Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a little crazy. I left the mountain cabin early to drive home in time to prep dinner and attend to my church responsibilities. Elsa came with me to keep me company and she really wanted to sing the Mother's Day song in church (which I was playing the piano for). It was a hectic day at church managing primary (as it always is). Everyone else arrived home from the mountains in the afternoon. I loved doing a video chat with my siblings and mom after church. While I was on the phone, the kids put together a cute presentation with flowers, fun homemade cards, and fancy glasses and lemonade for me and Ben's mom. We had yummy veggie and chicken skewers on the grill for dinner and chocolate tres leches cake for dessert. Ben and the kids served me breakfast in bed the following Sunday morning.

Playing a game of "Mother May I?" after dinner.

Life-size self-portraits from Simon and Oliver.

Mother's Day

I ended up with a migraine on Mother's Day, which I rarely get. So I spent most of the afternoon trying to sleep it off. I did get to enjoy a yummy dinner and a walk around the neighborhood with the kids while Ben did the dishes. And my siblings and I all surprised my mom with a group video chat which was really fun.

Melon with basil sugar. (It was a basil-heavy meal. My favorite.)

Caprese salad. I could eat this all summer.

And this panzanella which has become my go-to summer meal. 

The kids made me lots of cards. Amelia made this sign and hung it up.

Oliver passed out on the couch after dinner so he missed our little neighborhood walk.

The girls helped me make my favorite strawberry shortcake for dessert, using strawberries we picked the previous day.

Earlier in the week I got to attend a special Mother's Day program in Elsa's class. The kids presented a play they had been working on (Elsa was a duck, hence the all yellow outfit). They also sang a few songs and then presented us with handmade gifts enjoyed some treats with us.

 The kids each drew a picture of their mom and we had to guess which picture was us.

mother's day and the national arboretum

Mother's Day started off with sleeping in, flowers, and chocolate-stuffed french toast, hashbrowns, and eggs, courtesy of Ben. Then he suggested the National Arboretum for a morning walk. We walked around Fern Valley which was green and lush and beautiful and full of flowering plants. We spotted a snake and a lot of frogs. We also walked through the flowering dogwood collection and caught the trees at their peak bloom. Amelia and Elsa kept presenting me with flower/plant bouquets they assembled with materials found on the ground.

Throughout the rest of the day I received numerous homemade cards and pictures from Amelia and Elsa. They did a great job singing the Mother's Day songs in church. Ben took care of all the meals and the dishes. The day ended with a test fire in our new fire pit. And s'mores!

Ben tried, unsuccessfully, to catch a frog for the kids.

One of the many bouquets I received.