it's the one i wanted...

this boy insisted he wasn't sleepy...

but it's rough being larry boy all day!

mickey ears!

what happens when i leave my phone unattended!

this was supposed to be a panoramic photo- but they jumped a bit!

best buddies...  in their rocket ship!

playing outside!  yay for nice weather!

this girl's face made contact with her brother.  thankfully, her tooth was already loose...

it's mother's day.  and i know that means i have a lot of friends mourning the loss of either their babies or their own mothers.  and while in some fantasy it might mean no work or sleeping in, i also don't think that's realistic.  i am the mother.  i don't meant that in a "woe is me" way.  

i also know that my husband does an amazing job EVERY DAY, cooking dinner, doing bedtime, making life just generally easy for me!  so it feels kinda selfish to say i want more!!  

i got woken up to breakfast in bed today.  my first ever as a mom!  it was so sweet...  she must have gotten up as soon as she saw a sliver of sun- because it was 5:28 when i got breakfast delivered.  

speaking of sun- it's been staying darker later.  and i want to have a neighborhood meeting- parents, can we get our kids on the same schedule?  i would even be willing to let our kids stay up just a bit later!  but, we keep getting the doorbell rung as we are putting kids to bed, asking if they can play.  and that makes my kids so sad!!!

i think we might adjust bedtime this summer... at least for a bit, and for the older ones.  i mean, it doesn't get dark until 9pm.  but i feel like the grinch saying my kids are in bed every night...

back to moms.  my kids had their flowers from school...  nora brought them home from school on friday and hid them in her room, on her windowsill (so they still got sun) and watered them all weekend.  so they would be a surprise today.  that girl- she blesses my heart so much!  and i cannot believe how grown up she is!

she made breakfast all by herself.  it was so precious!  she broke something special while doing it and was just broken up about it.  God is constantly reminding me to be gentle with her- she has the sweetest spirit!  and is just like me- she wants to please...  and i want to encourage her, not break her!

my most amazing mom.  my biggest cheerleader.  the letters and cards she sends.  the care packages.  for each holiday.  i remember in college getting the best cards and packages.  

and she comes to visit so often.  (let's be honest, more in hawaii and san diego- maybe it's not me she's really visiting!!!)  but i know that's a sacrifice.  to be away from daddy.  to be away from her routine, her house, her friends, her life.  

she's such a great example.  fitness and health are a priority.  she has taught me how to read labels, long before it was cool.  she has taught me that exercising my body is a priority in my day.  and more than that, i remember an open Bible on our table daily.  she has taught me that time with God is the biggest priority.  

i have read lots of notes to moms on different blogs.  and want to copy them all.  because they all fit- she cried and drove me off to OIS when i joined the navy.  she took my friends out to a dinner that being FAR more expensive than i realized it would be.  she was there for OIS graduation.  for drill team performances.  for track meets.  she welcomed my friends in to our homes.  all the time.  and it was always clean and ready to receive any one at any time!  (that might amaze me the most- because i did NOT inherit that trait and wish i did!!!)  

my dad traveled a lot.  but i don't ever remember her complaining.  and that was before people traveled for work.  she just took care of the four of us so well.  she made sure life was fun!  that we did fun vacations.

it wasn't until i became a mom that i realized that there isn't someone to step in when the mom goes down.  she doesn't get a sick day.  she just does.  and she did so well!  i don't ever remember her sick. she doesn't stop on vacation.  she serves.  she cleans, does laundry, and has kid duty!  

if i could be half the mom she is, i would be amazing.  i am so thankful for her and her example.  love you, mom!