Happy Mother's Day

First thing Saturday morning, we attended a baseball game. Then we came home, everyone changed into their bathing suit and off to the grand neighborhood opening pool party we went. I expected the boys to jump right in, they did. I thought MK would hesitate seeing as the pool was somewhat chilly. However, she was probably more excited to be there than anyone...."Me, pool mommy?" she asked as she grabbed my hand and walked me over to the steps. So into the pool she went, she played, she splashed, she giggled, she was right at home in the water. Later, I gathered the three up, quickly went home to get dry clothes on and off to my parent's house we went. My niece, Emma, was there too so the crew was complete. The children had a grand time as they were catered to by my parents, eating whatever they wanted, watching whatever they wanted, playing whatever and wherever they wanted, it was their time and they wallowed in it. Sunday, Mother's Day, we all attended the church that I grew up in. When we originally moved to the town that I grew up in, there wasn't even a stoplight. Now there are stoplights aplenty. And the churches, there was one church to accommodate each denomination. This still holds true but my church has transformed into this beautiful array of buildings and services and parking lots and people. It even has a balcony which the children immediately found a seat in, took their shoes off (sigh) and listened to the entire service without asking once to go to the bathroom. Mason-Kate found her home for the hour in the deluxe nursery accommodations. It was during the time that I dropped her off that I took note of my Mother's Day gift from her. It wasn't a card or a material item, it was the joy of watching her go into this unfamiliar setting, one that she has never seen before with people she has never laid eyes on and, though she didn't want me to leave, there were absolutely no tears. I told her I would come back and she trusted me and knew that I would. With a newborn baby, you watch their physical milestones that they hit during that first year of life. With a toddler adoption, at least for us, we have watched MK's emotional milestones throughout our first year with her. Knowing that we have provided her with a stable, secure, loving environment, one that she is growing in and thriving in, seeing that she can trust, that was her gift to me this Mother's Day. As for the boys, they had some pretty nifty gifts up their sleeves as well. Colin wrote the most delightful poem that describes me, how I love to cook, stated that I was "epic" and "bountiful" and how I love to volunteer. Pryce brought home a painting that we did in his class a few weeks ago....I am so excited about this because I can frame it to go along with a similar painting that Colin did in Kindergarten. Pryce also brought home a questionnaire thing that he had done with his teacher. It describes me in his words....those things are always interesting. I smiled as I read that my favorite color is red, true, my fav food is ice cream, eat it every night, true. I then gasped as I read that I am best at "watching tv".....whattt???? For the record, our tv is never even on when they are awake, UNLESS it is a Saturday morning OR we have family movie night....of course, he made up for it at the end of the questionnaire where he stated that his mommy was as pretty as a "flower"....he is such a sweetheart! Hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day 2009!