Mother's Day

I had the best mother's day ever-granted it's only my second, but it was just great!  My parents were here, so spending the day with my Mom is special, of course.  We went to a great church service, a great brunch, had a nap and then I got to play with my sweet boys all afternoon, my husband cooked me a great meal, I planted my garden, went to Home Depot to replace the plants that froze last night (yes, we had a freeze in May) and am now sitting down to write before I forget.  I feel so thankful for my Mom, the example she has been to me and is to me.  I'm thankful for the 2 beautiful children I get to be Mom to and for the privilege of tucking them in each night and saying prayers to our Lord. 

We went to the park and the boys were just going nuts. Chase was so independent, would shoo me away so he could go down the slide all by himself, he wanted no help. I wanted him run across the landing, hold on to the railing and walk down the stairs without falling. How can it be? My baby?  Owen was so independent in climbing up the ladder, wanting to walk on the balance beam, run with the big kids, watch the big kids and be a big kid.  He used to be so little and timid, now he's a boy.  What joy to watch my children grow, learn and become little boys!

It's great to be a Mother!

To me it's great joy wiping snot off a little tiny nose 40 times a day
To me it's great joy cleaning little hands over and over
To me it's great joy changing one diaper, only to change another a minute later
To me it's great joy chasing a running naked boy throughout the house, tackling him and putting pants on.
To me it's great joy cleaning up the spills, the food on the floor, the water drips, the dirt.
To me it's about love, the love of being a Mother. 
To me it's about kissing away boo boos over and over and over.
To me it's about tucking boys in their cribs at night, one with a blanket on top of him, one without.
To me it's about knowing what each "uh" voiced means in a way no other (other than Daddy) can know.
To me it's about teaching the boys the love of the Lord, how to be patient, kind, generous, giving, compassionate, empathetic, prayerful, thankful and loving.

To me it's about the little things, watching bugs while laying on our bellies, touching flower petals even if one gets pulled off, pointing to every bird that flies by, running after puppies, blowing dandelion seeds off the stems, throwing rocks, digging in dirt, playing with water until you are drenched, changing outfits 3 times a day-experiencing life-teaching about life-growing, learning and loving.  That's what it's about.  That's what I LOVE about being a Mom.  I love to experience life with Chase and Owen and watch them experience it for the first time.  What JOY!

Our family on Mother's Day trying to get a picture at church.  Group pictures these days are difficult, to say the least.

My Mom and I. Where's Owen?

After church, a little more relaxed. Chase and Owen gave me a rose (from the childcare). They were so excited to hand it to me and then they waved the roses all over like swords. 

My Mom and I sitting in front of our house.

I just love the laughing pictures, it's so real life!

Mom laughing again.  I was trying to get a picture of her and the boys, this is how it turned out.Chase and Owen are eating their first Peep (the little chickens).  G and G gave them to them as a late Easter present. 

Grandma and Owen.