store to buy an impromptu dinner (steaks to throw on the grill). And then finally, I come home and test out my hammock.

We eat a delicious dinner of steak, grilled asparagus, salad and red wine. It's chilly out but I take my book and mimosa back out to the hammock and climb in. Justin brings me a cozy blanket and I spend the next hour reading, looking up at the sunshine through the splay of tree branches and watching between the fence slats as the kids play with the neighbor kids next door. I see their feet running, I hear them laughing and I know that this will be one of those moments in my mind that I will remember with every sense. It's a perfectly content moment - to be happy and know that my children are happy. I close my eyes and thank God, and then continue to bask in this moment of appreciation as I pick my book back up and sip my mimosa.

I am a blessed mother and I am blessed to have so many wonderful mothers in my life that teach me along the way. Thank you!

Mother's Day Pictures

Mother's Day was a beautiful day. Gorgeous, sunny weather. Justin took us to buy some supplies for 2 projects he wanted to help the kids make for Mother's Day. They painted ceramic pots - each kiddo making their very own. We also bought some flowers to go into the pots. The 2nd project was a cement handprint kit. Mason could barely get his handprint to fit (seems he's got ginormous hands for a 13 year old!). I enjoyed watching them, while taking pictures and drinking mimosas (my traditional Mother's Day drink :-)

Here's how the pots turned out - love them!
L to R: Ella's, Si's and Mason's

Mom and Dad came over for a visit that evening.
They gave her a pot too with their handprints on it.

I even got them to pose for a picture together for me!

Such love bugs!