Mother's Day Gifts

Because I live my life mostly in the Day Late and Dollar Short mode - Happy Mother's Day!

A few years back I woke up on a bright Mother's Day morning and declared that we should go to the Baltimore Aquarium. My husband, ever the skeptic, was leery of the idea. I mean, we'd have to skip church. And drive there. And it was not what we normally did on Sundays, or Mother's Days for that matter. But I was adamant. How often do we skip church? (Um, the answer is never.) And isn't Mother's Day all about the mom? Besides, being Mother's Day and all the aquarium would be nearly empty. Who goes there on Mother's Day?

So we went. We packed the kids into the van and drove the several hours to Baltimore on a whim because sometimes Sam just gives up before talking me down from my ledge. And you know what we discovered? That there are a heck of a lot of moms out there that wake up on Mother's Day and say, "You know what we should do? Go to the aquarium." The place was so incredibly crowded that we couldn't get parking. We parked blocks away and walked in. When we walked back we realized that we exceeded the 1 hour parking limit and that police do indeed patrol and ticket on Sundays. Who knew? It was so incredibly crowded that it was assembly-line maneuverage inside. You shuffled single-file past each tank and if you stepped out of line to, say, change your son's diaper then you did not get back into line without starting at the beginning again because those people would lynch you for line hopping.

So that year we learned a very important lesson. Do not go to the Baltimore Aquarium on Mother's Day. That would not be a good idea.

But this year? I was treated like royalty, and it was very nice. Sam got up with Micah, and the kids made me breakfast and brought it to my bedside. (At 7:15, and only that late because Sam held them off for a little while.) Breakfast was dee-lish if I say so myself. And then? I sat in bed and watched TV for the first time in my entire life. Really. It, too, was dee-lish.

But when I came downstairs? I'd discovered that the kids loaded the dishwasher. Is this not the best thing that a mother can wake up to ever? I give them an A for effort, even if it isn't the most efficient load ever to run.






But the card that Luke made me is the sweetest thing ever. I think.


31 comments:

Maria (also Bia) said...

I love that card . . . and I can truly appreciate the loading-the-dishwasher effort!

Happy Mother's Day, and God bless.

Karen MEG said...

Perfect day!!! I love that card, and the dishwasher shot... made me drool LOL!

Happy Mother's Day, Karen!!!

Suburban Correspondent said...

I am so loving "Helpfull very helpful." You should have that put on a T-shirt.

Only good time to go to the Baltimore Aquarium is during the week in September (no school field trips then). It is always a crowded mess there.

Pam said...

So glad it was a great day!

Flea said...

The best sower! You go girl! Happy Mother's Day!

AutoSysGene said...

Loving the card! Best. Sewer. Evah!!

just jamie said...

What a great day. Glad you enjoyed it. I think you're "excelentay" too!

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

How sweet! Much better than the aquariam, crowded or not.

Kellan said...

Oh, you had a good Mother's Day - I am so GLAD!! Take care - Kellan

caramama said...

Happy Mother's Day! What an excellent day, and a lovely card.

Unknown said...

What a sweet, sweet card! I've had to run a few of those inefficient loads too. And not just when the kids decide to help. My husband's not the most efficient dish-loader either! I'm so glad you didn't decide to go to the aquarium today and that you had a good day!

Sniz

KG said...

Can you tell me why that stupid Baltimore Aquarium won't allow strollers?! YOU try to carry a 30 lbs. immobile infant around in one of those stupid backpacks all afternoon. NOT a good time!

kari and kijsa said...

Sounds like you are so blessed!

Just stopping by to wish you a very Happy Mother's Day!

smiles, kari & kijsa

Michelle said...

Ohhh! I read that as the best sawer ever and was going to ask... I'm glad someone else is better at reading "kid" than I am! (Give me time; I'm not quite there yet.)

I love the dishwasher loading. This is actually much better than the way our dishwasher looks... at least until I reload it.

Happy Mother's Day, Karen!

Anonymous said...

Wow. They loaded the dishwasher! Dinner cleanup took twice as long over here, because hubby left both breakfast & lunch in there. Can your kids teach him a thing or ten?

Andrea said...

They are so wonderful! How nice to stay in bed and watch a little tv!! And then the dishes all clean! Nice!! Happy Mother's Day!

Laski said...

Yay for such a wonderful day. I am so starting to get this mom thing . . .

You are so exalentay!!!

LOVE, LOVE the card. Awesome illustrations :)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

kari and kijsa said...

Happy Mother's Day! Hope you had a wonderful day with your family.

blessings,
kari & kijsa

imbeingheldhostage said...

What a fun post-- I'm glad you had a special day and those gifts are the priceless ones. You changed your avatar-- and posted-- you must've really had some "you" time!

Burgh Baby said...

You are most certainly rest worthy. Glad you had a great Mom's Day!

Cynthia said...

Happy Mother's Day...sounds like the kiddos did it up right!

jessica said...

super sweet. and you're worthy of rest... you must be pretty special! happy mom's day.

ALF said...

Glad you had a good day - you deserve it!

Don Mills Diva said...

Glad you had a great day!

Happy belated Mother's Day!

Unknown said...

Love the card!! I went through the same dishwasher saga.

Happy moms day!!

Tootsie Farklepants said...

WOW!! A loaded dishwasher. I would not know what that is like. The husband did keep the kids quiet so I could sleep but he neglected to have coffee ready for when I got up. That's ok. I make better coffee.

The Sports Mama said...

My handmade card included a line telling me I was more peaceful than rain....

With Arizona monsoons, I'm not sure he was complimenting me!

Glad you had a great day!

Madame Queen said...

"Exalentay!" Pricless!!

We once went to Six Flags on mother's day(before I was a mother myself) and the place was DESERTED. We got on any ride we wanted right away. So file that away for future mother's day jaunts.

Wineplz said...

I love Luke's Spanglish "exalentay!"...we say that in my house, too! And I'm impressed about the breakfast and tv time and the dishwasher! Sounds like you had a well-deserved wonderful Mother's Day!

Cecily R said...

That card SERIOUSLY rocks!!! Luke is such a rockstar!!

I want someone to tell ME I'm rest worthy, gosh!!

And um, by the way, I'm not sure I load the dishwasher any better...

Happy belated Mother's Day Karen. You so deserved a great day!!

Michelle said...

Belated happy mother's day! Sounds like you had a wonderful day - and what a sweet card from Luke!