The UT Ryans: Mother's Day Favorites

It's always hard to decide which part of Mother's Day I love best. Of course I love getting waited on hand and foot, like the response when I ask Emily to close a window and she says, "Well of course, it IS mother's day" and the cinnamon rolls my husband makes for breakfast. On the other hand, I really enjoy watching my kids as they keep thinking "what more can I do for mom?" and all day long new pictures are drawn, beaded bracelets and bookmarks get added to the pile of treats for mom in the front room. It's always fun to hear Lizzy repeat about 20 times while squeezing my cheeks, "I lub you mubber".

One of my favorite parts of mother's day is that it is always on a Sunday. I love hearing the stories of all the inspirational mom's and how strongly I always realize that I can be a better mom and how lucky I am to be one. They always make me remember all the amazing "mother's" I have had, my Mom, my Mother-in-law, my grandmas and Chris' grandmas. They have all taught me aspects of mothering that I (try) to use now. Like my mom waking up when we were in high school, even though she had been up with a newborn to have family prayer before we left - I don't think she EVER missed a day. Or my mother in law who told me she talked and talked and talked to her kids until they never wanted to make that mistake again.

I think my favorite is the overall, relaxed, loving feeling that seems to be prominent all day. This year we went for a walk down the piers and beaches on Presque Isle. All the leafs and blossoms were beginning to open. When we came home the kids piled their gifts on my lap of homemade paper flowers, potted flowers and painted flower pots, beaded bracelets and bookmarks and "coupons" for housework. To top it all off, Chris had made a "Memoir of my journey through Motherhood" set to music of videos and pictures of some of the best moments of me and my girls for the past 7 years including first steps, first words, and lots of hugs and kisses.

One cute exerpt I thought you might enjoy comes from the "Cookbook" that Debbie's preschool class made for their moms. Debra's favorite recipe is as follows:

Strawberry Jello

First you get a box of pink jello the strawberry kind. Mom buys this at Rite Aid. You rip open the little white bag and pour into lots of sugar. Add 20 pounds of hot water - but you got to be careful... I like to put mandarin oranges in my jello. Not bananas tho I do like bananas on other days. Mom puts it in the fridge till it's wiggly and that's the way I like it.