Mother's Day

Today was a wonderful Mother's Day. Jason and the boys gave me very sweet cards, beautiful lillies and cooked breakfast. I went wine tasting with my Mom yesterday and we had a nice time to talk, visit and laugh. Today we had brunch at Brad and Mary's (Jason's brother)...my mother-in-law, Bev, was there and gave me a beautiful hanging basket. Mary cooked crepes and a very nice brunch. This Mother's Day I've been reflecting on women I admire so much most as mothers...



My Mom - You taught me so many things....too many to list, but the one thing that really sticks out is how you went back to college later in life, got your accounting degree, passed the CPA exam and had a very successful career. You paved the way to my career and you also taught me that I could do anything....you did. You went back to school with two busy daughters, a husband and a house to care for and did it, successfully.



Bev - You have been my mother-in-law for almost 10 years and I very much admire your willingness to go to the ends of the earth to help, lend an ear, encourage and show your love for your family. I am blessed to have you as a mother-in-law.



Mary - TECHNICALLY, you are my sister-in-law, but I think of you as a sister. I admire how calm and loving you are with Willem and the way you seem to balance everything with ease and grace. I feel truly lucky to have you in my life. I love our talks and our ability to relate to each other's experiences.



Holly - My sister....for someone who way back in the day never wanted kids, you are a wonderful, dedicated stay-at-home mom to Cooper and have another baby (A GIRL!!!!) on the way. Being a stay-at-home mom is sooooooo admirable and you continue to amaze me at how well you do it.



Chaney - You became a single mom when Logan was only 3 years old. For the past 8 years you've been through a lot and you have managed to raise a sweet, kind, loving child. Logan is a JOY and you should be so proud. Your close relationship with Logan is really amazing to watch...it inspires me to strive to have that same relationship with the boys (where they feel comfortable to tell me anything). I love the amazing friendship we have formed and nurtured since we met as 2nd graders at Naches Trail Elementary. We are able to share our experiences and help each other through this crazy life. Logan is the boys' idol....I love that he fills that "big brother" role for them and is such a good example. I know our boys will always be there for each other....forever.....just like us.



Jen - I am in awe of how loving, patient and involved you are with your children. You always put them first....always. Despite us living on opposite coasts for 18 years of our almost 24 years of friendship, we have always kept in touch by phone and have been there for each other through tough pregnancies, and various child-raising issues. I love that we are able to share so much...I look forward to our kids growing up together (hopefully) and I hope they will grow up to be as good a friends as we are. I will always be grateful for meeting across the fence when we became neighbors in Roy when we were 6th graders...our friendship was meant to be.



There are so many other moms I really admire...Lisa, Jenny, Amy, Tina, Debbie, Sara, Linne, Laura, Stacey.......and the newest mom I know, our cousin Jaime, who delivered baby Henry James Graves 8 weeks early - these next 6 weeks will be emotionally draining, I'm sure, but he is a beautiful baby and I have no doubts that he will grow quickly and surprise us all at how strong he is.



I am also constantly inspired by many of my facebook friends...even though we might not see each other on a regular basis, I love being able to share motherhood and other life experiences with them.



I am grateful to my loving husband, Jason, who is an excellent father and gave me the gift of motherhood. I feel so blessed to be the mother of John Adam Drury and Ethan Timothy Drury....here is a photo of the day I became a mother. This was the first picture taken of me with the boys who were less than an hour old.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day and takes time to reflect, and be grateful, for our children, our moms, and people to fill the roles of mother in our lives. God bless!

People

Sometimes your kids just say something that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and feel like we must be doing something right. The other day in the car, John said something about the long car drive to Chelan that is coming up this weekend....asking questions about Chelan, what's there, etc (we're spending a few days there vacationing with my parents). Then, out of nowhere, my sweet Ethan said...and I quote "Johnny - places don't matter...it's the people that matter most...the people we love like Mommy and Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa". John then said, "yeah".

Brought a tear to my eye and made me so proud of our soon-to-be 5 year olds. Melts a mommy's heart!

Petty Theft

Well, first of all, I think we all probably experienced this as a child (not jail, but "petty theft"). Stealing a pack of gum at the grocery store, taking something without permission, etc.

Yesterday, we got home from school and Ethan pulled out of his pocket a little plastic monkey. I didn't recognize it and asked him where he got it. He told me that he got it from school. I asked him if his teachers told him it was ok to bring it home and he gave me a blank, guilty look and said "ummm....ummmm....I don't know". After a brief chat with Daddy, we decided to teach him this lesson early nip it in the bud right away. We sat him down and explained that taking something that doesn't belong to you is stealing. It would have been ok if he had the teacher's permission, but he didn't. He cried and told us he was sorry and he wouldn't ever do that again.

SO.....this morning when I took the boys to school, I made him walk up to his teacher, give her the monkey, tell her what he had done and say he is sorry. I got the feeling this has happened with other kids before, because she handled it, in my opinion, perfectly. She told him she accepts his apology and thanked him for telling her and bringing it back. She reiterated how important it is to never take anything that doesn't belong to you unless you have permission.

We hope he learned his lesson. He was brave to face the teacher (and us) and tell the truth, and for that, we're very proud. Hopefully it made a lasting impression on him and this won't ever happen again.

Teaching our kids to do the right thing and be honest when you've done wrong or made a mistake is, in my opinion, one of life's most important lessons. I pray that we handled it right!

Young Love

Well, it seems that this whole "young love" thing starts really, really early (especially for girls). Apparently, there are several girls in the boys' Montessori class at school (all 4 and 5 year olds) that say they "love" one of the boys and that they are going to marry them.

It turns out, Sascha, one of John's friends at school, has proclaimed her love for him and announced at circle time that she is going to marry John. Of course, Ethan has decided to tease John in the annoying "John's got a girlfriend, John's got a girlfriend...neener neener neener" type tone. I asked John what she says and he told me "she tells me she loves me all the time - I like her Mom and she's my friend, but she says we have to get married". I explained to him that he's 4 and doesn't need to be worrying about getting married...it's ok to just be her friend. Curiously, I asked him "what do you say when she tells you she loves you" and he said "NOTHING....I say nothing".

Yesterday on the drive home from school, John asked me if I would help him made a mermaid when we get home. He then said "Sascha loves mermaids...she'd really love it". How could I turn down my boy? So, I drew out a mermaid and cut it out. He colored it and then put it in an envelope....I helped him write her name on it and he wrote "from John". This morning at school he was so excited to give it to her and I only wish I had my camera (or better yet my video camera to capture Sascha's reaction). She absolutely GUSHED and said "oh Johnny....thank you"...then she hugged him and began to show the mermaid to EVERYONE and refused to put it in her cubby because she wanted to carry it with her all day.

Obviously it's harmless and very innocent, but am I crazy, or is 4 YEARS OLD a little young for this?!?

John - our little Romeo....

Mommyhood

I make mistakes being a Mom...sometimes more mistakes than I would like to admit. But, I will always be there for you, to hear you, to cheer you, to laugh or cry with you, to protect you with my life, and to love you for eternity with all my heart. No one will ever love you more or more unconditionally than I will, I'm your Mom after all :).

I'm not Supermom....far from it, but I sure try hard. I love you to the moon and back.