One Lucky Mama

Even though Mother's Day is pretty Hallmark, there's always good reason to honor your mom. Especially if you happen to be lucky like Mike and myself with mothers who have given you way more than you can possibly express in a card or a gift. It wasn't until I became a mother that I realized how damn challenging (and rewarding) this role would be!

I feel fortunate that I've got a kiddo to celebrate Mother's Day with. He drives me nuts, he's a wild, crazy, mini teenager in a three year old's body but he gives me the sweetest kisses, big hugs, and tells me stories that make me laugh. He greeted me with a bouquet of flowers and "Happy Mother's Day" in his cute little voice.

I've also got a supportive husband who appreciates me and also gave me a nice break for Mother's Day. Mike surprised me with an hour massage appointment which left me feeling high. My tense, strained muscles from running and hauling a heavy kid so appreciated it.

Thank you to all the moms out there (especially ours) who help your kids grow up and learn to fly.

Arrr Mateys

Collin is obsessed with pirates.

Obsessed.

"Is it scary?"

"Is it a pirate ship?"

These are two of his most used phrases. Skeletons, ships, anything nautical is somehow associated with a pirate. Then of course there's his signature greeting (to kids he just meets at the playground, to checkers in the grocery store, to anyone who says hi)--"Skull and crossbones!" Followed by a flash of his arms criss crossed across his chest like some sort of preschool gang sign.

I will admit, it's pretty cute though. Sure I have a morbid kid. At OMSI, the science museum, he could stare for hours at the real live skeleton behind glass or put the puzzle pieces of a skeleton together. I'd like to think that maybe all this attractiveness to skeletons means that one day he'll follow the path of science, pathology, medicine...

Or who knows. In a few months he may latch onto a new obsession. But for now, I'll enjoy my honorary pirate.

And when we found out real life pirate ships, that were used in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie were a little over an hour away in Rainier, Mike convinced me that we had to go first thing to show Collin.

Nona and Papa came too and we all got to tour the pirate ships with real life pirates! Okay the ships were actually replica pirate ships used in the movies with 20 something year old pirates but they were sorta dressed in period garb. It was pretty cool. We didn't get to hang around for the mock battle or the three hour sailing adventure, but the free walk-on tour definitely intrigued Collin.