Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all that merit that greeting today!

We have progressed from last year's..."We put gas in her van! (why do we have to get her anything else)" but just barely.

For starters, I took much thought, due to our current economy to select one, functional and useful, even desired gift for my children's mother this year. I was so proud of my restraint and purposefulness. That was until Friday when the afore mentioned package arrived. My wife took one look at the box and said; "That's not the thing from RedEnvelope is it? We bought that already!"

So, no official Mother's Day gift and I head off to the local grocery store to by a cake mix with the hope I can get the boys to "make" a Mother's Day cake. At the grocery store I remember that my children's mother is sick--so sweets are not the best idea--head to the cake isle any way. Wife loves chocolate, but due to there being 7 different types of chocolate cake and she wouldn't be able to see her precious children's art work on a dark cake (and a little bit the sick thing), I go with carrot cake--I love cream cheese frosting!

As luck would have it, son #3 was sick as well and both mother and child took a lengthy nap the next afternoon. Which allowed the 2 older sons and me to bake the cake--boys actually did all the measuring, mixing and even put the cake in the oven. So far, so good. Now all we needed was to keep the cake a secret for the rest of the day and get it decorated before Mother's Day. Son #2 solved that problem by telling Mom; "There is a surprise on the stove, don't look at it, it's for Mother's Day!"

Sons #2 & #3 woke me bright and early Sunday morning (much earlier then necessary if you ask me) and then woke up son #1 so that we could finish the cake while Mom got to sleep in. This is by far the gift she was wanting (sleeping in, not all 3 kids up before 7AM on a Sunday making cake) more then anything for Mother's Day--or any other day for that matter!

The boys who last year thought a full gas tank was gift enough, this year felt the elaborate cake and all the sleepless efforts were not enough. So that locked themselves in the office and "made" gifts using about 1/2 a ream of printer paper to constructed paper airplanes, baseball card holders, envelopes, notes, games and of course wrapping paper. We do keep the recycling industry in business! I should not complain, because the big hearted boys didn't just make gifts for Mom on Mother's Day, but gifts for everyone!

However, my favorite memory from this Mother's Day is the quote from my #2 (of course) son, when asked by my mother-n-law; "Do you know who made me a mother?" ...

"Ye, Grampa!"