Mothers Day 2013

Mothers Day couldn't have come at a better time this year. With the recent birth of our fourth baby and week long visits from both my mother and mother-in-law occuring in the last few weeks, I am even more keenly aware of the special and divine role of mothers. Only in bearing the role myself am I able to begin to feel the proper level of gratitude towards the great mothers in my life.

Despite the fact that I have spent the entirety of my life planning for and dreaming of being a mother, I am often surprised at how much I have to continually learn and improve. Sometimes I feel like I have no idea what I am doing, or that whatever I am doing is not working. However, even in those moments when it feels like everyone is falling apart at the same time, I am so grateful that I get tbe opportuntiy to try. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but I want my kids to know that I love being a mother, and since they love to read what I write here, I think it's an appopriate place to record the top 10 (or just the random 10 that are at the top of my mind) things I love about being a mother to them.

I love to learn with them. Teaching and learning with my kids is one of my favorite ways to spend time with them. I discovered when Reed was just a baby that I quickly ran out of ideas for what to "play" with him and resorted to teaching him anything I thought would interest him. Since then, learning together has been something I have been able to enjoy with all my kids. I feel blessed to have such eager learners and love to share in their enthusiasm.

One of several trips we took to the awesome Children's Museum in Baltimore last year.

I love to be adventurous with them. Everyone has their own definition of "adventurous", but for a girl that is not super "outsdoorsy" I really enjoy going hiking (OK...walking through wooded areas) with my kids. I also love other non-forested adventures like hopping into the car with the kids to drive up to New York, getting lost (pre-GPS) and ending up in a Pennyslvania hotel jumping from bed to bed, eating pizza and watching Japanese game shows.

Here I am with Ruby, floating the river at the "Mud Park" in California. A trip to California on my own with the kids is always another type of adventure.

Surrey bike rides with the kids at the beach.

Our version of "hiking".

I love to teach them how important the gospel is to me. If there is one thing I want my kids to know about, it is the gospel. My efforts aren't always perfectly received, but when they are there is nothing better.

Max, singing a hymn. I can't sing, but singing hymns as a family is something I love.

I love to have fun with them. I wish I did more of this. Sam often seems to be their preferred parent for fun, but when they do choose me, it's pretty great.

At the fair two summers ago where I discovered that I no long have the equilibreum to fully enjoy the Scrambler. Even so, with my two boys it was lots of fun.

I love to work with them. Teaching my kids to work is something else that is really important to me and something I'm afraid we've only scratched the surface on. However, whenever we do big jobs together we always make it into a game of some kind and it usually ends up being fun. I especially love it when they seem to find a way to enjoy it too. Just today Reed mentioned that he likes how I always make up good names for our cleaning games, saying that "Bathroom Rock" was one of his favorites. Who knew that cleaning the bathroom could be considered fun?

 Obviously, this is not the type of work we normally do, but I'm sure they wish it was.

I love to encourage them. Ruby took her first little gymnastic class earlier this year and on the first day I found myself taking notes on how I could help her excel in her preschool gymnastics class. That wasn't the first time I realized that I think I have it in me to be a "tiger mother". If there is ever something my kids really love, I love to do whatever I can to help them make their goals a reality.

I don't know if we have the next Mary Lou Retton here, but she sure is cute.

I love to hear their ideas. This is something I do more than just about anything else on this list.  If there is one thing my children have no shortage of, it's ideas. Not only do they have lots of ideas, but they also like to be heard and, even more, they love for their ideas to materialize.

Last summer the kids really wanted to pick berries so we ended up with loads of blackberries, which later turned into lots of jam, syrup, and ice cream topping.

Letting the kids be in charge of the plan was a messy prospect, but they loved it.

It was a lot of jam.

I love to help them reach their goals. I personally really like to set goals and am always trying to get my kids to be goal setters too. I don't know if any of them have caught the goal setting vision yet, but occasionally, when they do, I love to do whatever I can to keep them on track.

At the end of last summer Reed planned his own triathalon (why have I not posted about that?). He was so cute with his dertemination. I was thrilled to see him so focused on a goal and loved that he wanted me to run the last mile with him to the finish line.

I love to just be with them. I love it when we don't have anything pressing to do, or anything that I am badgering them to do. It's from times like these that my favorite moments come. It is not unusual for these moments to be spent playing or jumping on my bed. I have never had a problem with bed jumping and have even been known to encourage it--especially when the camera is handy.

I love to look into their eyes. I think all my kids have beautiful eyes. Sometimes I worry or wonder what my children will become. I don't have a crystal ball, but their eyes seem give me a hint of what the future holds and and I love it. (Sappy, I know, but what mother doesn't have sappy feelings towards her kids every now and again.)

I love you kiddos...thanks for keeping it real.