Mother's Day Weekend 2017

Our children have graduated from High School in 3 year intervals. The first in 2011, the next in 2014, and now the last in 2017.

When JS graduated, I got a spur-of-the-moment inspiration "wouldn't it be cool if the whole family came out for grad and we rented a cabin for the weekend?" I wasn't sure if my idea would be received with any enthusiasm because it was shaking things up from our usual routine. But, miracle of miracles, my family agreed to my hair-brained idea. At the end of the weekend, the comment was made that we should do it again for the next graduation. A's grad was 3 years away and it sounded a long way off. But time has a way of slipping by, and 2017 came around pretty quick. 

The weekend went by so fast for us. Friday evening was consumed by grad and we didn't arrive at the cabin till midnight, when everyone else was settled for the night. 

Saturday was busy with photography lessons for A with her new Canon Rebel T6 (grad gift)...  

 a craft project for the ladies...

launching some rockets...

 boat rides...

 fishing...

 good eating...

target practice...

(and playing with a deer call!)

 & an evening fire.

It just so happened that grad weekend was also Mother's Day weekend this year. We gathered around the fire pit Saturday evening to sing -our gift to Mom. We are not the Von Trapps by an stretch of the imagination, but it makes Mom happy when we sing together.  

Then for Sunday lunch we had an ice cream cake in her honor. 

Of course we had to take a picture because I don't think it has ever happened since we started marrying off that we were all together on Mother's Day. 

(That's my 2 older brothers in the back & 2 younger brothers in the middle)

It's so rare we are not the ones making the 5 hour trek back home that we relish it when it happens!

Thanks for coming, y'all!

And I'm relieved this was the last graduation-cabin weekend combo for us. It's just too much packed into one weekend. 

And as for my Mother's Day...   someone gave me my favorite cream sticks (I even shared them!)

and a lighthouse bird feeder I love...

(I won't mention any names but having a wife improves the quality & frequency of gifts)

 They all gave me what I really wanted most- their time. Mulching my flowerbeds. 

 I'm so happy with how nice the landscaping looks that I want to just stand outside looking at my flowerbeds. I didn't have to bust my back to get them looking this good either. 

 Then they gave me this gorgeous arrangement of roses and posed for a picture with me. 

That's gotta be worth at least an extra dozen brownie points, don't you think?

 I am a blessed mom!