Mother's Day 2013

A few years ago, we started a Mother's Day tradition where we headed to Brookfield Zoo for the day.  Each year we've been blessed with amazing weather and its been a great day (even with last year's debacle where I rolled my left ankle so badly that I ended up in a walking boot for six weeks--we can talk about that some other time). 

Mother's Day 2010--The start of our tradition.

This year, I was given the gift of sleep and allowed to lay blissfully in my bed until 9 am when a herd of cattle small boys burst into my room saying "Happy Mother's Day!!"  They came bearing breakfast in bed for me and several presents.  It was lovely even if Andrew & James all my bacon and Aaron discovered that he loved fried eggs and ate over half of mine.  Its the thought that counts, right? 

Relaxing breakfast in bed.

The boys piled into bed and Jon snapped some pictures....that's authentic bed head right there.  I got a kick out of their cards that they made at school. 

This is so James.  His favorite thing about me is HIS superman moves.  I think its funny that they both said I'm "Nis" aka nice.

Clearly, Andrew has picked up on my obsession with reading and books.

James & Andrew also made tongs out of clothespins and wood craft sticks with their occupational therapists.  They told me that the tongs were "toast grabbers" so that I don't burn my fingers.  So thoughtful!!!

My new pair of "toast grabbers".

We packed our snacks, got dressed and loaded up the car to head to Brookfield.  We got another year of gorgeous weather and it wasn't ridiculously crowded.  We played on the playground, stopped for snacks, visited the children's play zoo and watched the Dolphin Show. 

Dolphin Show.  This is the sixty seconds that Caleb sat still nicely for it (clutching the popcorn of course!).

It was fun but it wasn't perfect.

Caleb was a little confused by this whole encounter.  James is looking real happy here too.

Let me explain. 

The kids behavior wasn't perfect.  Jon & I got a little lot short with them here or there when we had to ask them for what seemed like the hundredth time not to touch each other. There was still the usual needling each other verbally and physically between the big boys.  Caleb refused to sit still during the Dolphin Show and Jon had to leave before the halfway point because he was so active that he was bumping all the people around us.  We went to a playground to let them run around and soon found the twins climbing small trees (not the playground equipment) and Aaron managed to get his hands on a long extension cord and was running towards them with it.  Apparently, he was pretending to be Indiana Jones with a whip?  At any rate, not appropriate and I had to put a stop to it.

Aaron before he found the extension cord.

"Look Mom, I'm a sloth"---James

Andrew playing it cool.

While we had some "picture perfect" moments like our annual photo on the lion statue near the entrance, there was still a lot of "real life" on that day. 

Our "perfect" picture

There were diapers to be changed, behaviors to be redirected, fights to be mediated and talks about how to treat each other with love.  There was also laughter, silliness, hugs and lots of good memories.  In other words, there was still lots of mothering (and fathering) to be done. 

This is more what its like.

Over the years I've learned a lot about adjusting my expectations especially when it comes to special occasions and holidays.  With kids, tears, tantrums and fights don't stop just because its Mother's Day, Christmas or someone's birthday.  If anything, they sometimes increase because of the excitement that it is a special occasion.  As I've readjusted my expectations and let go of my preconceived notion of "perfect", I've been able to enjoy the days more.

We now take up an entire row of animals on the giant carousel!

On the way home, Jon & I whispered in the front of the van about our plans to swing by Whole Foods to grab sushi, cupcakes, some champagne (for mimosas) and our plan for dinner after the kids were in bed.  In the back, the boys were talking about how awesome the carousel ride was and how fun it is to water plants at the Children's Zoo.  They excitedly went on about the Polar Bear, the Dolphin Show and the goose that snatched a cracker out of Andrew's hand when we were sitting at the park having a snack.  Its those memories that we now all share that made this the perfect Mother's Day for me.

Snuggles in our pjs before tucking the boys into bed and enjoying my cupcake(s) in peace.