Mother's Day

Mother's Day was fantastic.

I got to sleep in.  And then when I was laying there about to get up, Everly popped into my room, as excited as could be, saying, "Don't get out of bed!  Don't get out of bed!  We want to bring you breakfast!"

So they did.

And then they left me to eat my pancakes by myself in my bed.  Which was a little weird, I have to admit... Never having had breakfast in bed before, and having no TV in my room, and eating pancakes by myself, that is.  But it was super sweet, and the pancakes were great.

Once I was done, I headed to the kitchen where a beautiful planter with flowers for outside was sitting.  And cards, one of which was from Cortlan and contained clues for a scavenger hunt:

I loved searching for the clues and the treasure of artwork that I found at the end:

I had been wondering what they were going to do with the tracings of my hands that they asked for...

I think that Everly was motivated to make this after seeing what Cortlan had brought home for me.  She did it with absolutely no assistance.

I opened another gift - some candles and a couple of things for the kitchen, and then headed out with a friend for a run.  It was a beautiful morning.

And a beautiful day for a picnic and a hike at my favorite place:

And then an impromptu get together with our moms at our house:

It was a perfect day with a perfect combination of my favorite things.

Mother's Day 2012

I was standing in my bathroom on Sunday, fixing my hair, listening to the conversation happening in the living room between Cortlan, now five, and Everly, now 3, and it wasn't too pretty.  Suddenly, I heard things crash off of what I believe was the coffee table to the floor, and I could only deduce that it was Everly who had done it and that it was Cortlan's toys that went a flyin'.  It wasn't too hard to figure out based on the conversation that ensued, which went something like this:

Cortlan: EVERLY!!! Why did you do that?

(no response)

Cortlan: Fine.  I just don't care about you anymore.  I don't like you and I don't care about you.

(This was the first time that he had used the "I don't care about you" phrase, but not the "I don't like you" phrase, unfortunately.  There was still no response.)

Cortlan: Do you know what?  I am going to e-mail Santa Claus or write him a letter or tell Mommy to write him a letter and tell him that you shouldn't get anymore toys ever.  And I might break your toys so you don't have any.

(This got her attention.)

Everly: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Cortlan: Well, you shouldn't do that then.

On one hand, I wanted to go in there and discipline them.  On the other, I wanted them to figure it out themselves.  On one hand, I wanted to cringe at the words.  On the other, I wanted to laugh.

This parenting thing sure isn't getting any easier.  And no, my Mother's Day wasn't perfect.  But I loved it despite the stinging words and the rain that fell from the sky.  I loved it because of my handmade cards and my special breakfast.  I loved it because I got to spend time with my family, including my own mom and my mother-in-law.  I loved it because I didn't clean or do laundry.  (Ok, that isn't true - I did have to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer.)  I loved it because I read the newspaper in silence on the sunporch and fell asleep on the papisan and didn't feel the least bit guilty. 

I loved it because I am a mom.