Needed to document another spontaneous-fun-mom-moment as they are way less often then I'd like.   I hate putting off invitations to make play-doh pizzas to fold laundry or sweep up crumbs.  My daughters lose out to the burning dinner or the sticky table.  I wish I could just let everything go to hell for a while so that we could jump around in childhood for a few moments.  Yesterday, after they woke up from naps and the thunder was just rolling out of Oak Park, we grabbed our bathing suits and ran through the rain.  

Celebrating the Completion of Jer's 36th Year

Winner!

The eve of Jerry's 37th birthday was a blur of tacos and tequila followed by our friend's improve show and further celebrating with Mike, Erica, Sara and Jed.  It's become a tradition to meet up with these four as Jer shares a birthday with both Erica and Jed.  Celebrating with Geminis is always a good time.  By mid-day on the 26th, the world was right again.  We took the girls to Arlington Race Track as it was high-time we introduced them to the world of gambling.  We won all three races and a high-stakes seed has been sowed...at least in Ella.  She proclaimed that it was the "best day ever".  It's not a hard leap to imagine her name mixed up in an underground kindergarten gambling ring.  Viv was just excited about the free pony rides offered.  She squealed and yipped it up while having to be reminded twice by the grumpy handler to keep her hands on the reigns. 

A Quiet Day at Home

Adventures in Gardening

Hoping to make Lolo proud

Viv got a little unwieldy with the shovel.

Bring on the tomatoes, the cucumbers and the eggplant.  We may even try our hand at kale and spinach this year.  I got a new juicer for my birthday and am ready to get my veg-on!

Per request, the day started with breakfast in bed.  I began to rethink that decision as the plat du jour was sticky cinnamon rolls and yogurt with berries and granola.  Our bed transformed into a table for four.  My pillowcase, a napkin for sticky hands.  But as I climbed into bed the last few nights, my hands scraping against crumbs, I smiled.  I may wait a few days to change the sheets.  Thanks guys for a great Mother's Day celebration.  I am so grateful for you!

Mom, every Mother's Day you used to get one of those cards with brush strokes of watercolors and poetry proclaiming my love and appreciation.  Cards that might begin to erase just some of the self centered stuff that daughters put their mothers through.  This mother's day, I grab a card with two kangaroos on the front with a simple "I love you" at the request of your two antsy granddaughters.  I scrawled a quick sentiment that certainly didn't do you justice.  You were coming in ten minutes and the house was a mess.
Nanang, every Mother's Day you used to get one of those cards too, although with a bit less poetry, more humor (it was from Jerry after all) but the same loving adoration from a truly grateful son and daughter-in-law. 
So in an effort to make up for the lack of thoughtful cards, we wanted to pay tribute to you, our mothers, by letting you know what you have taught us.  And the learning continues.  This is clearly not an exhaustive list but rather a list created by the exhausted ; )

Here goes!

Nanang, from you, Jerry has learned that money does not actually grow on trees.  To have a credit card balance is the ultimate no-no.  Because of you, we have been able to better plan for our future.   Growing up, college was never an option it was requisite.  Jerry and his brother earned their degrees and they now hang proudly, not in their offices but on your family room wall.  You and Tatang worked hard for those.   Through you, Jerry learned to respect his elders.  This point would be driven home by a subtle pinch under the table.  Jerry laughs, remembering the times you would pinch him with your toes.  From my understanding, you got quite good at that.  Watching you, he learned the value of patience.  Patience as the day is long.  You always greet the day with a smile and a laugh.  You embrace adventure.  Taking month long vacations in far away places, making friends with everyone you meet along the way.  In fact that is where you are right now.  Somewhere between Singapore and Rome if I recall correctly.  Most importantly, you taught your son to love with an open heart. 
 
Mom, from you I have learned the importance of fearlessness.  There were times you chose the less beaten path and didn't look back.  You stayed true to your visions for yourself, for your family.  You have fierce determination that lead a single mom to keep the home we were in despite all the financial and logistical obstacles.  From you, I've learned the beauty of simplicity.  You weren't one to fall for the latest fads (aside from that tye-dyed, rhinestone phase you went through in the mid-80's).  You never wore perfume.  You preferred slacks to skirts, flats to heels...you're beginning to sound like one of my confused Chippewa Bay camp counselors...but you still pulled off the femininity thing.  Lastly, although I don't even begin to come close, you taught me how to be a good daughter.  You filled your mother's heart with pride.

I look above at the two women who have had the biggest impact on our lives and count ourselves lucky to have two such strong and unique individuals guiding our way.  Your differences give us a wide range of skills to draw from.  Your similarities have provided a foundation for how we want to raise our own children...with generous, unconditional hearts.

Thank you to the two most beautiful women we know.

Having the Time of Our Lives at the Kennedy Library

Glouchester Beach

Warm-Up

Pre-Race Pep Talk

The Break-Away

Ella and Viv, along with neighborhood pals, Jackson and Will ran The Race that's Good for Life on Sunday morning. Race organizers divided the boys and girls so that they could cheer each other on. The start line for Ella and Viv was a hive of activity. You can see Ella giving Viv a pep talk above. My camera and I moved further down the course so that I could escape bodily injury. Parents jockeying for position, deafening cheers for their little ones. Ella was able to maneuver her way through the waves of pink. We locked eyes and smiled around 75 meters. At 100 meters she suffered a small setback, tripped, fell, but recovered with ease. Several minutes into the race and Viv was nowhere to be found. My eyes were frantically searching for her red Sauconys. Who's idea was this to set a hundred children free? Run, kids, run! I had visions of the evening news coverage..."Stampede!", "Amber Alert!". It turns out Viv didn't even make it across the start line. She stood their crying until our neighbor scooped her up. I don't blame her. What was this madness we signed up for? Thankfully tears dried up as fuschia participant ribbons were passed out.