Moms and Muffins

May 18 - Rylee's class did a fun little brunch for all the Mom's for Mother's Day called Moms and Muffins.  She was so excited when she brought the invitation home.  It was supposed to be the Friday before Mother's Day, but they had to postpone it for a week because her preschool teacher's little boy got whooping cough and she had to cancel school the week before Mother's Day.  (Something else to panic me with a new little baby in the house!!!)  Here is Rylee all dressed up for her brunch and ready to leave for school.

 She was pretty excited it was a rainy day because it meant she could use her Arial umbrella. 

The brunch was adorable!  They wore cute hats and aprons with their handprints and served us muffins and juice and sang us a song.  I loved how excited Rylee was to see me when I got there.  Rylee was so funny about serving me.  She loved it and kept bringing me more muffins.

Singing their songs.  I remember they sang the Muffin Man song, but changed some of the words to be about their class.

 She also made me this grass and they filled out a little paper with questions about their moms.  I thought it was funny that Rylee knew my exact age (most other kids said their mom was six or something like that), and that my favorite book was Hunger Games (she told her teacher "that one with the bird on it") and that I was good at walking.  I asked her about that and she said that was because I used to not be able to (after my c section)  It was a great day and fun to see Rylee at school with her friends and how she interacted with everyone.  I love my little Princess!

Mother's Day

May 13 - I had a wonderful Mother's Day!  This was one of those times that I wished I would have done better about writing things down sooner, because I remember thinking how great a day it was and that my kids were so sweet and made it so perfect, but now I don't remember the specifics.  I guess it is enough to just remember it was a special day.  It was simple, but it was so great and reminded me of why I love being a mom so much!  My cute kids couldn't wait to give me breakfast in bed.  The problem was we had early church so I needed to hurry, but I showered while they got breakfast ready and then ate my breakfast in bed.  They are so insistent on that!  I wasn't ready for Bronson to go to church yet, but I didn't want to miss the kids singing, so I went to Sacrament Meeting and it was great.  I wasn't feeling fabulous yet, but it was nice to see friends and get dressed up a little and I loved watching my cute kids sing to me.  Such a great highlight of the day!  Then I went home and took a little nap with Bronson for the next 2 hours and then they came home with lots of good stuff for me.  They were so excited to show me.  I loved it!

These were the flowers from my fabulous hubby.  He always picks out the best flowers for me!  

Logan, just because!  I love how sweet this boy is and how kind and what a great big brother he is to all his siblings.  He is the perfect oldest child to have in our home. 

 Logan brought me home a cupcake from primary!  It was delicious!  

                                    

Rylee made me these cards.  She made the pink one at our house that morning and the other one at Primary. She loves to make cards for people.  I love how thoughtful Rylee is and that she is my little artist. 

                                                    

My sweet little Avery couldn't wait to give me this flower.  She had the biggest smile on her face when she gave it to me and was so proud.  I loved it!  And her! She is getting to be so big and thinks she is as big as everyone else.  She is at one of my favorite stages and listening to her talk just makes me smile.  I wish I could bottle up that sweet little voice forever! 

And just because there are pictures of all the other kids with me, here is one of my sweet little Bronson.  Having another new baby in the house is a great Mother's Day gift! 

Me and my wonderful kids.  They are my everything and I am so glad they made me their mom!

Oh...pictures with 4 kids.  You get some interesting pictures.  

I love Avery's face in this one.  She is a girl of MANY expressions!

Another funny Avery picture

I love my little rugrats!

After being spoiled by all my fabulous gifts, it was time to head to Grandma's house for dinner.  We love family dinners!   

Cousins chowing down at the bar - Ethan, Logan, Avery and Rylee

The best part of the dinner was that EVERYONE was able to be there!  Even....

 

UNCLE JEFF!!!   We were able to talk to him for the first time since he left on his mission since Mother's Day is one of the 2 days he is allowed to call home.  It was so nice because he was able to Skype so we talked to him for 2 1/2 hours!  We each got plenty of turns and we hooked up the computer to the tv so everyone could see him It was so which  nice to not worry about the long distance bill.  And we got to see his cute face!  The kids were SO excited when he popped up on the TV.  They were all waving at the tv and didn't understand that he could only see them if they were standing in front of the computer.  It was a bit confusing. 

Not sure about the fake glasses.  

Talking to Uncle Jeff.

My Dad and Rylee

Jeff had to tell Darren a funny story.  It was something about how he had become a REAL "official" missionary.  It was a pretty funny experience, but I'll spare you the details... 

My kids were always right by the computer with everyone that was chatting.  They couldn't get enough of seeing their Uncle Jeff. 

Grandma's turn

Without the fake glasses

Time to say goodbye!  It was a little hard to say goodbye, but the kids were excited to know that we get to do this again on Christmas.  And, after 2 1/2 hours, we didn't have a whole lot more to say.  I think we all just liked seeing his face up on the screen. 

So, like I said, it was nothing spectacular, but it was special.  I don't always feel like I do all the things that I would like to do as a Mom, but I am so grateful that I have the opportunity and that these special kids teach me so much and love me even when I am not the best mom.  I don't know what I would do without these guys to give me hugs and kisses and tell me funny jokes and stories and just to love.  Even when it is hard, I just love being their mom! 

Mother's Day

May 8 - I am so blessed to be a Mother! Sometimes I forget how much I truly love what I do and sometimes I forget what a great blessing and responsibility it is, but I do love it and I feel so lucky to have such great kids! Mother's day was great this year. Logan was so excited to bring me breakfast in bed. He actually wanted to do it on Saturday, too, but Darren talked him into waiting until Sunday. They made me a delicious breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and couldn't wait to bring it to me!
Since it was Mother's Day, I got to pick Logan's church clothes, so I made him wear his suit. He hates wearing it, but he looks so handsome and I love it! I told him he looked like a Lady Killer and he did NOT appreciate that comment! He was a good sport and wore his suit anyway. Just to make me happy! See.... I told you I have great kids! He even took pictures which is NOT his favorite thing.
I tried to get a picture of all 3 of my sweet Mother's Day gifts. This is the best we did.
Here are a couple funny attempts...
Oh, my Rylee and her faces...
For about a week before and a week after Mother's Day, I got a new bouquet of dandelions almost every day. Logan would pick them and bring them home in a little bunch on his way home from school or Rylee would bring them in while they were playing. Such thoughtful kids! This was my real bouquet. Rylee picked it out herself! She LOVES going with daddy to pick out flowers. She insisted on these ones!
They each made me a card at school, too. These were my favorite gifts! This was Logan's card.
I love the eyelashes Logan draws on his pictures.
His note said, " Dear Mom, Thank you for letting me play Lego Star Wars. Just try it. You are the best. Love, Logan." He is always trying to get me to play Lego Star Wars with him on the Xbox, but I hate those kind of games. This cracked me up too. My favorite is that I weigh 20 lbs! Good job Logan! That is a great answer! He also brought me a sunflower and his teacher made a cute cook book of all the kids favorites for me.
This is Rylee's card she made at Joy School. I loved Rylee's answers! If you can't read it, it says: Happy is what I feel when my mother: Puts me to bed with a bedtime story. Her hands: Make cards for me. She's funny when she: makes me laugh with shadows. I love her because: She's the best. So cute!

We spent Mother's Day going to church and then going to my Mom's for dinner and to celebrate my little brother Brad's birthday. It wasn't anything super fabulous, but it was a great day and a chance for me to remember what a blessing it is to be a mom and what special little spirits I have been entrusted with. All too often I have bad mom days. I am trying to have less of them. I want to be a better mom to these sweet kids! I LOVE them so much! I am so grateful for all they teach me. And for a wonderful husband who helps so much. And for a wonderful Mom and Mother-in-Law who are great examples for me. I am a lucky girl. Yeah for Mom's Day!