Did I mention that the chocolate cake was AWESOME?

It’s not hard to make the people who mean something to you feel special.

But it can be easy to forget to do it regularly.  I know that a lot of people don’t like Mother’s/Father’s Day because of the excessive commercialization.  I’m not really bothered by that aspect of it – that the days are advertised and talked about just means I’ll remember to send something to the woman who spent hours playing in the sun with me, and the man who taught me how to love a garden.

That’s quite alright with me.

Yesterday, John let me play outside without worry, as he took care of household duties.  I mowed the lawn and played with my flower beds.  I watched him and Braden play together, talking of birdies and such.  It was really lovely.  (The chocolate cake I got to cram into my facehole last night wasn’t bad either.)

I can’t say I didn’t spend considerable time off and on thinking about things related to Mother’s day that are sad and which have no emotional or logical resolution that I know of right now.  Things related to what is and what is not, what could have, would have, should have been.  For myself.  For others.

But I also spent a lot of time being aware of what I have and being grateful.

And, you know, eating that chocolate cake.  Layered with chocolate mousse.  *drool*

And while I enjoyed my day, I knew that there was a photo magnet and card from Snapfish in my mom’s hands, and the same for John’s mom.  I know that even if I’m too much of a distractible, lazy douche to let them know every day, at least right now those two moms know I appreciate them.

I have a few things stashed away for June 21 (Father’s Day), too.  Snapfish also helped with that.  And there’s a $50 giveaway over here from them you can enter to get a jump start on your gifts, too.  You can thank me later. (With Chocolate Tall Cake from Ruby Tuesdays.  Just, you know, if you were wondering.  IT’S GOOD.)

Hot

Theme for November 24th, 2007: “Hot.”

Hot, as in the jalapeno peppers I had planted in my garden in Austin, TX back in 2005. Hot, as in this picture was taken in NOVEMBER and my garden was still producing bounty! Why? Because there is no fall (or spring) in TX. Only SUMMER, a week of winter, and then SUMMER again.

My lovely garden – how I miss thee! I had green beans, banana peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplants (3 varieties), zucchini, and cantaloupes (in addition to the jalapenos). Had just planted a lime tree, too. And it survived the “winter!” I was seriously going to never do without a lime in my Coronas again, my friends.

But times change. John decided he needed to leave his Cory Morrow gig (*sniff* I miss you, Cory!) in TX and went to play for Chris Cagle again, based out of TN. For the entire first trimester of my pregnancy with Braden, I saw him about 3 or 4 times. In fact, I had to call him on February 14, 2006 to tell him we were going to have a baby. Best Valentine I’ve ever delivered, shittiest method of delivery.

He was basically living in TN and I in TX from Jan – April 2006. It’s hard to be a nauseous Preggie without someone else to torture and make miserable! My poor employees… I can only imagine how I must have taken it out on them emotionally. Sorry, guys!

In May 2006 we moved to TN, into an apartment, while we tried desperately to sell our home in TX. It took FOREVER and a shortsale to get rid of it. Bleah. Living in an apartment after you’ve owned a house SUCKS, btw.

After living with the asshole loud stair walkers, idiots who smoke in a pregnant lady’s face at the pool, drug dealers in the parking lot, mega loud horse-laugher upstairs, package losing mf’ers in the office, and rampant brown recluse spiders in our unit for a whole year, we moved out of that apartment and into a (rental) house in May of 2007. (And yes, I know what they say about HOUSE RENTERS.)

We are just insanely happy lately. We love living in a house again. There’s a swing for Braden in a tree in the backyard. And come spring there will be a sandbox for him out there as well.

And a new vegetable garden for Momma.

Wanna see more Photo Hunt?