It was a special treat this Mother’s Day to join Samantha and Amelia for a “Mother’s Day Tea” at their preschool. They were very excited to show off the gifts they had been working on (and even more excited to eat donuts and lemonade)!
Amelia couldn’t wait to show me “Mommy’s new purse” complete with jewels.
One day a few months ago for her share item, Amelia brought in a solar lantern we had bought at a craft fair from our friend, Melissa, who makes these themed jars for boutiques. Miss Becky loved it so much, she asked me if I could get the information on how to put these together, and Melissa generously donated all the mason jars and solar lids for the kids in Amelia’s class to decorate for Mother’s Day gifts. After placing them by a window during the day, they shine the prettiest glow at night. The kids did a cute job on their beach theme.
Samantha was excited to show off her bag and the surprise inside.
I love my new bouquet of hand flowers!
It’s taken me more than a few birthdays/Mother’s Days/holidays in general to realize that Jake can’t read my mind when it comes to my ideal day, so the past few years, I’ve taken to writing a list of activity and gift ideas on a shared Google Doc a few months in advance so that Jake can pick a few and have a base to work from. Just enough time to forget what I had put down so that’s it a semi-surprise, but enough structure that Jake isn’t left totally clueless and decides to make a 5-course meal with the girls at 5 p.m. with no prep done and everyone screaming and hangry (I took over and just ordered a pizza that year!)
Saturday, our favorite twin babysitters, Charlotte and Claire, watched the girls, while we had brunch at Las Brisas (although, we had just barely missed the Saturday brunch cut-off by ten minutes and sadly had to order from the lunch menu… seafood does not sound very appealing at 11:30 a.m.!) Still, we had relaxing time by the ocean and took a stroll afterwards. Jake took the girls for the rest of the afternoon and I worked on some photo projects at the library and read for hours! The library is a totally different experience without the girls in tow… divine!
Sunday, the girls and Jake made a very nice breakfast of apple pecan overnight french toast (gluten free, no less) with eggs and a homemade orange julius smoothie. I was impressed!
To Jake’s chagrin, the girls had already spilled the beans on the heart plates they painted a few weeks ago. They were very proud and still ask me to eat every meal off of them. Meredith was like a bull in a china shop during their painting outing, so well done, Jake, for the attempt!
We all spent the day as a family and after church and naps, headed to the beach. Normally, outings = just more work for me, but after handing off my packing list, Jake took over and I sat in the car with a book while he and the girls gathered and packed all our beach gear, prepared a picnic dinner, and got everyone in the car. The beach was actually a pleasant experience when I could forgo the packing, loading, unloading, taking everyone to the disgusting bathrooms and sanitizing everyone afterwards, brushing sand off everyone, unpacking the cars, throwing wet towels and suits into the laundry and hosing down everyone afterwards.
The only thing I ever really want for Mother’s Day is a good picture with the girls, and since no one really cooperated for a sit-down picture (surprise of the century), our candid ones will have to do this year.
We played several rounds of ring around the rosie and duck duck goose.
On our last Mother’s Day at the beach a few years ago, the girls were so CUTE and cooperative! I guess the fact that two out of three are twice as stubborn as two years ago, plus adding one more into the mix do not make very good odds for getting nice pictures!
Sammy was smiley, Meredith was distracted and Amelia was decidedly NOT interested.
Cute big sister.
Meredith does not enjoy too much love and goes crazy when the girls make a hug sandwich out of her, especially first thing in the morning when I grab her out of her crib. GET OUT OF MY BUBBLE!
Maybe Meredith would cooperate? Nope.
Of course, the girls happily complied for photos with Jake.
Lots of silliness happening.
Sammy was singing at the top of her lungs and Amelia was trying to break free and boogie.
Amelia was ready for a hoe-down.
When you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
Rock climbing, shell hunting, seagull chasing and sand angel making.
Jake and the girls only forgot one thing… Jake’s dinner. They didn’t mind sharing.
Speaking of food, I don’t know if Jake has been secretly coaching them behind the scenes, but an unexpected Mother’s Day gift was that for the past few weeks, the girls have been randomly telling me “thank you for the delicious food!” at most dinners. This has never happened in the past without someone prodding them, so I’ve been very pleasantly surprised (and slightly suspicious).
All alone on her little island.
With our hair blowing all over the place for 90% of our pictures, the girls became my hair stylists.
More dancing on the sand!
Thank you for a lovely Mother’s Day!
Lots of love,
