I love you Mom?

I'm a little late with happy Mother's Day wishes.  I had an enjoyable weekend, complete with flowers and chocolate... and a Dr. Pepper.  (my husband knows me so well)

Friday, my son came home from school with a marigold for me, as well as a cute little poem.  He was very excited to put the flower in the garden somewhere, and since marigolds are beneficial to the garden, I told him we could put it with the veggetables.  Then I went back to tidying up the kitchen.  Two minutes later he burst back into the kitchen announcing that he had planted it.  I guess I should have been more specific in my agreement.  I meant that together, we would go out and find a good spot... oh well.  I did go out to inspect and I think we'll be okay.  Sure, it's kind of in the middle of nowhere, but at least it's not exactly where something else is or is planned to be.  I kind of like it. 

The kids have showered me with dandelion bouquets all week.  And of course, I tell them how much I love them... they need pulled anyway, and they are a flower that nobody minds them picking, unlike crocuses or daffodils.  My son did the arrangement with the grass and the dancing queen did the long-stemmed bouquet.  I have distinct memories of delightedly picking dandelions for my mom and grandma.  I remember not understanding their lack of excitement at the ump-teenth bunch of weeds I brought them in a day.  How could they not be thrilled with such a lovely gift?  And so I pull out yet another cup to serve as a vase.  

Sunday morning, I got to sleep in a little.  Since the kids had been instructed to let me sleep, they very quietly came in, put their homemade cards in or under my hands and snuck out.  Of course, I wake up as soon as I hear the door open, but it's worth it... I think.  Not too sure what to think of my son's card.  * I love you Mom? *  Is it really a question?  You might think that he meant to write an exclamation point, but he actually made me two cards and they both said the same thing.  Hmmm.  Definitely keeping this one in his baby book.

Now, lest you think that I had a picture perfect day, I'll clue you into the rest of the story.  We were late to church because when mom sleeps in... we're just going to be late... because I'm slow anyway.  I didn't have time to put on any make-up either and I forgot my sweater and it was raining outside.  There was the usual circus trying to keep three kids somewhat quiet and the occasional chasing down of the baby when she made a break for it.  Then I taught the three year olds, who are very cute, but are exhausting and then, we came home to make a pre-planned, mom doesn't do any work, meal. 

Except mom forgot that she still has to plan the "no work" meal and didn't have even half of the ingredients.  Plan B was rice with cream of chicken soup on top.  Did you know that you are supposed to do two parts water to one part rice?  I knew that too, but I switched  it for some reason.  So... six cups of water later, we had the worst rice I've ever made.  Lots of it.  Lots and lots.

We made up for it today, after making a run to the market for the missing ingredients.  It was almost perfect.  The boy went to school, the girl went to a friend's and the baby went down for a nap...almost.  I was wishing I had some candles to make our little fancy meal a bit more romantic, but the baby in the high chair kind of ruined that anyway.  She munched on cucumber salad, while my husband and I pretended to be in a fancy-shmancy restaurant.  Except that we kept complimenting each other on our excellent cooking.