Happy Mother's Day!

I love being a mom, it's been a wonderful week!

On Friday I was honored by my Brogie boy at a Mother's Day Tea . . .

(Translation . . . she takes care of me then you give kisses.)

We moms were serenaded by the most precious group of

Kindergartners (about 100 in all), it was a joyful noise!

We were then served tea and cookies in their classrooms . . .

and showered with gifts-- like the card at the top,

and the classic plaster of paris golden handprint. Love it!

He was so proud!

"Mommy, was that your best presents you ever got?"

"Oh yes, Brogie, it was!"

Another beautiful card, from my Teddi girl.

(My children, working in separate classrooms, both drew me

with a large red nose. I think they think I'm a clown . . .

oh well, I think clowns make great mamas!)

My Teddi and her handprint gift . . .

another "best present I ever got".

Teddi overheard a friend and I earlier this week telling each other to have a Happy Mother's Day--to which my baby girl added, "I looooove Mother's Day!" Four little words. Four powerful little words coming from my daughter who waited three long years for a mama to call her own. They were heartmelting words to this mama.

My nest was blessed today, with four of my birds,

and my son-in-love bird here to spend the day with me!

I missed you Bryce Evan, my firstborn bird.

The Newlys gave me a sweet smelling candle, along with

some yummy apricot/peach jam-- perfect for spreading on a

beautiful loaf of their homemade bread!

My Brady boy brought flowers home late last night. They were waiting for me in the kitchen this morning when I woke up, along with a lovely Thank You card. For the full Brady affect though, you must see the picture below . . .

When I mentioned that I wanted to take a picture, and asked him if he would get my big glass vase down from its high storage spot he answered, "NO! They need to stay in that!" So, stay in that they did. That's my Brady, and that's why I love him so!

Lastly, I received a card from this boy, but not just any card. That would be waaaaay too normal for us, and besides, Bryce does not believe in conventional greetings.

Last year my Mother's Day card was a dog in a race car, it arrived in a brightly colored polka dot envelope. The card had a cute birthday message, which had been re-worded by my eldest, into an appropriate Mother's Day greeting. This year I received this . . . a dancing polar bear, with penguins as back up. It also plays music. Loud music.

"You can't touch this . . . do,do, do,do (bump, bump)do--do, do--do. Do, do, do, do (bump, bump), do--do, do--do."

But wait, there's more. Along with the creatively re-worded message, there are Dora stickers, wiggly eyes, and . . . if you look closely, you will see that the back of the card is covered in black fake fur. In Bryce's personal note he mentions that I might regret buying Brogan and Teddi crafting supplies--pointing out that these are the long term effects of said supplies. Regarding the fur, he writes, "I don't know why I thought the fur was needed, but it really adds a touch of class and luxury." Oh yes, it certainly does--the fuzziness also added a great element of surprise as I reached into the envelope to pull this masterpiece out!

He ends with, "Anyways, thanks for all the love, thanks for embracing my oddity (you still have a good decade of it left in Brogie!) Thanks for being supportive of my crazy job, thanks for the care packages, the prayers, 7 metric tons of Dr. Pepper in high school, sweet tea, hugs and arts and craft instructions." Love, Bryce

About embracing the oddity, and still having a good decade of it left in Brogie . . . my big boy's proudest moments are when their baby brother says or does something crazy to prove that their legacy will live on in our home! Do you see Brogan studying his brothers behavior in the photo above? Yep.

It's in the genes . . . no wonder my babies are drawing me with a clown nose! On that note, I will wish a happy Mother's Day to my own mama, and thank her for the most important family value she instilled in me, and my sister, and our two brothers.

Laughter.

Thanks Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to you Mom, and to my mother-in-law who happens to be the best mother-in-law in the world. To my step-mom, who has embraced our craziness, thank you. To my friend Rosemary, who is 78 and my BFF---thanks for being like a mama to me. To my sister, and my sister-in-laws--I love sharing motherhood with you! To my friends and my mentors, thank you for the many things you teach me.

Lastly to my bloggy friends--whether you are a mom of many, mom of some, mom of one, or perhaps longing to be a mom. Thank you for sharing my everyday life with me . . . the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens. Most of you I have never met face to face, yet there is an inexplicable bond that we have because we share life with one another. Thank you for your encouragement and wisdom. Thank you for sharing my laughter and my tears, thank you too, for sharing motherhood with me.

Blessings from my oh so very blessed nest ~

Tina