Bleck, Bleck, Bleck

I started the day really early, even though the kids had off school.  I knew it would be just that busy.  So I headed out for a quick morning run.  20 minutes, couldn't even spare 30 - but I got 2.5 miles in.  I arrived back home just in time for our monthly foster visit/home inspect.  Afterwards, I did the quickest shower and wardrobe change before heading to the dentist with a kid in tow.  Stopped on the way home for party supplies and milk and cereal - no groceries were in the house, since we had been gone ten days - I needed something to tie us over.

Last minute detour trip to library to return some overdue books and pick up a prize one of my kids had won.  Get home to some boys being delivered.  (10) 9&10 year old boys descended on our house for a birthday party.  Pizza and junk food filled lunch and then to the movies in two cars.  After the movie a dead battery that couldn't be jumped force 12 of us into my 8-seater Honda Pilot.  Glad we're all friends here.

After dropping off each of the boys at their homes, we did world's fastest turn around to pick up two kids for their first of many Christmas Orchestra Ensemble Performances around town.  Got them set up, while Travis went to auto parts store.  He returned for us to head back to theater to change out the battery.  Four minute battery swap, he is a super stud, and a return trip to pick up kids who are finishing up.  All home to cram in bed times, belated all be it, a late dinner of a tuna fish sandwich to keep me from starving to death as two pieces of pizza was all I had eaten all day.

Finally a rewarding donut run to end the evening.  Yes I eat my stress away.  But you see I run for sanity in the morning and eat for relief in the evening.  It's why I can start tomorrow as energetic and chipper as I did today and most days - running and donuts.  This week/month is gonna be crazy.  If only I could find a way to make my donut costs this month tax deductible!

Second To...

Mother's Day may be my favorite holiday, only second to my birthday.  Of course.  Well that's partly true, but only in the fact that both aren't really holidays but celebrated events.  Once again this is a day devoted to me.  And I like to think that most every day I am a pretty selfless mother and wife, but if you tell me that I can have a day to be selfish...game on.

My day was made perfect by my husband and children.  Basically they just pour the love on even more than usual.  It started with breakfast in bed, flowers from Bella.  I then came down to a table of donuts and elementary school kid craft for mother's.  And let's be honest I love this stuff too.  Hearing kids fill in blanks about their parents is a hilarious read for me.  But maybe it's just my kids.  Nothing too crazy this year, but lots of endearing things.

Then Travis and the kids managed themselves for Church that morning, Travis handled all kid behavior issues and we came home to a late lunch and finished the day by laying out.  The kids played happily on the trampoline and in the sprinklers as I read and eventually napped with Bella in the backyard.  And that folks is pretty close to perfection in my book.

After a light dinner and dessert we opened more presents.  Two awesome sets of sneakers.  The kids went to bed and I took the time to update my blog and catch up on the important but rarely urgent matters of my life, that I tend to neglect.  I then read in bed before falling peacefully asleep.  Ahh isn't it nice this mother thing.

All of that aside, it really is.  Best surprise of my life was finding out how much I enjoyed being a mom.  And it helps that I have the best kids, making my job pretty easy.  Happy Mother's Day out there to all the selfless, wonderful mothers who make this world a better place to live.  Your actions matter and have a far reaching influence for good.  Keep up the good work.

from left: pen, book, he can't remember, granola bar, cell phone, $5, and keys