Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is a fun day for me.  I know I should be more mature, but I totally look forward to being able to say, "Go ask your Dad, it's Mother's Day!"  I also totally look forward to what Danny will do with the kids for me.  It's a day all about me.  I love it.

But this Mother's Day was almost thwarted by Luke's admission to the hospital.  I was so mad all day on Saturday that my Mother's Day was going to be ruined!  I had so looked forward to having all my children at home with me.  So it was a tender mercy for me when Luke was discharged Sunday morning.  We were going to be together after all!

Before Danny left to go get Luke, the kids were dying to give me their presents.  Especially Claire.  She had made her present in school the week before, and had hid them in her backpack...and then hid her backpack...so I wouldn't see before Mother's Day.  This is quite the accomplishment for our Claire!  Usually, Claire can't keep a present secret for the life of her. ;)  I was so proud.  My pride, along with Claire's excitement, grew exponentially once I opened her present.

I can't believe I'm getting homemade Mother's Day gifts from my baby girl.  One's she made in school, no less!  How the time flies.  After Claire and I calmed down, Danny and the kids dragged me into the kitchen to sit down to my delicious Mother's Day breakfast.  And more presents!

I love the classics.  And Danny makes a mean breakfast.  On the menu this year were fried eggs, ham, and southern-style hash browns.  Delicious!

Then the kids gave me their present.  The newest "Our Best Bites" cookbook!  It's the gift that keeps on giving, really.  We spent a good part of the morning flipping through the pages, salivating, and committing to make them ALL in the future. 

And finally, my gift from Danny.  I was so confused when I opened up this little package containing a pillow case for a travel pillow.  Honestly, the first thought that went through my head was, "Danny couldn't be taking me on a trip, could he?  We don't have the budget for that, and what would we do with Luke?!"  Then Danny explained that the gift was to formalize his commitment to build in a linen closet in place of our current (and useless) coat closet.  Then it made sense!  I am SO excited to get a linen closet.  We couldn't believe we never noticed the house didn't have one when we were in the process of buying it!  A linen closet is an organizational must.

My best present of all was getting Luke home.  This boy has my heart in his chubby little hands.  Mother's Day just wouldn't have been any fun if he wasn't at home.

Seriously, I could kiss his chubby, furry cheeks all day!

After church, it was time for dinner.  Probably my next favorite part about Mother's Day.  I'm sure I've made it pretty evident, but in case I haven't made it clear I'll state this little fact unequivocally.  Danny is no dummy in the kitchen.  Quite the opposite, actually.  He's a genius.  Especially on the grill!  As I took this picture, I couldn't decide which looked yummier...the man or the meat. :)

As we were waiting for dinner to be finished, Johnny came up to give me a kiss.  I happened to have the camera in my hand and caught this priceless moment.  Watch out, ladies.  I don't know that there is a woman in the world that can resist that face!  I know I can't.  

On the menu for dinner was cedar plank salmon, coconut rice, watermelon, and salad.  It was beyond scrumptious.  We invited Grandma and Papa to join us for dinner, and they were sure happy they came!

But dinner just might have been upstaged by dessert.  Nothing quite compares with Dairy Queen's Chocolate Xtreme Ice Cream Cake! 

Except maybe ice cream cake smeared all over this cute face!  Luke was in chocolate ice cream heaven!

When dinner was over, Grandma Candy came by to visit along with David, Millie, and the girls.  It was such a fun treat to see Grandma Candy two days in a row!  She was especially excited that Luke made it home for Mother's Day.

  Since everyone had congregated at our house, we decided it was a good time to give Grandma Call her Mother's Day present.  Grandma didn't mince words in the weeks preceding Mother's Day.  She knew exactly what she wanted!  All she wanted for Mother's Day was a picture of Luke, Lucy, and Liam together.  That's all.  Well, we figured we could do that!  But to make it a surprise Kris, Millie, and I decided to get together in secret for the photo shoot.  I even managed to find coordinating outfits!  We got the kids together, but did they cooperate?  NO!  But the little stinkers smiled their best smiles when we were all together for a cookout at the school.  NOT in coordinating outfits. We even took Luke's NG tube out for the initial photo shoot!  But kids will be kids.  They rarely follow plans. :)  The important thing is that Grandma was thrilled to tears with her present.  Literally. :)

In the end, we were pretty thrilled with how it turned out, too.

After all the food and presents, we took some time to just enjoy being together.  Danny and I particularly loved watching everyone enjoy themselves at our house!  We watched the kids play until someone inevitably started crying.  I guess in the end, without the kids, we wouldn't have Mother's Day.  It's always about the kids. :)

I love being a Mom.  It's not an easy job, but I've known since I was 5 years old that it was what I wanted to be when I grew up.  And it hasn't disappointed.  These four children have brought me more joy, and conversely more sorrow, than I could have ever imagined.  I literally don't know who I would be without them.  They are each my friend in their own special way.  They give me purpose, and they are their own reward.  I have learned more about my divine nature as I delve deeper into my role as a mother.  I have come to understand my Heavenly Father's love for me as I somehow find a way to love my children more each day.  I am grateful every day for the blessing it is to be a mother.  It doesn't hurt that I have the cutest, coolest, smartest, best kids in the whole wide world.  Claire, Sophie, Johnny, and Luke...I love you each without end.  Thanks for letting me be your Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!