Mother's Day

I know I'm really behind with this post, but I still wanted to post something.

This is a picture hanging up in my son's room:

 

 I made it when I was in kindergarten. If you can't read it, it says "When I gro up I want to be a mom." Just a few years after I made this picture, my family went through a house fire. We lost pretty much everything, but somehow this survived. I love this picture (even though I misspelled grow) because even though I grew up and made new goals for myself, I accomplished the one thing the 6-year-old version of me wanted to accomplish. 

I know what you guys are thinking: "It doesn't take much to be a mom." In a sense, sure. But I think my younger self would have wanted not just to be a mom, but to be a loving, caring, compassionate mom. A mom who would give up anything in the world for her child(ren) and strives to be a better mom each passing day and year. Young Karen would want herself to be a mom who gives her child everything, but teaches them the value of hard work, independence, education, friends and most importantly- family. 

 I'm not perfect, but I try to do those things. I love my son more than anything in the entire world. I think the love a mother has for a child can't be explained with words. I think I can be a good mom because I had a good momma growing up. My dad wasn't in his children's lives. My mom worked hard to be both a mother and a father to myself, my sister and my brother. She worked hard and taught us to work hard. She loved and taught us to love. 

And while she's not perfect either, she can say she did her absolute best. If you read this, thanks mom. . . for all of that. 

 Enough being sappy.

 I know I've said on here before I don't put a lot of stock into Mother's Day. Every day is Mother's Day because every day I'm a mother and I have the love of my child. What more could I want? 

 This year, Vincent made me a really awesome scrapbook card at school and a butterfly picture using his feel as wings. At his preschool they make a ton of stuff with painted hands and feet. I love it. 

Gary and Vincent picked me up a sweet old video camera.  

It still had the guarantee with it.
 

 New, the video camera cost $140.
 

 

 The best part? It goes perfectly with my grandpa's old typewriter and an old adding machine I have. 

 Please excuse all the shadows.

I don't know a ton else about it. I need to do some research, or just enjoy it-which I already will.

I hope that however you spent Mother's Day, that you enjoyed your day.

My niece, brother, mom, sister, son and myself.

 

Bike-A-Thon

Some local girls were planning a bike-a-thon to donate toward building an all-abilities playground last Saturday (May 12). I thought it would be fun to get involved. The event was several hours, but you could come ride your bike on the trail whenever and for however long you felt like it, and of course it was all ages. Vincent was so excited to collect money. First, he called my sister and went through the whole spiel, then he asked her to send $2. Next, he called G's mom and asked her to send $5. Then, my mom stopped by and he asked her for $10 (notice it just keeps going up?). Then, he called memaw back and told her to make sure poppa also sent $5. He had reached his $20 goal in...oh... 5 minutes.

Two days after he started collecting money, he lost a tooth. The tooth fairy brought him $2.

"What are you going to do with $2?" said Dada (who thought Tooth Fairy overpaid).

"I'm going to donate it to the bike-a-thon!" he said. My heart almost melted. He's been waiting for this tooth to fall out for weeks and when it finally did, he didn't think an instant before donating it to a cause.

In all, he ended up raising $30, completely by himself. On the day of the bike-a-thon, he had a blast. Man, moms are too freakin' lucky.

Getting ready to start.

  

Vincent has the dinosaur helmet on.

 

 Gary had to run to catch up to him.

 

Headed back.

Hoppy Easter!

Easter 2012.

Basket!

We dyed eggs in the morning.

Then we had a little Easter egg hunt.

Blurry, yes. But cute.

Aw!

We played with chalk.

It was even warm enough to play in water...for about 5 minutes.

Poor Mi-mi.

Lexigirl didn't get out of going through the water either...

This holiday was a different one. This year, we celebrated Easter without Grandpa. Last year we did too, but it was so raw. This year, well, it kindof felt the same... raw. I miss him so much. I cried randomly. I hid so people didn't see me. He was such a special part of my life. I'm not usually this sappy, but Easter fell the day before the 1 year anniversary of him passing so I was extra sensitive.

I remembered how on Easter I used to go to my grandparents house... in my little Easter dress made by my grandma. I would look all cute and even have a little white bonnet-like hat.

I was happy to be spending time with my family. I didn't get to see my brother or sister, but I did get to spend time with my mama and G's family. And I loved getting to watch my little man hunt for eggs and think about all the memories we're making. I like the thought that someday (hopefully a long time from now), he'll be looking back on these memories.

Easter Traditions

Each year before Easter, my mom and I have taken Vincent to Aholt Farms. It's become a tradition that I really enjoy. This year was no different.

Here are a few photos from the trip. I'm not going to crop them or anything because I'm feeling lazy.

Painting a wooden egg

Not scared this year!

Me and EB

Dada and EB

Even Grammy had to sit with EB

Baby chick!

I like seeing the animals.

Pretty mama.

Hayride

My mom's idea of a good photo:

Isn't she awesome? Thanks mom! ;)

Do you guys have any Easter traditions?