Mother's Day Gifts

I've mentioned before that Mother's Day is my favorite Amy-holiday of the year. :) Somehow, birthdays seem to disappoint - because of me, not those around me. The other holidays are great, but they are not mine. I have to share them. Which is fine. Most of them revolve around the kids - which I love. But Mother's Day... That one is mine. Corey always does a super-great job of making it special for me, and the big kids are learning from him.

When we scheduled our trip to New Orleans, we were not looking at a calendar that had holidays marked on it. If we had, I probably would not have gone, and I certainly would not have asked my sister to spend her Mother's Day taking care of my kids. In retrospect, I am glad that I went on a trip with my man - in spite of the fact that we were gone part of the day on Mother's Day. I think that Sara was okay with it too. This entry is about my Mother's Day "gifts"... her friendship and open-heart and generosity and love for me and my family topped the list this year on Mother's Day.

When Corey and I were still at the hotel in New Orleans, I was sad that I was not with my kids. He went to a meeting, and I was alone - which had been great the previous days, but I was not a fan of it on Mother's Day. After his meeting, he came back to the room bearing a gift. He had taken a break from his meeting and gone to a store to get me a beautiful fleur de lis plaque. I love it!

When we arrived at the airport, I saw the smiles on my kids faces and felt their wonderful, welcoming hugs... those were wonderful gifts! While we were driving home, Cooper informed me that he had been to the "barn at Ikea" while I was gone and that "We got you a present." With those clues and the fact that Allie had asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day a few times before we left for our trip, I was not surprised (but was really, really happy) to be presented with a gift card for a headboard from Ikea that I like when I got home... along with some pretty silver fleur de lis jewelry from Corey. Jack also gave me a stepping stone with his hand print on it that he made at school. I LOVE it! My kids hand prints are really one of my favorite mommy-things ever!



So, there you have it. My list of Mother's Day gifts... with those that I love (and that love me) being on the top of that list!

So Many Blogs, So Little Time

The last few days have been very busy.  I have at least 5 blog entries that are swimming in my head.  The kids are all still asleep on this dark and rainy morning, so I think that I will make an attempt to get a few of them done right quick... 

At any given moment, my little niece is going to decide to be born (we think), so if I fall off of the face of the world for a while... I will be in aunt-land.  Smelling that newborn smell, swaddling little Chloe Grace, holding a sleeping baby on my chest... Oh!  I can just hardly wait!  

For now, I must blog a bit, pack a bag to get ready to jet when I get the call that she infact has decided to come, and unpack another box or two.  (Yes, that project is still underway.)

Our Photos of New Orleans

~Street musicians, beignets, and cafe au lait... 

You can't get more New Orleans than that~

~The French Quarter~

(from our hotel room window)

~St. Louis Cathedral~

(from our hotel room window)

~Corey & me after the "parade night"~

~The boats and barges that we could see from our hotel window~

I was amazed at how huge the boats on the Mississippi were.

Home Again

I arrived home this afternoon to our 3 babies running to us in the airport.
"Mommy!" "Daddy!"
The best thing ever.
So many blessings.
My children.
My sister, that spent her Mother's Day mothering mine.
My love, that surprised me all throughout the day with things that made this unordinary Mother's Day great.
My mom.
And so many more.
It was indeed a happy Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Morning

Today I am far far away from those that I am a mother to. In a hotel room. Alone. No little ones giggling on the other side of my bedroom door. No whispers saying, "Don't wake her up yet." as things bang around in the kitchen while they help their father make my breakfast to be served in bed. I am glad to be here... but I am anxious to be with them. Today, I long for them.

I Didn't Jump, and I Can Spell!

I was just at another reception for Corey's conference.... It was on the veranda of the 11th floor of the hotel. After about an hour of total techy talk, I could not take it anymore. I contemplated jumping... but decided that I should retreat to my room instead. When I got here, I was reading over some old things that I have written, and I was appalled at my spelling and grammar in a few cases. Truly, that is a pet peeve of mine... so to see that I had spelled the word "because" like - becasue - several times... well, that just drives me crazy. For some reason, my brain swaps letters every once in a while even when I know how to spell things. And sometimes I guess I am just in a hurry when I post things... sorry to all of you spellaholics and grammar police. (You know who you are!)

And, oh! The "computer nerds" are really fine people. (I happen to be in love with one of them.) I just can only take so much of the lingo. I don't understand a lick of it, so it is like going to a foreign movie without subtitles for me. And really... it's okay. I am liking the solitude thing really well! I would have never thought, a few years ago, that being alone could be such a treat. I guess I evolved a bit. This "mommy-thing" will do that to you.

A Question For My Readers (Bump)

Somehow my sister, Sweet Sara, missed the first time that I asked for permission to include those that read my blog/ friends/ family on the blogroll on the side of my blog. Here it is again... bumped to today to give you all another chance to be part of the linking fun.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A Question For My Readers...
... doesn't that make me sound famous? :)
I have not had a list of my family's & friend's (those I really know and those I don't) blogs on mine up to this point, but I am considering adding one now. If you would like to/ wouldn't mind being on my blogroll, would you leave me a quick comment and let me know that it is okay with you for me to add you. If you don't want to be on the list, that is fine. Thanks!