Pokey woke me up early to share her homemade storybook she made at school. She was so proud of it. She had drawn a picture of me taking pictures on the first page. Hmm...
There would be no other gifts this year, as we recently had to replace our dying computer. Understood.
All I really wanted for Mother’s Day (besides maybe a nap) was my husband to take some photos of my children and me frolicking in a field of flowers. Unfortunately there were no fields of flowers to frolic in. We found a freshly planted field of corn and a field of weeds. (possibly ragweeds?) That would have to do.
My husband had to leave for work in the late afternoon.
I had to concoct something edible for dinner.
It was just an ordinary day.
I did a couple loads of laundry. And I tidied the kitchen.
As I was wiping down the counter I found an envelope with my name on it.
I opened it to find a note from my husband. It read,
“Alicia, Don’t sell yourself short. You are a good mother to your children, an irreplaceable portion of their lives. You do more for them than they understand but someday they will get it. Your hard work will pay off. Love, Haldan.”
Tears streamed down my face as I read those sweet words. Then I found some money tucked away and it read, “Use this money for something you’ve been wanting to do.”
But it doesn’t end there. My son saved the best for last. He handed me his card. Inside was a coupon for 25 free pictures. He said, “Dad told me to think of something heartfelt. I wanted to get you hand sanitizer but I thought you’d like this more.” He went on to explain that he would even smile for the photos. If you knew how much he detests getting his photo taken, you would have melted too.
It was a sweet ending to my ordinary day.
Ladies, I guess it pays to keep your expectations low.
If you don’t have TOO high of expectations, then you are pleasantly surprised with just about anything, my new motto for life.
Wow. That is bringing like tears to my eyes. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWow.
xx
what a sweet post. thanks for sharing and for coming by my blog. I so appreciate a little English in my Swedish overwhelmed world (i'm the occassional ex-pat) Flat Stanley made me laugh. Though we live in Sweden and a flat stanley can easily be posed in front of a castle or bajillion year old building it is more typical if I would have it pose in front of a cow or a field of wheat. Please stop by again to my blog. I LOVE photography and appreciate your links and photo ideas. ;-) I've got a field of rapeseed by the house and as soo as I have the kids jacked up on allergy meds I am going to throw them out in it for a photo op. I am sure they will love me for it! Your comments mean a lot. I will follow you as well.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I just read your about me...I should mention I have two kids as well. Girl (10 today!) and Boy (last month).
ReplyDeleteCheers,
that was such a sweet note from your hubby!! I love lil' man's gift too! I'm glad that it ended on a very good note :)
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!! *sniff*
ReplyDeleteThat is the sweetest! I think the field of weeds looks about perfect (besides the allergy factor)! Congratulations, mommy, on such a great little family!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, that's fantastic. I'm with you on the low expectations. Expect the worst, hope for the best. That's my motto...
ReplyDeleteI was all "Oooh, how sweet!" and then it turned to laughter at the part about wanting to get you hand sanitizer! Ha, ha!
ReplyDeleteLove the action shots in the field!
Sounds like you had a great day, after all!
ReplyDeleteAw. so sweet! And those of some great frollicking shots!!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet! Hand sanitizer... too funny! Boys are silly like that. Happy belated Mother's Day to you...
ReplyDeletelove the pictures. what a nice note fro your husband. I love stuff like that
ReplyDelete(Wiping away tears...) That is so sweet!! I adore your son! Hand sanitizer or pictures - that's great!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolute sweetness! I wasn't expecting much either. I knew I had laundry to do and the most I could hope for was for someone else to do the dishes! I was pleasantly surprised to get a gift certificate that I wasn't expecting.
ReplyDeleteI had a Homer Simpson "D'oh" moment when I saw your photos. That's what I should have done!
Precious!
ReplyDelete"I wanted to get you hand sanitizer..." LOL! Too cute! And your husband's words, so true!
Hi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and "friending" moi. Right back at ya! =)
My daughter was actually born with CHARGE syndrome...as a result, has a heart defect, is hearing impaired, and requires a trach and ventilator to help her breathe. We are praying for her lungs to heal over time, and for her to not need the ventilator anymore. She also has lots of delays due to her hearing impairment and the fact that she was in the hospital for 11 1/2 months last year! she is a FIGHTER! =)
I look forward to reading more about you.
Happy belated Mother's Day!
xoxo,
Victoria
That was probably the most touching Mother's Day gift I have ever heardl. Your husband sounds amazing. What a beautiful gesture, especially his words.
ReplyDeleteI love that your boy was going to give you hand sanitizer. It would be just like one of my girls to do that. Because, they know my love for the stuff.
I am so glad for you and your amazing Mother's Day. Isn't it everything to be loved?
That sounds like the PERFECT ending to your mother's day! I love the hand sanitizer reference -- that is sooo me! (I chaperoned an 8th grade field trip to Washington D.C. and was known as the Purell Mom because I kept "santizing" everyone's hands since swine flu was floating around!) I would love to get photos with SMILES from my kids too -- the perfect present!
ReplyDeleteI love that Connor knows you so well - hand sanitizer or pictures!! Made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteYou have one great family! Nicholas wont give me smiles either. I'm lucky if I can even get him to sit down and look at the camera! What an amazing note from your husband too. Even though we know, sometimes we just need to hear the words. I'm so glad you had a wonderful Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteThat is TOTALLY sweet!!
ReplyDeletewhat beautiful pictures!!! i think ordinary days are the best... your mother's day sounded a lot like mine!
ReplyDeleteGREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. This is such a sweet post! Your kids, will one day, fully realize all you have done for them. I am 17 and am just really starting to grasp the love my mom has for me and how much she has sacrificed for me. I don't think I'll fully get it until I'm a mom though.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing a great job with your kids, and it is clear, even in just this post, that they love you!
I love your pictures! My daughter wrote in her book... my mom loves shopping! I guess they pick up on a little too much! Glad you had a good day! Happy mother's day!
ReplyDeleteWhat A fantastic Mother's Day!! I love simple and heartfelt!! So great!! Love your blog!! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet post!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is the sweetest Mothers Day gift. Those small things mean more than any gift that could be bought. Thanks for stopping by my blog (rockingtheminivan) and for the comment. I just became a new follower of your blog and my hubby and I always say our hearts are in Iowa bc we almost moved to Des Moines right b4 we found out we were preggo.
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment. your post me a little teary eyed.
ReplyDeleteso sweet.
I'll be back.
What a great Mother's Day present from your son, and those will be photos you can look at for years to come. I think I have high expectations but then it's even nicer when they are exceeded. Love the pictures in this post. You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat is ADORABLE! What a great guy your hubby is! I love that note, and I really love the photos!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is melting! What a great Mother's Day, Alicia. The photos are gorgeous. You all look so happy. :)
ReplyDeleteThe letter from your husband...too sweet. What a wonderful thing to have your husband say. Every mother wants some kind of validation.
And the coupon for 25 photos - with smiles! - from your son? I'm jealous! My 15 year old son never smiles for photos these days. I'd love to receive that type of gift from him.
Sounds like you had a wonderful Mother's Day. You deserve it! Thanks so much for stopping by again Alicia. Have a great night.
Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud
@TweetingMama
I say that about being a mother and having kids all the time. It is my thing. How funny. Those were some awesome gifts. My kids gave me some pretty cute letters this year too. I love that they are getting older and can do those kinds of things for me. It means so much. Love your blog thanks for visiting and commenting on mine. I will be back!
ReplyDeleteThe sweet moments of motherhood are worth all of the craziness, no? I love the part about your picture-hating son promising to smile for 2 photos. Those are the best kinds of gifts :)
ReplyDeleteAnd good for you for keeping your expectations low. A good way to live your life.
Stopping by from SITS and following.
until I read the post, I thought how cool they are running through wild flowers...but you are right, I think it is ragweed. lol I started bawling when I read the card my daughter made for me. The words meant so much from her as her teenage angst rears it's head more. low expecatations...I have been doing that too. :) thanks for the follow...I am returning!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous day. I love the photos and the note from your hubby brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect Day! Those pictures were fabulous! And enjoy those 25 pictures - because at age 13, he'll stop smiling until he's about 17 - and the only way to get him to smile inbetween is if there is a pretty girl who is not you standing beside you while you take pictures! And your husband's note! You are a blessed lady! My husband gives me those every once in a while - and they just make my heart melt!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling better soon!When my boys get like that, I hand them "retch" buckets just in case they cannot make it to the bathroom. So far, they haven't had to use one! Whew!
What a great post, and I love the pictures of the frolicing! Hope you are feeling better soon, ready to frolic some more.....
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures-- I love the frolicking in flowers idea too! Sounds like you had a good Mothers Day after all. I spent my Mothers Day home sick-- so my expectations were very low. But it turned out to be a really nice day. So I think your theory is right!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet!
ReplyDelete