mom's day.

[mom don't read this part! just scroll down]

when i was home the other week, I handed my brother some money and said, "whatever you get mom, i'm in for half"

and from that preface, enjoy the following text conversation:

big brother: mom loved the flowers we gave her! good job!!

adorable sister: haha. thanks! it took me awhile to pick out just the right ones, but when i saw them i know they'd be perfect! ...what kind did we get her?

big brother: a cactus and a venus flytrap. with a note that says, "you're a prick and bite me"

adorable sister: :/ i want my money back

big brother: sorry, no refunds.

Well thankfully he was telling lies to his adorable little sister, and later sent me the 'fantastic' photo of the bouquet!

umm. wow. thanks for the picture :)

My mom is definitely not June Cleaver.

"Organization" was a four-letter word growing up in our house. We were always frantically running out the door to the next practice or lesson that we had inevitably forgotten was scheduled. Dinners were always "unique" creations that involved going-rogue of the box's instructions and winging-it...And then just adding the word "surprise" at the end of the name to cover your bases. "try it. it's tuna helper surprise! you'll love it" (and consistency wasn't important either. The same titled entree could be made 50 times, and never taste (or look) the same twice)

Our house was loud, chaotic, and fun. And we wouldn't have had it any other way.

in a town where minivan-driving soccer moms are the norm, my mom is a free-spirit.

If everyone marches to the beat of their own drum, my mom's percussion instrument is like no one's i've ever seen before. She is a character. Unique unto herself. She's a snare drum in a sea of timpanis.

While she would have preferred fame and fortune and a downtown loft condo. She pursued manicured lawns and soccer teams because it was the best place for her kids to grow-up.

So thank you mom. Thank you for the person that you are (strange as that person is:) and allowing us to be a part of your life.

And now, I will share with you one of my favorite tidbits from my childhood...

In my elementary school, we had something called "Room Mom". Basically, that parent was in charge of all the holiday parties for their classroom during the school year. In theory, the parents usually just brought cookies and helped the kids exchange gifts at christmas or cards at valentines, etc.

but when i was in 4th grade, my mom was our Room Mom. and while the other classrooms were having sweet, simple cookie-filled parties, my mom threw parties like:
-a christmas fiesta! complete with maracha music, make-your-own fajita bar, and a pinata
-a valentines party in which we had a "cake decorating race". yep, let's give 9 year olds bags of icing and tell them to "run" and "hurry"!
-and end of the year party with beach balls, Hawaiian shirts, popsicle races, and more!

Her parties were so.much.fun. everyone loved them. even our teacher, the stricktest, toughest, meanest teacher in the school enjoyed them.

And then mom was called into a meeting with the principal. and told that her parties were too wild. got the kids too excited. and made the other classes jealous. And was banned from ever being a Room Mom again :)

But hey, if you're gonna go out, go out in a blaze of glory!

So thanks again mom. and happy mother's day!