The Day After

My Mother's Day gifts 2013

I had a wonderful Mother's Day....or, rather, Mother's Day Eve! 

Dan had to work early, so it was just the kids and I for much of the afternoon!  Our first stop was Bed, Bath and Beyond.  I wanted to pick up a new canister set and dish drain.  We've had the same ones for almost 16 years (they were wedding gifts) and I decided it was time for something new! 

After that, we headed to Panera's for lunch!  They make the absolute best French Onion Soup!  Then, it was off to the movies!  We saw The Croods!  I wish I could give you a good movie review, but to tell you the truth, I slept through most of it!  Nathan woke me up near the end to tell me that I was snoring!  The kids seemed to enjoy it, though.

When Dan came home from work, we all headed out to Red Lobster for dinner!  It's a treat for all 5 of us to out together as it can get pretty expensive!  We enjoyed broiled garlic shrimp and lobster pizza!  Yummo!

Everybody was exhausted by the time we got home.  It was a wonderful day!

I spent much of Sunday doing the normal weekly chores...laundry and more laundry.  I managed to get quite a few things done though including changing out the new canisters and dish drain.  I also took care of the window ledge over the kitchen sink (it's a catch all), and I cleaned out the medicine cupboard!  You would not believe all the expired stuff in there!  I think I'm ready for the week to begin!  Only 3 more weeks until schools out!

Happy Monday!

The Hardest Job

Being a mom is the hardest job on the planet. When I came to this realization, I was shocked.  This isn't something that anyone tells you about before you become a parent.  None of the "parents to be" books that I read mentioned any of this.  To tell you the truth, I feel a little misled.

On the other hand, being a mom has also been my biggest joy in life!  I have smiled more, laughed more, hugged more and loved more.  There are days when I feel in complete control and days when I feel like throwing my hands up and saying, "I QUIT"!

Sometimes I feel very inadequate and unprepared...even from one day to the next.  I'm continually amused there is no training manual...no classes to show you how to do it.  One day, you go to the hospital and the next, the nurses hand you this baby and say..."here ya go"!  Doesn't anyone else think that's completely nuts?

I had a good mom.  My sister and I were always clean, clothed and fed.  Our mom took care of us when we were sick and made sure we took our vitamins.  Still, she wasn't "present" to us.  She was an alcoholic.  She was "present" to the alcohol....or, perhaps it was vice versa, I'm not sure.  I knew she loved us but I always felt as though she loved the alcohol more.

This will be my 7th Mother's Day without my mom.  She died in October of 2006.  I miss her.  It wasn't until AFTER her death that I finally had a grasp of this disease that she lived her whole life fighting.  Alcoholism IS a disease you know.  It's deadly. 

After she died, I realized that she was free from it....forever.  Finally.  I had come to understand her struggle...from one mother to another.  I had finally come to the place where I could forgive her for not being the mom I wanted her to be.  She was the best mother she could be.

I came across a very special post on A Holy Experience this morning.  I haven't had much time for blog reading lately and I've truly missed it.  I'm so thankful that I found it.    The post is titled, "Why Mother's Day is for the Birds".  If you read nothing else today, please read this post.  Just like Ann, I am no Hallmark mother, but I am real.  I am a Velveteen Mother.

What kind of mother are you?

My mom -Dianne Corniola
1934-2006

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there! 

Special gift from Nathan this morning.....

I received a very special Mother's Day gift from my first born this morning and I wanted to share it....

This was my breakfast in bed! He brought me yogurt, peanut butter toast with sugar on top, about a gallon of apple juice......and.......since he has no idea how to fry bacon.....bacon bits in a cup! I would say that this is a breakfast of champions....don't you????

And my Mother's Day would not be complete without the reference to how soft my hands are! (you can click on the image to make it a little bigger!)

This has been the BEST MOTHER'S DAY EVER!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of my mommy friends out there!

What a day!!

This was such an incredible day! I can't tell you how many overflowing emotions that I had during this ceremony! God willing, I get to do this two more times!!! More pictures to follow....

Happy Mother's Day to all of those Terrific Mothers I know....and to all those I don't!!!!!

Guess What I Got???

My wonderful friend Therese sent this to me for Mother's Day.....she is the best!!! This is so cute! Thank you, Therese!!