Wednesday, May 29, 2013

While You Were Sleeping

Dear Mom,

I know it was just a little catnap, but I thought you might like to know what we did while you were sleeping...

I tried on your hat.



The baby tried a crayon.



Then...
                                        I tried on your shoes.
     
                           The baby tried a roll of toilet paper.


I finger painted with a paintbrush.  



The baby ate the paint!



I told Grandma I loved her.

The baby threw up on her. (No picture available.)

I'm glad you're finally up because Grammy and the baby fell asleep on the couch.


Love,

Your son (the future ice-climber)













P.S.  Did I mention the baby can crawl up the stairs now?


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Simple Gifts

My favorite Mother's Day gift has to be the one my baby brother gave my mom when he was about four.  The nine-year-old me didn't "get it" at the time.  It took me decades (and having my own kids) before I truly understood the beauty of his simple gift.

That year Dad decided that Billy was big enough to pick a gift out for Mom all by himself.  Billy was excited at the prospect of a shopping trip were he could actually do the choosing.  He came back smiling from ear to ear.  He was wild with delight, truly thrilled with his purchase.  

"Mommy is gonna love this!" he told me.  "She can use it for so many things in so many ways!"  he enthused.
Mom always had a cup of coffee in her hand!

I was super curious about what this perfect gift was but he wasn't giving even the tiniest of hints.  I had to wait just like mom but, he assured me, it was great. When the day came and Billy offered our mother his gift, he just beamed.  

My mother was charmed by the gift and told the story for the rest of her life.
Billy had given Mom a present that he'd chosen himself...

...a ball of string.



Friday, May 3, 2013

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

It's local strawberry season in South Carolina, one of my favorite times of the year.  As soon as I saw the strawberry sign by the side of the road, I whipped my car into the parking lot of the Peach Stand, went in and came out with a couple of quarts of tasty goodness.



At home, I decided to guild the lily by dipping some of the luscious berries into dark chocolate.  We were having a friend over for dinner and I thought that would be a yummy ending to a homemade meal. 

The chocolate I'd melted covered more berries than I needed and I knew if I didn't do something, I'd eat them all on the spot.  Instead I took a plate to my neighbor's house.  His granddaughter was visiting and I knew she loves berries as much as I do.  Together the two of them wolfed down the chocolate-covered fruit in no time.  Strawberry juice was running down their smiling faces.



That night dessert was a big hit at my house too.  When the meal was over not a trace of chocolate remained.  Or so I thought...

That evening as I was brushing my teeth, I saw my reflection in the mirror and got that same queasy feeling of awkward embarrassment that usually washes over me when I realize I've been talking all day with broccoli stuck between my teeth.  (Why does no one ever tell me?) 

My elbow was covered with dipping chocolate.

Classy.