Happy Mother's Day? You bet.

After so many years of feeling like one of my kids was missing from the picture, I am happy to report that I loved loved loved my Mother's Day this year. Not only did I finally get to celebrate the Big Day with my boy by my side, but with his sweet little sister as well.

I came downstairs to a table full of beautiful homemade cards and gifts from my chillens and an arrangement of wildflowers that James had picked. Next we were chaufferred to brunch by my dashing husband. The place we have gone to every year since I became a Mom 14 years ago has changed owners and is no longer doing brunch, but Fred found us a place that we enjoyed even more. Although we got many stares of incredulity, we had a wonderful meal.
Afterwards we went to a nursery (more stares) and picked out some flowers to plant as well as a few hanging baskets. Home to change and then rolled up our sleeves and got our hands dirty planting impatiens, geraniums, pansies and petunias. The girls and I also worked on our vegetable patch, which has been four years in the best intentions stage. We tilled and planted strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, basil and mint.
Took a long break on the couch reading a great book Fred got me ("Coop"), then later in the day headed out the door again for a pizza dinner and then to DQ for sweet treats at the end of the day.
Now I get to sit and blog and read e-mails while Fred handles showers, chores and bedtimes. I'm trying to decide what the best part of the day was:

1)No part in any meal prep/clean-up
2)Deferring all questions and disputes to Fred
3)Yardwork which included only putting in, no ripping out
4)The drop-dead gorgeous weather
5)Dozing in and out of a good book in the afternoon sunlight
6)Putting Julie on the pony's back and walking her around for a few minutes
7)The good food
8)The sweet cards and sweeter hugs
9)Queen-for-the-day treatment
10)The six interesting little people I am blessed to call my children

When all is said and done, I'll take #10, hands-down, every time.