How Much Mother's Day Celebrating Did We Fit In?

Some of the girls' handmade Mother's Day gifts

Mother's Day is not my favorite holiday of the year, but I have really enjoyed it in recent years, as my daughters have become more aware of the holiday's significance. They have gotten more creative about pampering me (and Nathan has gotten really good at the pampering, too). It is always nice to be pampered! So thanks, family, for making me feel special! It is humbling, sweet, and fun to see what you come up with each year.

The night before the "big day," I got to open Nathan's present to me. It was a hand-cranked stovetop popcorn popper, complete with a bunch of "gourmet" popcorn bags. My man knows what I like; I have already used this popper several times! Was it a practical gift? Nope; but it is totally delicious! As if I didn't crave popcorn enough...now, I am going to crave it constantly!

Mother's Day morning was great. I got to lounge around in bed reading for a while. Then Lorelai brought up an OJ appetizer, which she'd helped make (and when I say "make," I mean, "mix from a frozen can of concentrate").

And then the floor show started! Nathan was hard at work making breakfast for everyone downstairs, so the girls took it upon themselves to provide some entertainment for me (and, I suspect, themselves) while we waited.

Lorelai was first; her first act was the "Dancing Pajama Wizard."

This was soon followed by "Confused Iron Man," in which old Shellhead paraded around in his pajamas, while holding nunchakus (perhaps he forgot he has repulsor beams he can shoot out of his hands?)

Aurora, of course, had to snuggle tightly next to me while all this was going on. She can't help out around the house as much as everyone else yet, but her affections were just as valued that morning.

Each girl (from youngest to oldest) then took a turn putting on a "puppet show" for me. They were all very cute, energetic, and varying levels of coherent.

By the time the puppet shows were ended, Nathan was done cooking; here's the feast he brought up...

Bacon, homemade yogurt with fresh raspberries & granola, and "breakfast babies" (basically an oven pancake). It was all incredibly delicious!

Not long afterwards, I had to haul myself out of bed and get ready for church. I still had to lead the ward choir that morning, after all...duty never sleeps! However, church was nice too, as mothers and women everywhere were showered with gifts and mentioned lovingly in every. Single. Class. It was enough to make a girl feel a bit self-conscious. Don't get me wrong, I think mothers do a wonderful, essential job. I just didn't need to hear it from EVERY SINGLE PERSON all day long to believe it. However, I am still thankful for everyone who put in so much effort to be so thoughtful to everyone.

After church, Nathan got to work making dinner. What a man! It was so nice to have the free time to go on a long walk. The weather this month has been fabulous. Usually, May in Arizona means windows rolled up and air conditioners on all the day long. However, the average temperature has been about ten degrees lower than usual. I even had to wear jeans on a date on May 16th! The windows have stayed open all night! It's a springtime miracle! But anyway, it was lovely weather for a walk.

At first, I was planning on walking by myself, but Lorelai asked to tag along, and I was happy for her company. It is so fun to spend one-on-one time with my girls these days; it's fun to hear their conversations, and learn more about how their minds work. I love seeing my girls turn into "little people," and have deeper conversations with them.

And, of course, it's also fun to take ridiculous selfies at the lake!

Our walk ended up being a little over 4 miles. Lorelai was pretty pooped by the end, but she managed to put one foot in front of the other long enough to get her home. During the walk, I was able to call my own mother and wish her a happy Mother's Day. I am not always the best correspondent, but I am trying really hard to call my parents more often this year. I hope they know how much they mean to me, and how much I still miss them sometimes.

Our special dinner guest was Nathan's mom; it was nice to honor her on Mother's Day as well. She is a wonderful mother and a great example to me. It is so nice to have her close by, and she means a lot to all of us.

I am grateful for all the mothers in my life: my own amazing mother and mother-in-law; and also my many wonderful friends, whose mothering techniques I often learn from and seek to emulate. Most of all, I am grateful for my family, who have given me the privilege of joining the "Mother Club." My husband and my girls are my greatest blessings, and I love them more than I can properly express. I was so flattered to be spoiled by them this Mother's Day; however, I hope they know that my service to them is given gladly and with love every day. I can't imagine my life without them, and I thank God every day for them.