The Perks

If there was ever a season during which it is especially good to be a mama, I've decided that it would be late spring.  The sun has been shining and the kids have been loving on me, and maybe this is the Vitamin D talking, but recently I've been taking in all of the perks of motherhood.  Such as...

The Mommy and Me Tea at Lucy's preschool.

The kids were so excited to sing some songs for their moms, including "You are My Sunshine". 

A portrait of me!  Lucy's teacher told me that Lucy worked hard to include all of the colors of my hair.

They served tea, juice and yummy treats, and there were several things that I was given to take home like hand-made cards, place mats, a small bird house... 

This was such a special event, and I loved it!

The Parks

If I wasn't a mom, I probably wouldn't spend a beautiful afternoon at the park.  I'd probably miss out on the opportunities to go down a slide, walk barefoot in the grass, spread out on a blanket and feel the sun and the breeze, help Max discreetly pee in the bark under the slide...  (shhh, don't tell)

Devon isn't a mom, but we like him to experience the perks of the park when he isn't at work.

Max is wearing a Batman pajama top and Spiderman swim trunks because daddy dressed him :)  He is probably yelling, "I need an underdog!".  Lucy has recently mastered pumping her legs on the swing, which makes her feel extra awesome.  And, as an added bonus, Lucy's new skill relieves me from some of my "Mom! Come push me on the swing!" duties.

The Boo-Boos

Okay, this isn't going to sound like a perk, but hear me out-  the month of May has brought about a collection of ouchies.  Max and Lucy (and even Joe, actually) are covered in bumps and bruises that they've acquired while playing outside.  And guess who they run to when they need a little TLC and a magical kiss with healing powers- MAMA!  I'm never happy when they get hurt, but I sure soak up the "mama, hold me!" that comes with a new boo-boo. 

Last week Max got a finger slammed in the hinge of the door that leads from the house to the garage.  He was in so much pain and cried for a very long time, and he kept moaning, "I just want you! I just want you!" Me? You got it, Bubs!  I drove Lucy to ballet class and then I just held him close until he cried himself to sleep, and I treasured every moment.  How often do I get to hold my 3 year old like that?  Not often!  I took a picture to make it last longer :)

The Unexpected

"Never a dull moment." I say that a lot.  Sometimes I say it when I'm happy, and sometimes I say it when I really mean Seriously? This absurdity is really happening right now? 

Since I'm writing about perks, let's consider the following photo to be an example of the happy version of "never a dull moment".  This is what I woke up to a few mornings ago.

Yes, he is on top of me.  Good morning, Spiderman.

Forced Family Photos

A perk of being a mama in May is that you get to say "Let's take a family picture" and no one whines because it is Mother's Day and they are trying to make you happy.

But not everyone agreed to look at the camera.  And my eyes look half closed.

Now Lucy's eyes are closed, and what's up with my neck?  Oh well.

So there you have it- a handful of the perks I've been enjoying.  What have you been enjoying?

Tired?

I am tired.

I think that all parents are tired.  And maybe all adults are tired.

If you are an adult who is not tired, could you please let me know who you are, and what's your secret?  Sleep?  Undisturbed sleep?

So, I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I wish that meant that my house is organized, that the cupboards are full, and that I find time to watch Ellen everyday.  But none of that applies to me.  I try to "earn my keep", and I work hard to keep the house tidy and the family functioning, and those little people who live here keep me very busy with the fetching of toys, the feeding of snacks, the reading of books, the races to the toilet because they never have to go potty until they havetogopottyrightnow!!!!...

But occasionally, only occasionally, I allow myself to just sit and close my eyes and rest, because I find that I am tired. Today was one of those days when I decided Yes, I'm just going to get cozy right here and close my eyes for a bit because I just don't have the energy to do, well, anything. 

Within the first minute of my self-awarded resting time, Lucy asked for a snack, but not just any snack- she asked for a smoothie.  Now, I don't want to brag, of course, but I must say that I make a pretty fantastic smoothie.  When I was in college, I worked at a smoothie place in Santa Barbara called Blenders, and it was like Jamba Juice except waaayyyy better, and lets just say that I mastered the liquid to frozen fruit ratio.  So, Lucy asks for a smoothie, like, every single day, and as a result,  I have grown to hate making smoothies.   Making a smoothie is nearly a 47 step process, and Max and Lucy always want to "help", which is really the exact opposite of "help", and my reply to the smoothie request is most often no, not right now.  Cue the whining: "Whhhhhhyyyyyyyy?  Whhhyyyyy can't you just make us a smoooooooooothie?"  This might be a good time to add that Max also begs for smoothies but never, ever drinks them, so Lucy gets both portions.  I reason, "Can't I just pour a glass of orange juice or slice up an apple?"

Back to my story about taking a moment to rest, Lucy asked for a smoothie, I said heck no, the whining ensued, and then I did the math on my options.  I could either 1) just make the darn smoothie and end the whining, or 2) not make the smoothie and spend my resting time listening to Lucy fall apart at the seams.  Hmmm.  I remembered that someone once told me that bad parenting is easy and good parenting is hard work, so I tried to factor that into my equation- which option is easy and which is hard work?  When that didn't really help me, I just decided that I'd roll over and ignore Lucy and see if she'd give up.  I won!  She gave up after only five minutes of crying, but then she soon returned to ask if I'd get her stuffed bunny, which she left in the van.  "Nope, it is in the van.  You can get it yourself or wait until I'm done resting and then I'll get the bunny and make the smoothie."  After five more minutes of crying, she walked away.  Maybe Lucy was tired too.  Maybe we are all tired.  Maybe we all need naps, all humans, young and old.  Anyway, I continued to rest until Max's face was an inch from mine yelling, "No! Open yo' eyes, mom!"

yes, I took a picture of the very, very sad girl

 
So, my question, dear friends: Do you give in to the child's request in order to get some peace and quiet, or do you enforce patience and suffer the tantrum?

In other news, we sat in the sun at Merry's house this weekend, which was lovely, to say the very least!

We are in the final full month of school!  Woohoo!
Devon is out of town for work, and it is making me remember what it was like when he had to travel a lot, and it is making me feel grateful for blessings in disguise.

And that is all I've got to say for now :)

"Fwee" at Last!

My tiniest boy is now 3, or "fwee" as he says.  If you ask him how old he is, he will say, "I not two-half anymo'. I fwee."  And if you say, "Well, happy birthday!" he'll say, "No, it is ova'. It is not my buffday anymo'." 

That's right- it is over!  But it was fun while it lasted, and here are some pics from the Lightening McQueen themed birthday party-

Aunt Merry made an awesome cake!

My sweet friends Brooke and Katie- I put 'em to work!

Maxy and Grandma Donna

Finn (yes, he is still alive) wouldn't miss Max's birthday! He is a party animal!

Jude- what a great smile!

Our local mattress salesman got off work early to join us :)

Dev made a road for McQueen and his friends to cruise.  The kids loved it.

Lucy and Ethan, growing up way too fast!

A dinner picnic

Presents!!!!!!!

His very own motorcycle from Aunt Merry and Uncle Dave!

Aunt Merry gives a tutorial.  All of the kids LOVED this gift, and Max shared nicely (or at least mostly nicely)

Max, Merry, and the cake.

yum yum yum

yum yum yum

"Remember what we were doing three years ago?  Heading to the hospital?  Pushing out a kid?  Meeting our Lover Boy?"



It was fun, it was celebratory, and now

it is OVA'!