First of all, I would like to wish a Happy (belated) Mother’s Day to everyone! If I’ve learned anything as a mom it’s that the title “Mother” carries a very broad definition. There are many people out there who deserve recognition for being a loving care-taker who may have no traditional “children” to speak of. I hope everyone celebrated the holiday with gusto!
Now, to those naysayers who claim that Mother’s Day is “just another commercialized Hallmark holiday” I would have to beg your pardon. I disagree. Who am I to mock a holiday which enables me to take full advantage of my family’s obligation to honor me? I choose to embrace Mother’s Day as I believe it was originally intended…with respect for my own mother and pride that I am a part of those celebrated. I choose to celebrate it in its entirety with tissue-paper flowers, hand-scribbled greeting cards…and Ferrero-Rocher. (I’m pretty sure this particular confection is a form of legalized narcotics.)
I was woken up on Mother’s Day morning with a warning to not enter the kitchen. Apparently, my gift was featured front and center on the kitchen counter. And by some miracle (or, perhaps, due to the massive amounts of sugar consumed the night before) my kids were still asleep. Which meant I had to wait. Lying in bed. Because I have never been a proponent for waking sleeping children. This is due in large part to the experience I have had with the semi-psychotic behaviors displayed by half-asleep, grumpy children. No one should be subjected to that.
Once the kids began to stir, Jer hightailed it into the bedroom to herd them out to the kitchen.
I heard, “Shhh…We need to be quiet.”
”I am being quiet.”
“Mom can hear you.”
“No, she can’t. She’s still feeping.”
“Not anymore, Jack. You’re being so loud.” (At this point, Avery is definitely the louder of the two.)
“You guys both be quiet.” Hey. It wouldn’t be a holiday if someone wasn’t yelling at the kids.
Jer came back to the bedroom to let me know it was time to “wake up” and come out into the kitchen, the kids and my gift were awaiting me.
Now, I have to be honest here. I did this with a bit of trepidation given my history with this holiday and the gifts it has previously entailed.
Toaster oven.
That’s all I’m saying about that.
With my eyes closed, Jer lead me out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where I was immediately squeezed by my son, Jack. He loves any reason to celebrate.
“Happy Mudder’s Day”, he yelled.
“It’s your Happy Mother’s Day,” Avery added enthusiastically.
I opened the cards (which somehow manage to always bring out slight feelings of insecurity about my motherly attributes), teared up quite a bit, hugged my kids and then prepared myself for the gifting portion of the holiday.
Remember? Toaster oven?
I was very pleasantly surprised by my gift.
Jer had researched at length and then purchased me a Cricut Expressions machine. For you scrapbook lovers out there, you probably already know what this is. For those of you who would much rather get your teeth pulled out than entertain the idea of crafting (I can somewhat relate) it is a very cool paper-cutting machine with loads and loads of graphics and various lettering fonts at your disposal. This machine enables you to create personalized cards, quotes, sayings and could make scrapbooking your memories a cinch. And since I’m about a year-and-a-half behind in chronicling my own memories, I could use all the help I can get. With the memory part. Seriously. My memory spans about a two-hour period, and then only if I’ve been keeping notes.
I’m very excited about having this machine at my disposal but will have to admit that I’m a little intimidated by all it can do. I am envisioning many practice sessions in my future and have already began preparing myself a defense against Jer’s expectation that creative brilliance will automatically come pouring from my soul.
I’m not holding my breath.
I am, however, cranking out some pretty sweet versions of “Mindy” die-cuts.
Mindy
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Brandy
Happy (belated) Mother’s Day to you! I’m glad you got something useful this year. You gotta love the “be quiet” conversation between the kids. I don’t know how many we had when I was a kid trying not to wake my mom up. lol
I’ll post on my own blog (probably tomorrow) about my Mother’s Day, but, alas I have finals tonight and still have to bake cupcakes. How’s that for a Monday?
Now…if your doesn’t scream “Mother” I don’t know what does.
Mindy
Happy day after Mother’s Day Mindy. Glad you scored in the gift department – you’re right: in can get dicey!
Thanks Mindee! Right back at ya. We’ve had some very close calls in the gift department around here. This year will be remembered as one of the good ones.
Mindy
Awesome, my friend is a scrapbooker and crafter and she has I think the same thing….It will cut out all kinds of cool stuff…I used it to do the college campus bulletin board at church. I was amazed. Glad you had a great MD!
Yes…I’m sure I will crank out all kinds of awesome things. As soon as I figure out how to use it.
Mindy
Happy Mother’s Day to you my friend. It is a good to have a day to think your mom for all she does.
Yes ma’am. And thank her I did. That woman had quite a job with three kids…two of which were twins. Me and my brother were no easy walk in the park.
Mindy
Awh! This is sweet! What a nice (and very, very thoughtful anti-toaster) gift. Woo!
Happy belated Mother’s Day.
Thanks Angelia! Right back at ya on the belated Mom’s Day wishes!
Mindy
Wow. What a great gift. Totally makes up for the Toaster Oven.
Happy Belated Mother’s Day to you! Sounds like you had a good one!
♥Spot
Ooooh…envy envy! (Over the cutter thing, not so much the toaster oven. Although I do love me a good pop tart.)
And I’m glad you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
I’m curious. Do you think anyone’s complaining that father’s day is too commercialized? I bet not! I agree with you – let’s sit back and soak in all the lovely credit. I heard a mother putting her toddler in her car seat and the toddler had obviously just asked why it couldn’t be her day instead of mother’s day. The mother responded (and this is the part I heard), “Well, honey, that’s because every day is kid’s day. Mommies need a day of their own.” Glad you had a great one!
PS – check out today’s post when you get a chance. : )