My Mothers day Lesson

Today was that day. The day I have prepared for every year for 11 years. Mothers Day. I have meticulously planned and prepared and readied my home and each and every year.

Only. To. Be. Disappointed.

And it was all my fault. I had no faith in my amazing husband to pull off one day with out my hands in it. In my children to Love me and Shower me in thanks with out my direction. Like a director I put everything on the stage and then placed the actors in their positions with the script in their hands and with HIGH expectations required Oscar winning performances. "Why?" I would ask myself. "Can other families make mothers day special without their mothers telling them what to do?"

So this year I decided to have no expectations and just see what would happen. I didn't take my children to make flower pots for me at Big R, like I usually do or go to help them pick out cards for me or any of it.

I just woke up.

Sunday morning I woke to a QUIET house. This alone bizarre and strange and even slightly spectroesque. I walked down stairs, opened the blinds ~ truck, hubby and Emma gone. hmmmmm....

The other 4 were still asleep so I hunkered down on the couch to wait :) Emma rushed in the door with a big smile and a bright yellow bouquet of flowers! (yea #1) Hubby was following right behind her with my grande caramel macchiatto. (yea #2) Emma then went to rouse Nolen, Ty, Mia and Nadia for the present opening! They all made me cards and Nolen even made me a beaded bookmark for my Bible :) Their thoughts were so kind. They all made me swear not to lift a finger for the rest of the day. Then there was a town hall meeting (that I was not allowed to be a part of) to solidify the plans for the day. We all jumped in the car in our church clothes and headed out. We ended up at one of my favorite places, Apple Annies a massive antique store that is bigger than Target, and has a 50's diner inside. We looked around for a couple of house and ohhed and Awwwed over all of the great bits of Amaricana then headed over to get something to eat. Nolen and Emma were insistent on buying us all fun drinks so we got to try something more 50's ish for a change. We had huge burgers and laughed and took tons of pictures :)

Next we headed to Leavenworth for a day of exploring the Bavarian shops. We tried on hats at the hat shop. We examined all of the toys in the toy store. We scrutinized the bikes in the bike shop for one to fit Nadia and Mia. The girls and I breezed through the Kitchen shop and then we walked down to Blackbird Island for a nature walk. We walked around most of the island and landed at a small old fashioned playground hidden in a small glade. It was one of the warmest days we've had so far (70*) and it was sunny. Scott started a rousing game of throw the stones into the puddle (amazingly enough it had rules). The children played Pooh Sticks on the bridge and Emma created a game for us to play on the various stumps that consisted of us all pretending to be statues and with various rules and such :) Nolen tried to spear a fish with his walking stick, the fish laughed. My children had so much fun together playing and laughing, creating memories the will last forever. Not contrived, but real. I was walking with them all at various times during the day and we all talked and walked holding hands. They showered me with love and affection and I was PRESENT with them rather than directing them. We then headed home and after a few stops got home at 7ish tired and happy. My tank was full to over flowing and I didn't have to plan anything. Today was favorite.

Lesson Learned.