Hand Prints on My Heart

"My dirty little fingerprints
I've left on every wall,
And on the drawers and table tops,
I've really marked them all.
But here is one that won't rub off,
I'm giving it to you,
Because I'm thankful for a mother just like you!"

That was the poem that accompanied McKenzie's and Ben's hand print art that they made for my Mother's Day gifts this year.  I loved receiving these special pieces of art because they both were so excited to give them to me.  McKenzie really got Mother's Day this year and was very excited about a special day for me.  She gave me her hand print art dozens of times throughout the day which was very cute.  Ben actually seemed to know that this piece of art was special and he would open up his card and say, "my hand" while patting first his chest and then his hand.  Then he would hold his little hand up to the card and show me it was in fact his hand.

Before I was a mother I thought little hand prints were cute but never all that special and now I know how fleeting these tiny hand prints are and how fast the kids are growing up and how special capturing these little moments really is.

Our Mother's Day activities this year were pretty much a repeat of last year and if we never do anything different I'll be one happy Mom.  On Saturday night we went to the Mariner's game with Aunt Kacey, Uncle Eric, Nathan, Kayla and their Grandma Jill.  We actually made it to the seventh inning stretch which is a new record for the kids.  We treat events like this as if we're just going out to dinner and there happens to be something exciting going on as well.  There is no point in even paying attention to the game with two small kids on the stands. 

Ben was a very excited fan at the baseball game and loved yelling about anything and everything.  He also enjoyed the music which must have been playing just for him to dance.

It was when this face came out that we knew it was time to wrap up the evening and head home.

On Sunday I got to sleep in which is a rare treat and then I came downstairs just as the french toast was leaving the skillet.  We then surveyed the weather and decided to try for our morning plans despite the clouds.  We headed down to the Mukilteo ferry and walked on for the short journey over to Whidbey Island.  After a short play at the park near the ferry terminal we took our damp kiddos back across the sound to Ivar's for their fantastic Mother's Day brunch menu.

One of the things I love most about Mother's Day is that we actually for some reason remember to ask people to take pictures of us.  Despite the cloudy day sunglasses would have helped us out!

Note to self, next year take your family picture not facing into the wind.

Our future discus champion winding up to send something back to the sea.

McKenzie was very focused on picking up all the shells on the beach.

Perhaps Ben will also be training for the long jump or the javelin throw. He loved throwing whatever he could manage to pick up into the water.  Too bad his Mom didn't pack extra socks or his rain boots. 
 

Despite the spotty weather we managed to have a great time!  Nothing is going to shadow the smiles on these three.

This one might classify us for the 'Akward Family Photos' site.  I'm not sure what's up with all our different facial expressions but it's a keeper!