Mother's Day

As the kids get older, the Mother's Day celebrations become more meaningful and delightful.

Yesterday, Kotch (almost 17) took String Bean and I out for "grown-up girl bonding time" at a wonderful restaurant for brunch. It was the first time one of my children has taken me to a really nice meal and they paid. It was so wonderful sitting outside in our 70+ weather (don't worry, it's supposed to SNOW on Tuesday/Wednesday) with my lovely daughters, all of us dressed up and enjoying the time spent together.

While the girls were busy, dh had the two boys getting treats at the grocery to make a feast fit for a Spring evening -- barbequed hamburgers (dh even let them flip them and take them off the barbie!), homemade baked beans, coleslaw and this beautiful cookie cake that is PERFECT for the younger set:

Just as we were finishing dinner, Brikhead called from Baton Rouge (on break from his pizza job) just to "tell you I love you, Mom" .... from an almost 19-year-old man, that did my heart proud!

We have so much to be thankful of with our families -- dh called his mom and we'd seen my mom on Saturday, we have wonderful kids who know how to "treat mama right" and we had beautiful weather ....

Prayers that your mom's day was as wonderful ....

Quiz: What Kind of Mom are You?

Thanks to a link from Leonie's blog, to Molly's blog (where Theresa is credited with the link), I have found out what kind of mom I am! (And it only took 18 years 8-0 !)

Your type is: intp —The “Love of Learning” Mother

“I keep the encyclopedia in the kitchen so we can look up things together while we
eat.”
Intellectually curious and patient, the INTP mother relishes those times with a child when they are learning something interesting together. Whether they’re at the zoo or computer terminal, she sparks to answering his or her “whys” with in-depth responses or new knowledge. The INTP mother is also objective and introspective. She listens to and discusses children’s ideas and questions as she would those of a peer, fostering self-esteem and confidence. Open and non-directive, she allows children the freedom to do for themselves and quietly encourages them to believe they can do it. Independence, autonomy, intellectual development, and self-reliance are probably the INTP’s highest priorities for her children. An avid reader, she naturally imparts an appreciation and love of reading as well. Drawn to all types of learning, the INTP may also value her mothering experience for all the new insights about life it provides her.

The funny thing? This is EXACTLY how I am as a mom. I love to spark their interest -- which is why I lean toward an unschooling atmosphere around here -- and see them create out of nothing. My kids are all very different and so I try to read about all the different philosophies of education to see which one will work the best with which child. I am an AVID reader and love to get the kids sparked on reading -- my teens are big readers too and my littles are getting there!

Thanks ladies for pointing out this quiz ... it's nice to know the name for what I do! Another interesting point is that when I've taken this personality test as it applies to my overall personality -- I am an ENTJ -- so the only difference is when it's just me, I love to be "out there and involved" ... when it has to do with my kids, I want them home in a nurtured environment where they can be and live how God intended with lots of down time and chance for introspection ....

Catholic Moms Blog-roll

So, I have a bit of time yesterday and I stumble across the coolest thing in the blogsphere -- a Catholic Mom Blog-roll run by Angie. Now how cool is that? See the beautiful picture of Our Lady and Jesus on my side-bar. That's the list of all the Catholic moms on the blog-roll -- and some of them are old friends whose blogs I check all the time. But some of these ladies are brand-new and I'm quite excited to check out their blogs.

Seems there is one who is a knitter -- something VERY near and dear to my heart -- and now I've been linked to a group of Catholic knitting moms that I didn't even know existed. Now that makes the blogosphere even more fun for me!

If you're a Catholic mom and have a blog, go ahead and join the "in crowd" and sign up!