A Mother's Day

Mother's Day weekend was full of everything I needed. Family and food. Food and family. And some much-needed rest. Due to a wind storm, we lost power for 10 hours Saturday evening into Sunday. So just like in March we dined by candlelight and readied for bed via Energizer flashlights.


Buby insisted I have one of my gifts a day early, so he presented me with two pretty bouquets he picked out himself and a significant box of chocolate-covered peanut clusters from my favorite chocolatier. Yum. I went right to town on those.


While My Sweets ran out for more coolers and bags of ice {to save our fridge items}, Buby built a massive castle complex in the dark. We left it up 'til morning, of course.







Without their night lights the kids didn't want to be alone in the dark, so My Sweets slept with Buby and I with Bleu. Usually when my girl falls asleep in our bed I transfer her within 10 minutes--or after Idol results if it's a Tuesday. But Saturday I was more than happy to snuggle through the night.


Going to bed at 10 p.m., I realized, is kind of awesome. And waking up next to a little love bug with espresso bean eyes and crazy bed head? Well, that rocks, too. The sun was out {though it was cold}, birds were chirping, and power had been restored.


The house smelled delicious when we finally made our way downstairs around 8:30 a.m. My boys had buns in the oven. The cinnamon buns I hate to love are not particularly healthy, but I make a point to have them twice a year: December 21st and the second Sunday in May. My Sweets had three and I ate the remaining FIVE. The wee ones chowed down on their own breakfasts and then pleaded for my famous fresh-fruit smoothies, which I whipped up with their assistance. Yum again.


I took a nice long shower, which is a total luxury. When I came back downstairs My Sweets walked up to me with my camera and a smirk and said "Happy Mother's Day." It was a closeup of Buby picking his nose. Adorable, really. {I'd show you, except I'm on the laptop and the photo is on my desktop.}







Lunchtime brought big sandwiches on toasted wheat with bread 'n butter pickle chips {a pregnancy craving of mine} and a whole lot of Tom's homemade guacamole. It made me cry. It was that good... and spicy. He uses Haas avocados, fresh cilantro, white onion, grape tomatoes, hot peppers, and chipotle in his}. By now I had a belly ache, but I kept going. Eating. Playing. Eating.


We sort of lazed around a bit, read magazines, told stories, watched the kids create. It was cold and wet out, and a day inside--without running around town--was exactly what I craved. Bleu went down for nap, Tom quick tackled a house project or two, and I spent some time cleaning out the attic {which felt so great}. I danced around with Buby after his dinner and sang a made-up song about how I didn't sleep for a whole year after he was born. Because he wanted to be in my arms and I wanted him there, too. I acted out my nightly nursery routine like charades and he laughed and laughed. It was a good day.







The next morning at breakfast Buby brought me with an impressive stack of 21 titles. He set them on the table, careful not to knock the pile, and looked up with that unmistakable "pleasio" grin. Three books in I said it was time to brush his teeth for preschool. We were going to be late... and we were. At dinner the stack was still there. I took one bite of my food and he slid the tomes closer to my arm. And closer again until they were pressed against me. He likes to be read to while he eats, and it's impossible to deny him.


I think I got four books in this time before I rested my face in my hands and pretended to fall asleep at the kitchen table {I could have fallen asleep}. Buby quietly rose from his chair, walked around the table and kissed my right cheek without saying a word. This is how we wake each other up when we play make believe. I opened and then closed my eyes again, joking "Isn't it time for bed yet?" He said, "No. You have to wake up now because you're our mom and you have to teach us stuff. And play." Bleu giggled.


I know I say it all the time, but I feel so freakin' lucky to be playing mama to these two {and the new one, too}. They are everything awesome. Don't get me wrong, we have our feisty moments {I'm pregnant, Bleu is 2, and Buby likes to growl at the dog on occasion}. But I treasure every single morning, afternoon and evening with them. And I don't think there's any such thing as telling your kids too often how much you enjoy them.