Mothers Day 2014

Apparently for three nights in a row this week Emma gave up story time to work on the plan for Mother's Day. How cute is that?  I will have to take a picture and post it-later.
I was instructed last night to stay up late so that I would sleep in. If i snuck down the stairs like Mama  bear in the Berenstain Bears Mama's Day Surprise story, the whole day would be put on hold and we would have to do Mother's Day the next day or the next Sunday. I don't want to ruin any surprises do I?
I woke up to the sound of something crashing (it wasn't anything relating to the meal prep). Not long later a marvelous spread was carried up, led by Emma who wished me a Happy Mother's Day with her gap-y grin. Annika also came in and smiled at me while asking to come into bed. (Steve whisked her away for a diaper change.) Chocolate crepes with sliced strawberries on the side. Yogurt with granola and dried cranberries. Cherry juice. ginger lemon tea. C'est magnifique!  Plus a lovely card that Emma signed from both her and Annika.
I lounged in bed and ate quietly. Everyone else ate downstairs. when I came down, Annika was calling Mama. Not too special of an occurrence these days. she is always wanting Mama/Mommy. But still warms the heart.
After a brief interlude (I had to go to church briefly to try a song) steve hooked up the bike seat to my bike. Emma really wanted to go on a family bike ride and has been asking all week. so we headed out to the purple park but turned down the path through the school property and went along the backroads to Emma's school. Or rather to the park by Emma's school, Heistand Park. Steve walked with Emma across all the cross-streets and we made it there safely. We chained our bikes to the start of the trail and headed off up the hill. Emma first gave us the nature talk. "This will be a nature walk. We will use three senses- sight, hearing, and our noses for smelling. We won't taste anything. Nature stays on the ground and we are going to walk quietly."
Annika was slow going and eventually Steve had to carry her the rest of the way. she picked up a couple sticks and a popped balloon (icky). Emma didn't reprimand her but that might have been because Emma was patiently waiting at a fork in the trail at the top of the hill.
"This is the hill that you rolled down that day that you helped out in class, Mama." indeed it was. that brought back good memories. Emma ran down the hill to the next concrete rectangle (the park has a frisbee golf course embedded in the woods and trails). we caught up and then were advised to wait for a couple of guys who were throwing for the next cage. they were nice and commented on the weather and also wished me a happy Mother's Day. the trees were oaks and very scraggly and stately. (I will insert a family selfie later.)
At one point Emma tripped and got caught on a stick. She started to whine and cry, "i hate the dirt! I don't like the dirt!" She brushed her legs off and got it together quickly. we made it back to the bikes without further incidences. Emma was interested in exploring the stream but not by herself. so she gave up the idea.
We rode back home on Milwaukee street that is a pretty brutal hill- up hill from pretty much the park all the way to the entrance to our subdivision. Emma did awesome!  Even though her and Steve had to stop to walk across two streets they almost caught up to Annika and I!  It was great.
Back home we made some delicious hummus, tomato, cuke, lettuce sandos and had a picnic in the backyard. There were two kinds of potato chips and some sandwich cookies. Plus sliced apples and pear. so good. Annika only ate a couple pieces of bread. she had eyes only for the fruit and chips. We rationed her, though, and she wouldn't eat sando even for a cookie.
Annika went down for a nap and I napped in the chair. :) Emma and Daddy hung out in the front yard until I stumbled out 40 minutes later.
Emma lazed around inside on the couch for a bit while Steve and I did some gardening. eventually Emma came out to help by shaking the dirt off the grass clumps and filling the wheelbarrow. We transplanted the rosebushes (more like rose sticks) from the front yard to the Rainbow Garden area along the front sidewalk. (Emma and Annika picked out some native seeds to plant a Rainbow Garden in a couple weeks- after the seeds have been properly stratified.) The roses secure the red zone for now.
Then the girls and Daddy went to Smoky John's to pick up some ribs and then we have a fantastic rib meal with beans and broccoli salad. Steve made some strawberry-blackberry juice and served it with three kinds of chocolate. Emma and Daddy sang a little bit of Old MacDonald to be silly right before serving. so good.
Then it was a "twin bath night" according to Emma.  Daddy helped scrub and get them clean. Mama helped get Annika into her PJs and Daddy read her stories. Then Mama dried Emma's hair and we organized the bookshelf. Emma helped choose books to share with Annika and some for the garage sale. she is getting so grown up.
I read her stories and Daddy tucked her into sleep. She seemed so proud of herself when we thanked her for her efforts to make the day so fantastic. For once Emma didn't say "you are making me feel too proud!" or something similar.
It was the best day so far this year! thank you to my precious girls and loving hubby for making it happen. I am the luckiest Mama ever. :)