Honoring Thy Mothers

It is such a privilege and blessing to have these two beautiful girls as my daughters.  My love for them is boundless. And to think that they honor me on Mother's day?  Most of the credit for the mother I am goes to my self-less, beautiful, generous, faith-filled, loving mom, Rose Marie.

I hope my girls always know how lucky they are to have Grandma Rose in their lives to love, guide, nurture and support them.

 

 

Just as I am forever grateful to have had the guidance, love and support of my Grandma Ruth (my dad's mom) throughout my childhood until I was nearly 40 years old.

As well as my courageous, sweet, loving Grandma Nita (my mom's mom) who also mentored me throughout my childhood until I was 30 years old.  Both of my Grandmas were actively involved in my life and influenced me immeasurably.  It is a joy to have all those memories and experiences and most of all to thank them on this Mother's day for helping me become the mom I am.

 Steve took us out to the Oakes cemetery were we shared stories of Grandma Nita with Abby & Angelique.  Although it may seem unusual, it was the perfect place to take my mom.  A wonderful peace came over us both as we remembered and honored Grandma Nita.

 

And back home in my own flowerbed, the gift of my Grandma Ruth's iris were blooming and reminding me of the legacy of her love and beauty. 

I also thought of all the other women in my life who lift me up and hope you all felt my gratitude.  It was an amazing and very happy Mother's day.

A special Mother's day

My little chicks were so creative with their gifts to me for Mother's day. I am one lucky mom! There are no pics of me with my little chick-lets for Mother's day because we ended up not being picture worthy. Let me explain.... we did look fantastic all dressed up for church, but by the time church was over it was raining very hard, so we scrapped doing a photo shoot. My only request for Mother's day was to have the family help me outside cleaning out the flower beds and putting down mulch. Despite the pouring rain, I was still determined to do some yard work (yes, I have a hard time changing my plans) and the family headed to Fleetfarm with our jackets, rain boots and hats to get the mulch. By the time we got back to the house, we were soaked to the bone, cold and it was still raining hard. I finally relented and said we would have to move on to plan B. Except I didn't really have a plan B.

So, after eating leftovers for lunch, I did some reading and took LONG 2 hour nap which was a perfect plan B. And by 3:00 PM, guess what? The rain had stopped and we were able to spend 3 hours working together outside. I was so happy to have help clearing the dead foliage and discover all of the perennials that were making their appearance. We got most of the mulch put down and I was able to move some perennials that had gotten out of control.

Best of all, my daffodils were putting on a beautiful show for us!

Hurray for flowers!

For supper, Steve grilled some juicy pork loin w/ asparagus. The girls then gave me their amazing creations, but after being out in the rain and working in the yard, I called no pictures because I looked like a rag-a-muffin!

Kippy framed a poem she wrote and illustrated called "I Am." I love that it tells the story about who Angelique is at this moment in time.

She also painted this dry brush flower basket that is just so beautiful.
My Abby Rose wrote this poem that just touched my heart and made me forget all about the teenage attitude we have been experiencing intermittently.

Abby also designed a coupon book filled with 24 Abby Bucks. She said I can use them to ask her to do any type of chore and she would do it without complaint. WOW - these are magic coupons!

And just tonight, I turned in my first coupon to have Abby vacuum out my car. And true to her word, no complaints.

Loved my Mother's day and I love my girls beyond words. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Two wishes for Mother's Day

When Steve asked me, "What do you want to do for Mother's Day?" I had exactly two wishes...

1. To have a picture taken with the girls
2. To have an afternoon nap

It was easier said than done, but ultimately, it was accomplished but there is a little more to the story.

Over the weekend, Kippy had some top secret activities going on in her room. She even made some signs to make sure her plans stayed under cover.

"No Mothers beond this point and that counts for you too Grandma."

"Mothers and Grandmas not aloud... um alowed... I don't know, but just don't enter."

Love her signs... Kippy and I have the same lack-of-spelling abilities. In fact, I think it is a dominate Sell trait... just ask my two brothers. ;-0
The impatient that Angelique planted and grew in her 3rd grade class, was blooming beautifully and stayed a complete surprise. Her handmade card and poem was priceless.

Abby gifted me with some great smelling Burt's Bees lotion and a unique "R" for my collection. Definitely above and beyond. Thank you, girls!

Initially, we had planned to take pictures right after church, but since it was only 35 degrees at that time, we delayed it until after lunch. That meant changing out of church clothes, working on a few projects {spray painting a chair, weeding the flower beds and planting some pansies} before lunch and then changing back into our church clothes after lunch to take pictures.

Maybe the whole delay wrecked the mo-jo for the photo shoot, because one of the daughters (appropriately nicknamed Fuss) was less than cooperative. My super power skills {aka bribery} were no match for the power of the Fuss. She turned a 15 minute event into a 2 hour affair and put wish #2 in complete jeopardy.
Don't let these few pics that made the cut and didn't get deleted mislead you into thinking it was a carefree and harmonious photographic event.
I must have deleted at least 125 pictures to get 5 that worked out ok.
I am glad that we persisted, despite the odds being stacked against us, including a complete meltdown with tears from Fuss.
In the end, no children were harmed, I completed a 60 minute afternoon nap and Mother's day was saved!
Now you know the rest of the story.

My special Mom's Day

I love, love, love when the girls make their own cards. These Mother's Day cards are so much better than Hallmark and I treasure them. Abby and Kippy out did themselves this year.

Kippy made a pop-up card, which doesn't translate very well on the scanner, but is just darling.

Outside.... "Hay do you now how much I Love you?!"

Inside... 3-D arms pop-out when you open the card... "This much!"

Abby's creation shows her (tween) sense of humor...

Outside has a cut-out window... showing "You suc"

Inside... "succeeded in being the best mom! I love you lots, all the time!!"

Kippy made a couple more cards that were so sweet. This is one requires the key to translate... "Mom you are veary beautyful you're an angel. Mom you are the music of my hart, the love and the star of the world!"

Plus I got this very sweet note that makes Angelique sound older than 8 years. "Almost nine years of being my mom, just think of the party when I'm ten. You are my life. I love you even when I'm mad althou sometimes I don't show it. I love you! Angelique" (NOTE: the inability to spell was inherited from me.)

We had a fabulous day together and I was completely spoiled... morning church, then lunch at Stella's in Battle Lake, a hike to Inspiration Peak, tolerating a photo shoot with me, ice cream at Grannies Panties and a blissful 90 minute nap. Steve grilled a delicious supper... teriyaki chicken, asparagus, brown rice, and fresh strawberries. Truly a perfect day!

I also got a beautiful silver locket to hold pics of my much loved daughters.