Not So Fast....

4,380 days ago, my first boy was born. Had I known what a sweet, sweet boy he'd be, I would have had four more just like him.

(Wait a minute.)

He pulled a fast one on us today and woke up as this morning as a 12 year-old. Not cool at all, dude.  

Not cool.

Here's what he looked like just yesterday-

 

And here's what he looks like today-

Only 525,600 minutes until he turns 13. But who's counting?

Mother's Day

Mom and me 1975

Every year is better than the last.  This year was no exception.  I had the BEST mother's day a girl could ask for.

The boys brought me coffee in bed and began by telling me they wouldn't fight, and that they'd listen the first time I asked them to do something.  If you're jealous, you should be, because they did not fight all day long, and the most I had to ask someone to do something was only 6 times, which is far less than the normal average around here.

They went on to tell me that the day was my day, and that they would happily do whatever activity I chose. Then they began to chime in with clarifications-

"Like if you want to go to the skate park, mom, we'll go with you.....even if we don't wanna."

"Yeah, mom....and if you want to eat at Casa Bonita for lunch, we can take you there!"

Aren't they sweet?

Much to their dismay, all I really wanted to do was spend time doing things around the house that had been neglected, and to work on getting the coop ready for the hens.  Their eyes glared at me like daggers after I shared my intentions with them.  If we had taken a vote, I'm pretty sure that at least 4 out of 5 boys would have opted to revoke my mother's day flowers.  Lucky for me, we don't allow voting on mother's day.  It's my way or the highway.

We had a wonderful time together.  We worked in the backyard and took breaks in between for water fights with friends, popsicles in the shade, and backyard baseball games.  We ordered pizza for dinner and the boys treated me like a queen all the way until bedtime.  I'm already looking forward to next year when I get to be in charge all over again.

Being mom to 5 wonderful boys is something I will never take for granted.  I love their little quirks. I love that they refer to 'Sunny Delight' as church juice.  I love that they call themselves (the band of brothers) The Battybooboo's.  I love that they are loving, caring, respectful, polite and well-mannered 8 out of 10 times we go into public.  I love that they come to my side of the bed when they have a bad dream.  I love that they're still young enough to believe that mommies know everything.  I love when they tell me I'm pretty. I love playing Lego's with them.  I love reading stories to them and watching them sleep.  I think it's cute when they color on the walls (or their faces) with permanent markers.  I laugh when they throw little fits (but I try hard not to let them see me).  I let them stay in their PJ's whenever we're home.  I think they're the cutest, smartest, nicest, and most silly boys on the planet.  I cherish every moment we spend together and look forward to whatever adventure they have in store for me each and every day.

If you ask me, I'll tell you.  I'm the luckiest mom in the world. 

One Decade Ago...

Ten years ago I was blessed with a Valentine gift that will never be topped.

A boy.

A boy who weighed 6.2 pounds, and measured in at 20 inches long.

A boy who defied all odds while fighting tooth and nail for his first 3 days of life.

A boy who is nothing but a wonderful son, brother, and friend.

A boy who wants to do nothing but learn, give, and share.

A boy who wonders....then does. 

A boy who dislikes....and makes it better.

A boy who's on his way to becoming something BIG....I can feel it.

A boy whom I love more than life itself.


To that boy, I say -
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I love you to the moon and stars and back again.

Love,
Mom

PS-As part of your birthday gifts, I hereby promise never again to cut your hair as pictured in the second image below.