A perfect Mother's Day

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." Agatha Christie, "The Last Seance"


Life is good. I am happy. I have two beautiful daughters, the most wonderful loving husband, and the sweetest four legged son I could ask for. My family spoiled me today. It was a perfect day!



The girls must have known it was Mother's Day because they slept in until 8:30am :)Randall surprised me with "Surprise Egg" for breakfast ... one of my childhood favorites which I have always talked about but I don't think we have ever actually had together. The girls loved it ... so this may need to become a family tradition :) After breakfast I got to open my presents. Besides the gift of my daughter's themselves, I think Randall gave me the most meaningful gift that I have ever received. He made a photo book documenting the reasons he believes that I am amazing wife and mother ... it was so touching and so fun to look back at photos from our 10+ years together ... I laughed and I cried. On top of that he also started a scrapbook where Kenzie and Lexi each drew me a picture for Mother's Day and he plans to have them add to it each year. I could not have asked for better gifts. I am so blessed :)



After the girls napped we went for a family walk to have lunch in Hyde Park Square and then went to visit Audra, Kyle & Maddie (& Moose of course). Maddie is so precious!

This Mother's Day was particularly special for me, because two of my dearest fiends became mothers this week and got to celebrate their very first Mother's Day! Both Audra and Becky shared the same more difficult path to motherhood with me and I cannot express the joy I feel for them. They are going to be the most wonderful mom's ... Maddie and Small Paul are so lucky!



Later that afternoon, we did some yard work and the girls played in the garden. Randall made a grilled vegetable and smoked mozarella pizza for dinner and we ate out on the back porch. Ahhhh heaven. It was the perfect day ... filled with family and sunshine.



I am so thankful to be a mother! And I am so grateful for having been celebrated today ... in a perfect way!

Running of the Roses

Mint juleps, fancy hats, betting on the ponies ... ahh the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby! Kenzie & Lexi celebrated their 2nd running with lots of other kids, a bouncy house, and even put $5 the pink balloon (with a horses name inside). Their horse wasn't the big winner, but Daddy did win the adult pool ... $78! Lucky day!



Thanks Carrie & Christian for hosting a great party!

April Showers bring May...

Showers! It was the wettest month in Cincinnati history with nearly 14” of rain. It seems like it rained every single day with maybe 2 to 3 exceptions. We had some big storms throughout the month and even had to wake the girls once in the middle of the night to take them into the basement as the tornado sirens warned of impending danger. Thankfully we were all safe and the girls actually thought it was the coolest thing to get to be in the basement in the middle of the night. Besides some water in our basement, we’ve made it through the month unscathed. Our hearts go out to those in Alabama and other parts of the south who weren’t so lucky.

That said, we are ready for the rain to stop! Ironically, Mother Nature teased us with some beautiful weather this past Saturday (on April 30th) and then it started raining again on Sunday (on May 1st). The 7 day outlook shows rain every. single. day. Let’s hope that we eventually get rewarded with the biggest, brightest flowers and days filled with sunshine.

We did take full advantage of the gift of sunshine that we were given this past Saturday. It was a bit chilly in the morning, but we put on the girls fleeces and went for a “walk.” Kenzie & Lexi’s current favorite method of going for a walk involves them walking themselves. We don’t move very fast and usually only make it up and down our street, stopping to collect every stick, rock and leaf along the way…. but the girls have a blast. After their morning nap, we went out to lunch at the Dilly Deli. It was our first outdoor restaurant meal with the girls and they loved it. It was so sunny that we had to put on sunscreen and even ended up putting up the umbrella to get some shade. We then drove out to Burger Farms to pick out some new plants for the garden. Kenzie & Lexi had a great time checking out the goats and chickens, exploring the big tractor and helping us choose some pretty flowers. After their afternoon nap, the girls and I played outside on the back porch and in the yard while Daddy did yard work. We finished the day with dinner out on the back porch. Phew …. A fun filled day. We sucked up so much Vitamin D that it should last us at least through the next 7 days of rain :)

While Sunday was rainy again, we took advantage of a break in the rain to go the first Hyde Park Farmers Market of the season. We got the most beautiful swiss chard and rhubard, and also some delicious whole grain bread. Yummy! Looking forward to weekly trips to the market this Spring/Summer! And the sunshine and May flowers cannot come soon enough!