Mother's Day 2008

Mother's Day is usually my favorite holiday, mostly because the kids are so sweet, and I love their crafty art projects and the homemade cards with the poems and sentiments (usually about my cooking skills) they pull out from the bottom of their backpacks...but this year, with two recent familial losses too personal to write about on such a public forum, the holiday was bittersweet. Still, being an eternal optimist (I would wither up and disappear if I ever stopped trying to identify the bright side of every tragedy), I was led to appreciate having four incredible kids. No matter how pissy or argumentative, needy or antagonistic any of them could ever be at any given time, I am always blessed to be their mom. I will never take that for granted. So I spent a little time making a slideshow using a song I first heard in 1991, shortly after becoming a mom for the first time; this song has never left my head. After 17 years, it still makes my heart swell.

I should also add a closing credit to John, the other love of my life...thanks for the privilege of being the mother of your amazing children!

Prom!

I had a lot of fun getting Dylan ready for prom last weekend! I spent my time comparing surly teenager stories with the other moms; it was very therapeutic.

Here he is with his friend Nikki, whom he accompanied to the prom:

And this is his dear friend Ari, who is also Nikki's twin:

I couldn't resist getting a shot of these gorgeous girls' gams, with their perfect tootsies, knowing full well they wouldn't be wearing those shoes for very long!

And, the required group shot:

It certainly reminded me of the best part of being 17 - - the fun, the friendships, and the still-perky body parts!