Mother's Day Gift STOLEN!

Brian's been traveling a lot lately and he was sweet enough to mail a card from his last trip to Boston and brought it in from the mailbox on his way home last night from the airport. 

It had Elvis on the cover (I'm a HUGE Elvis fan!) Cover reads: 

For all you do, I'd just like to say..... 

And, if I have to tell you the punch line, you may NOT call yourself an Elvis fan.

The card had lovely sentiments from my hubby.  For instance: "Can't imagine life without you.  You are the very person God picked for me, the kids and Dell."  Sweet, huh?

I got up this morning and had to leave before everyone else for church.  No balloons on the door?  No breakfast in bed?  Brian called during church and said he and the kids wouldn't be able to make it to church.  AHA!! Secret lunch plans?  A house full of fresh flowers? 

When I got home and was changing into "play clothes", I hear Brian saying in surprise-like-not-so-whispery tones, "Sammie, Chase, Ava, come here."  I turn around and they all say together, "Happy Mother's Day!"  Picture this:  girls are dressed (because I dressed them before church) and boys still in their skivvies.  No candy?  No construction paper artwork? No pipe-cleaner petunias?

So, we move on to dinner which turns out to be leftovers from supper last night.  I fix the kids their spaghetti and clean off the red hands and faces and come to the genius conclusion that there are no specific Mother's Day plans.

Now WAIT A MINUTE!  Before you get all bent out of shape, there are things you must know. First, Brian is not a gifter.  (Check out The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.) And, he's not a natural celebrator.  He wouldn't mind if we never celebrated a birthday again.  Second, I am not a "words of affirmation" girl.  Some of you sloppy sisters would have loved all that Brian wrote in the card, especially because I know he meant it.  Please don't think I'm ungrateful or he's thoughtless...even though, thus far, it sounds exactly like that!

The POINT is, after an hour or two of wandering around the house ungluing children from my arms, I said, "I'm going out for a while."  And, I did.  For a loooong while.  I went to several stores before I hit the mall, then I stayed at the mall for three hours.  Yup...three.  I got a couple of sassy (but modest) blouses, a sweet little summer dress and ...well, I can't even remember, I had so much fun!

I only stepped out to go to T.G.I. Friday's.  That was on my Grandaddy's tab.  He said a few days ago, "Now, Kris, I want you to just go get what you want for Mother's Day."  I said, "Grandaddy, I am not your mother."  With a twinkle in his eye (and one on his gold tooth), he says, "You might as well be, honey."  You have to hear the thick Arkansas accent for it to really hit home.

After my yummy dinner, I went back to the mall and spent another hour.  Then it closed.  But I remembered TARGET was still open!  So I spent an hour and a couple of bucks there, too.  I sauntered on home just in time to tuck the kids in bed.

Now, doesn't that sound like a GREAT Mother's Day?  So, even though it was technically stolen and not so much given, I loved it.  And, I love being a Mom.  

Am I the only one who had to steal her present?