Mom Pay Offs

Being a mom is HARD. It is a lot of work, takes a lot of energy and time, and leaves you feeling unappreciated most days. But there are pay offs along the way. I got a huge pay off for Christmas and another for my birthday. My older girls (Kate, age 9 and Megan, age 8) bought me a necklace and earrings from the dollar store. But they wanted it to be a surprise and didn't want to ask permission to use the wrapping paper. Instead, they made their own! On Christmas morning, they walked over with huge smiles on their faces and a little box wrapped in this: Then, on my birthday, my kids MADE me cards and gifts. Kate made me a cute card that had quotes in it. My favorite:

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because
they are more certain they are their own. ~Aristotle

I don't know what she thinks it means, but she told me she typed "mother quotes" in google and picked some. (My daughter googles?) So funny! And so sweet!


Megan made me the little journal- she decorated the cover and added tabs. There is a section for the kids to leave me coupons they make, she already had one for 10 hugs and 10 kisses! And there is a section for notes, where the kids can write love notes for me to read. I love that she ripped out the pages that had her stuff written on them so I could have this love journal! Thoughtful gifts really are the best!

Soren made me a coupon book. He read each coupon to me and explained how I should use it and reminded me that they are good as many times as I want to use them! What he came up with reveals a lot about his and my relationship (good and bad!)

• A day with out me (the picture has a house labeled "you r in the house" and a little boy standing outside the house labeled "me")
• leve you ulone
• ten xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo (so cute that there are actually ten xo's!!)
• helping you
• do what ever you say when ever you say (the picture is of me saying "plese kleen your room" and him saying "yes") There are two of these because I'll need to use it a lot he told me!

Emily made, all by herself, a pop up card! I have no idea where she got the idea but every piece of paper folds open or up to reveal a picture or words, including the big yellow square which has a cryptic but sweet birthday message from her. Can you figure it out? (The answer is at the end of this post.)

It is SO fun to see what my kids come up with, how they spell and write and draw... these were definitely my favorite gifts and such a great mom pay off! Thank you my sweet children for thinking of me and giving so much of yourself to make me feel special! I LOVE YOU!!

{answer: You've had a birthday, shout hooray!}