Wow!

What a week it has been!

This time last weekend, I was feeling pretty down. It had been a long week and I was just kind of tired of being a mom. Have you ever felt that way? Like ... if I have to clean this kitchen one more time I'm going to lose my mind? That's all I do ALL DAY LONG!!! And ... do you seriously have to throw every single toy out of the bathtub, then try to make a tsunami with the water, and finally throw yourself out of the tub? SERIOUSLY??

My Saturday night post-kiddie-bedtime went like this:
8:00 towel off from kids' bathtime
8:03 put on pajamas
8:05 try to pick out something nice to wear to church on Mother's Day. Settle on a dress.
8:15 realize that I haven't polished my toenails since the week prior to Landon's birth.
8:17 find a bottle of nail polish that's NOT crusty and yucky and slap on a few coats of it.
8:30 head downstairs.
8:31 Jon (with a seriously disappointed look on his face): "Ummm ... you're already in your pajamas? Really?"
8:32 slip even further into Mommy depression

HOWEVER ...

Things started to turn around on Sunday morning. Yes, it was Mother's Day, but my expectations were pretty low. My only request was Starbucks in bed. This is how Sunday went down:

8:30 Jon and boys wake me up with a breakfast tray, complete with my favorite Starbucks drink, some yummy breakfast casserole, a sweet card, and my first gift -- the first year of my blog made into a book. I. Loved. It. And I spent the next hour sipping my coffee and peacefully reading about what my life was like in 2006. (Ummm ... SO different)

10:30 Leave for church. Jon has dressed both boys (use your imagination), put them in the car, gotten sippy cups, snacks, and the diaper bag ready. We actually make it 5 minutes EARLY!!!

12:30 Arrive home from church. Jon throws some hotdogs on the grill, but says we have to hurry because there is somewhere we need to be by 1:30.

1:15 Load the boys up in the van and we're off. Jon doesn't tell me where we're going. Imagine my surprise when we arrive at the mall, where Jon tells me to go in and pick something special out for a trip I'm going on next weekend. (Yes, sans kids, more on that later!) He watches the boys while I shop for a bit, but we only have an hour he says. I haven't settled on anything by then, so he says we'll come back.

2:30 The whole fam is in the car and once again, I have no clue where we're headed. Which is why I was just tickled when we pulled up outside of a massage place and Jon informed me that I had an appointment for an hour-long massage!!!!! OMG!! Am I dreaming?

4:00 Massage ends and we head back to the mall, where Jon watches the kids while I try on clothes. He helps me pick out something chic to wear and we both agree we had a really good time. I was so surprised he had so much fun -- I think he gets the shopping gene from his mom.

6:30 Return home, put kids in bed, and enjoy a relaxing evening.

Best. Mother's Day. Ever.

Needless to say, I was on a high most of the week. To think that my husband put so much thought and time into the day just made me feel so special and valued as a mother. Here are some of the other highlights of my week:

* Listening to Sarah Palin speak at home in Michigan. My mother-in-law gave me her ticket and watched my kids so that I could go. Aren't I lucky?
* Taking the kids to the zoo with my father-in-law. Every year, Tanner gets more and more excited!
* Getting our first REAL babysitter ever and going out to a movie last night. We already can't wait to schedule another night out! I feel like a whole new world has opened up for us!

Okay ... gotta get going. Just a little confession, first, though. I was already in my pj's at 8:15 this Saturday, too. But this time I'm getting ready to cuddle up with the hubs and a big bowl of ice cream. :)