Mother's Day Miles & More

We have had a great Mother's Day weekend.  

On Saturday, to celebrate my friend Kellie's 40th, Andrea, Lucy, Kellie, and I did the Headwaters Forest Reserve hike (11 miles) on a lovely spring day. It took longer than when K and I did it a few years ago because all three of the women (besides me) are native plant admirers (and pullers of invasive ivy).  It was a great time catching up while getting some lovely spring fresh air.

I had never viewed my "Health" iPhone app but this was my step count after the 5-hour hike!

Lovin' the lupine

Tiny bird's nest!

My in-laws, who had been here for two weeks and hugely helpful at our home, departed in the afternoon. The kids are lucky to be so close to them!

On Saturday night, we attended Murray the Magician Magic Show at Bear Lake Casino's Rec room with Shannon/Brian and their kids which, although it was a late (out until 9:30 p.m.!) night for the kids (and me), was fun! 

On Sunday, I felt celebrated by the kids, who put a lot of time into school projects-- 

...especially with this tribute, which I may save forever.

Iver gave me a "coupon bouquet" in Spanish-- one item was "five extra minutes of practicing piano" on which I took him up! 

Kelvin got us each one of these tees. 

My awesome sister-in-law, Kat, sent me a perfect book about the motherhood experience.

I read one of my favorites:

I tried to call my own mom but missed her and will try to connect later! 

Iver and I ran the 40th annual Atalanta Run to benefit Breast/Gyn health, a great cause. Without doing much training, he was up for a five-miler and I agreed (but did some several-mile training runs to prepare. And my legs [mainly knees] were a bit sore from the eleven-mile Saturday hike the day before!). It was an extremely warm morning for Arcata-- in the 70s for the 10 a.m. race but lovely and sunny!

Jenna also ran (and rocked it about 39 min) the five miles!

Iver started out fast but was able to keep up his pace, finishing in 46:26 per official race results!) and, by far, the fastest child running! Many other kids and families did two miles but I was proud he challenged himself and was so gritty!

I followed shortly after in a not-too-shabby 47:48.

It's hard to tire this kid out! 

Mother's Day has not always been a day full of joy for me. I have a lot of complicated feelings about parenthood/motherhood and the burdens (and guilt) of mothers. However, I will say that, while I still struggle with a lot of these things, I have truly felt happy and blessed this year.  I'm forever trying to do better!  

And to end: a lovely poem by Bunmi Laditan

Motherhood isn’t creation

I didn’t choose your nose, hair or wild disposition
I didn’t select what would make you cry or the colours you would be drawn to
I didn’t put the sparkle in your eyes or the bells in your laugh
I may have mixed the ingredients but I didn’t write the recipe
No, motherhood is not creation
It’s the tending of a garden
Knees in the rocky mud
Sweat dripping into eyes under the hot but life-giving sun
A sprinkling of water
The endless picking of weeds
Guarding against hungry beasts
Joy as the first sprouts appear
There is no creation in motherhood, no ownership, only stewardship
And a quiet but profound faith that if cared for, the child will bloom.