Mother's Day 2014

You know I'm all about traditions, so of course I'd have a picture with my kiddos in front of the fireplace for Mother's Day, right???

The silly faces picture isn't a tradition, but considering it's all the kids want to do when I try to take their picture now, it may become one!  Riley is obsessed with sticking her tongue out for any picture I take of her these days.

I feel so so lucky to be their mama.  I'm sure most moms feel the same way - I just truly never could've imagined how being a mom would change me.  I'm so thankful for them and for the opportunity to spend my days with such amazing little people.

For Mother's Day, we went and bought flowers, and as we seem to always do, planted them.  My mom and dad always taught me that you had to wait until Mother's Day to plant flowers to avoid the risk of a frost, so I tend to spend Mother's Day planting!  We headed to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner, Mama Fu's, partly because I love it and partly because moms eat free for Mother's Day. ;)  A stop for ice cream completed the celebration and we headed home to watch our favorite Sunday show, America's Funniest Videos.

Jarrod did good for Mother's Day.  He knows I would be thrilled with homemade gifts from the kids but he isn't one to actually implement that and always buys me something.  This time, he gave me a certificate for lunch and a massage.  The best part - he coordinated it with Amy's husband so we get to go together.  It wasn't long ago that leaving for an afternoon was unheard of because of my mini-me being literally attached to me....just getting my haircut was a rare treat just a couple years ago.  As much as I love massages, I think I'm most excited about just sitting down for lunch and being able to enjoy uninterrupted conversation!  Haha.

Happy {late} Mother's Day to my own mom.  You mean so much to me and we all love you.  Thanks for being a great role model and a fantastic Mimi to my goofballs.

Mother's Day

This year, I was invited to attend a Mother's Day program at Gavin's school.  Let me just tell you...it was so sweet.  I cried.  They sang to us, danced for us, presented us with flowers and gifts, and then served us cookies and juice.  So stinking special.  I loved every minute of it!

The picture he drew me said that I'm special because I rub his back at night.  That really pulled at my heartstrings!  Sometimes, I feel like he's just stalling at night when he asks me to rub his back longer, but I always try to remind myself that one day he won't be asking me to rub his back before bed.  When I read that, I realized just how much he likes it, and I think of it every night now when I go into his room.

Mother's Day around here was nice.  The kids woke me up and Gavin had a gift bag for me.  After opening my new phone case, he realized that the flowers he had picked the day before and stuck in the bag had died, and he started crying.  I had to console him and tell him how sweet it was to even think of picking me flowers.  He is such a sweetheart.  

We went to Walmart and bought new flowers for our pots on the porch and came back to do some planting.  Then we headed out for some shopping, dinner at Mama Fu's and Yum Yos for dessert after naps.  I love any day I get to spend with my little family, but even more when Gavin's constantly telling me 'Happy Mother's Day' and that he loves me.

And because I love to do comparisons....here's the past 2 years!

2011 - Pregnant in Florida to celebrate Steve and Heather's wedding

2012 - With my little baldie as I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a mama to two!

Mother's Day 2012

What a great Mother's Day weekend I had.  It started on Thursday actually, when I picked up Gavin from school and go this cute little sheet and a flower he planted.    

Then, on Friday, Jarrod came home from work with two bouquets of flowers, one for each child.  So sweet...now I have a mixed bouquet in my kitchen and some roses on the mantle.  

On Saturday morning, I had my team meeting at the house so Jarrod took Gavin out.  They went to the mall and came home with a gift card for me to go to a local salon/spa to have my hair done.  I haven't had my hair professionally highlighted or colored since I stopped teaching, and as much as I don't want to deal with the upkeep, I do miss my highlights, so I think I'm going to jump into it and start getting them again.  

On Sunday, we woke up and went to our new Bob Evan's for breakfast.  It's been soooo long since I had Bob Evan's!  It was yummy.  We came home and did some work around here and after nap, headed back out for Mama Fu's for dinner.  It's become a tradition to go there for dinner on Mother's Day, since 'mamas' eat free.  And, it's an added plus that it's in the same plaza as Yum Yos, so we of course had to hit up Yum Yos for dessert.  Gavin also drew me this family picture...and he only wanted to use blue because I was letting him use a permanent marker he found in my drawer.  {And I asked...he didn't scratch out Shirley, he was giving her fur...just in case you were wondering, too.}  

 

It was such a great weekend.  Of course, it would have been better had I been able to give my mom a big ol' hug, but just 19 more days until I see my parents again so she'll get a hug soon! 

 

Mother's Day

Sunday was Mother's Day, and Jackie brought a little gift for me to open "from Gavin" and had him sign the card, too.  Honestly, that was the best part of the day!  If you look closely, you'll see an A, n, and an i that he wrote himself.  Not in the right order, and not sure with the G and the v are, but talk about making a mom feel good!

Then, we got to spend the rest of Mother's Day at the lake!  Aunt Pat's friend, Dan, took us out on his boat and then we played on the "beach area" of the lake since the water was so low.  Gavin loved the boat ride!  He was a little unsure of going into the water though.  It took forever to convince him to just get his feet wet, but once we did he loved it!  He was actually making me quite nervous with how adventurous he was getting, walking out farther and farther and even sitting down or trying to lay on his belly.  

After we were back to Aunt Pat's for dinner, I realized I didn't get a good Mother's Day pic of me and my favorite little boy...so I grabbed him and snapped one myself and got this.   

It was a great day!  I'm so lucky to have such a loving little boy that calls me Mom.  Next year, our baby girl will be here to celebrate the special day, too.  

Happy Mother's Day!

Just wanted to wish all the Mamas out there a very Happy Mother's Day, especially my own mom! Take time to relax on your special day!  I miss you and wish we could see each other again.  It won't be much longer.  Have Meg give you a big hug from me, too.  Love you so much!

The Best Mother's Day :)

I had such a great Mother's Day! Mother's Day 2008 was pretty special - being my first and getting to spend it with my own mom and grandma. Last year, Jarrod was in NY and though I got to go to Cincy and see my family, I still missed that "pampered" experience since Jarrod wasn't there. This year was awesome!

Jarrod got up with Gavin and let me stay in bed. I was miserable with my allergies so even though I'm sure it was because it was Mother's Day, I'm so glad he let me lay there with my eyes closed a little longer. Then, the tears started.

I cried 4 times on Mother's Day. First, Jarrod brought my coffee and my present into bed. He gave me the sweetest card that made me cry. Jarrod is NOT a card person, so the fact that I not only got one, but that he wrote in it what an amazing mom and wife I am, I couldn't help but cry! He got me some amazing skincare products from Aveda. This may not seem like a super sweet gift, but I am constantly complaining about my skin, so it was really thoughtful of him to find something that would hopefully make me feel better about my skin (though I'm not too happy with the cost of it!!!) Then, I got a text message from my own mom that made me cry for the second time. It's amazing what just a few simple words can do to me!

I eventually got up and even though it was my special day, I made my favorite boys pancakes. In the process of making them, I knocked a full glass bottle of olive oil out of the cabinet and broken glass went everywhere. That's why I cried for the third time....I got a piece of glass in my finger. No fun!!! It still hurts, so I think there's still glass in it...

After I got out of the shower, Gavin gave me his card. That was the last thing to make me cry. This is my third Mother's Day, but it's the first time I've gotten a card "from Gavin." It's adorable and Jarrod sat with him to let him color it with markers. Such a special card that I will always cherish!

The rest of the day was great. I took Gavin on a bike ride, then we both napped. Jarrod let me continue to nap while they had some fun in the backyard. We eventually got ready and headed to a new restaurant for dinner. We tried a place called 'Mama Fu's' and it was so yummy! It tasted a lot like PF Chang's but wasn't nearly as expensive. And the best part - we showed up to learn that moms ate free for Mother's Day! What a nice surprise! Gavin and split a piece of chocolate cake for dessert (my new diet started yesterday....). After I finished putting Gavin to bed, I came out to a nice glass of wine waiting for me (and 2 hours worth of ironing, but that was my fault for putting it off for so long!) It was a great day with my husband and special little boy! I am so lucky!