Monday Moments: May Days

May is probably the fastest month in my year. Bedtime routines get harder as the days get longer, school field trips ramp up as the end of the school year approaches, we celebrate Gemma’s birthday, Mother’s Day and our anniversary within a week, and it’s a full-on time for work too. This year we also had the pleasure of my parents’ company for a few days! Given that they are barely dug out from under the snow at home, the tulip fields and blue skies were particularly stunning :)

My mom was here recently, but not dad, and the pictures make it clear that the boys were pretty thrilled he came along this time :)

And what would a visit be without stories from Grandma?

After bidding them good-bye, I had the honour last week of speaking at the Victoria March for Life, advocating for sustained pro-life action that is both personal and political. It was a beautiful sunny day to be surrounded and encouraged by hundreds of other pro-life Canadians.

Then we celebrated eleven years with our beautiful girl – how can that be already?! Successful present reactions are always the best :)

She requested Snickers cheesecake, and I made this one to rave reviews.

We also had a Rice Krispie cat for a family celebration a week early. A friend told me about the magic of this kind of cake and she wasn’t lying – no crumbs, great for kids who generally only eat the icing because they don’t really like cake, and SO easy to shape! I see many of these in my future.

I should have known from the constant need for shopping, but Gemma has officially caught up to Grandma at an even 5 feet – now she’s coming for me :)

Gemma loves music, art, baking, soccer, socializing, reading…and she’s always game to try something new! New to her this year was musical theatre – a combination of singing, dancing and acting. We recently had the pleasure of watching her perform in a little show to round out her last few months of Saturday practices, and she was absolutely in her element.

Then it was Mother’s Day, and I got loved on by the little people that surprised me by teaching me how much love and loyalty I was capable of, and also how much pride and selfishness were part of me. Someone reminded me of the well-used quote this week which rings so true for parenthood: God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. It is only in His strength and grace that someone as naturally un-nurturing as me can enjoy motherhood as much as I do. They challenge and stretch me every day, but I love every one of them and their quirky characters too intensely for words.

Up this week is our lucky 13th wedding anniversary, then a trip to Ontario for just Kristopher and me while Carl holds down the fort here (undoubtedly with some help from his amazing mom!) I am so looking forward to meeting two sweet new nephews and spending some quality time with Kristopher.

See you in June!