Mothers Day 2018

This is my happily ever after....

I had a beautiful Mothers Day :). As with every holiday, it was basically an all week event! The kids told me "Happy Mothers Day" all week long and each day I got a special little gift from Austin, like a bullet shell, or a "really pretty rock" along with the sweetest little words that I will cherish forever like, "I'm going to love you forever Mom." Seriously, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven hearing those sweet words come out of his mouth and I am crying now just as I am writing them! I also got a sweet card in the mail from Grandma Helm letting me know that she thinks I'm doing a good job :). I also got to go on a special date with the kids to their preschool's "Muffins with Mom" event. We sat at a little table, talking and munching on muffins and juice while Austin introduced me to his little friends and I got to meet their mothers. It's little things like these that make it all worth it :).

The sweet card from Grandma Helm and Austin's sweet gifts :). The plant was a gift from the ward.

Muffins with Mom date with my sweet ones!

On Sunday I woke up to Josh getting up early and I was thinking he was going to make me breakfast..... but then he pulled out a book and started reading (insert eye roll here). So I was ridiculously proud of Austin when he walked up to his Dad and said, "Dad, don't you think we should make some breakfast for Mom since it's Mothers Day???" I didn't even have to coach him or anything! Seriously, so proud :).

While they were busy making breakfast and Evie was busy dancing around the kitchen to music, I slipped out and bought myself a cup of coffee. And then as I came back in through the door, Josh told me to go sit down and relax, so I took my Starbucks out onto the front porch and enjoyed the beautiful morning in complete peace! The windows were open, letting the fresh, cool morning air stream through, so I sat and listened to the silly chaos going on inside and smiled :). It really is a beautiful life we live :).

Bliss :)

After my yummy breakfast that was made with love by my three favorite people, it was present time! Austin has been excited all week to give me his present that he made in preschool and I teared up when I saw that  it was a picture of him holding yellow flowers in a handmade frame made out of popsicle sticks. I couldn't love anything more than that beautiful gift :).

Austin giving me his sweet little gift.

He was so proud of himself and so excited to see my reaction :)

Of course I loved everything about it!

Other gifts that I got to pick out from Sephora ;)

One very happy Mom right here!

Then we got ready for church and I didn't even have to help clean up breakfast! This really was the royal treatment!! Josh and I taught our classes (he teaches the sunbeams and I have the 8 year olds) and the kids went to their Primary classes that they both love. They let all the Moms leave their callings 3rd hour and enjoy Relief Society together (my favorite part!). We had a beautiful brunch in the RS room with all of my friends and after a short lesson they let us sit and chat since it is rare that us Moms aren't running around like crazy teaching lessons and chasing kids. So a chance to sit and talk was exactly what we all needed! I came home to more beautiful hand made gifts that the kids had worked on during church and my heart was so full :).

My sweet little gifts from Evie (3 years old). Oh how I love that sweet hand print! The paper says, "My Mom is 4 years old. Her favorite flower is pink. Her favorite color is pink and purple. My Mom makes the best bananas and raspberries. She is SO good at playing soccer. My best memory of my Mom is playing games." It was so fun reading this and seeing her hilarious answers! I love that out of all the yummy things we cook, bananas and raspberries are the best! haha! And it makes me smile that our trips to the park with the soccer ball and all the time we spend playing games don't go unnoticed. Again, back to the appreciation word :).

Austin's card from church was pretty funny as well (4 years old)! It says, "My mother is 1 year old. My mom always says goodnight at bedtime. My mom laughs when I kill a bug and she tells me to eat it. My Mom is really good at writing stories and being patient. My favorite thing to do with my mom is making smoothies. My mom's purse is full of lots of money and gum!" Haha! Then on the hand prints it reads, "What I love about my Mom: Making smoothies and going outside with her and going to the park and playing ball." Can you tell we are always making smoothies and playing outside around here? Haha! I love and cherish these little remarks so much :).

Josh cooked us a fabulous steak dinner with salad and key lime pie for dessert (one of my favorites)! Once again, he cleaned up and I didn't lift a finger. He really did try hard this year to give me the day off and I was eternally grateful. I've felt so overwhelmed lately with life/work/church and I needed this day. A day to feel appreciated for all my hard work. We took some pictures in our Sunday best but the kids were not too keen on cooperating, Mothers Day or not (another eye roll here).... so we tried again, this time with bribery and I think we got some pretty cute candid shots :)...... at least as good as it was going to get haha!

The photo taking struggle is real! Evie refusing to look at the camera or stand up on her own and Austin pretending to be a gorilla..... ugh.

I finally just held Evie (she still wouldn't look up) and despite my promptings, Austin refused to hold my hand.... double ugh.

Finally after some bribery, I got a good hug out of Austin!

And I finally got a smile out of Evie!! (even though she still won't look at the camera...) I figured this all captures motherhood perfectly. It's a struggle, but there are always beautiful moments if you push through it :).

I'm grateful for my children and for the ability to be their mother; as well as for my sweet husband who helps make it all easier. I'm so grateful for the good days and the bad; the exciting adventure filled days and the mundane. Because each day offers a lesson to learn and a memory to look back and smile on. My family is my world and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am also grateful for all the beautiful women in my life who are constantly teaching me and coaching me along this crazy journey! I spent last week caring for Grandma Porter who just had hip surgery and is bed ridden. As I made them meals and bathed her, we got numerous chances to talk and connect. I learned so much about her that I didn't know and I gained a whole new respect and love for that beautiful woman. I really do have some incredible Grandmothers.....literally THE BEST!! Hands down. And as I reflect on what kind of mother I want to be, and what kind of life I want for my children, I use those beautiful women as my idols; my guides to show me how to make it happen. God is good and I have been so very blessed :). And it was so incredibly evident on this beautiful Mothers Day :).

Happy Mothers Day 2018!!!