the Graham Cracker House

Who has ever been able to surprise their mom for mothers day? I mean, really.  It's a Sunday, set aside to celebrate them. They kind of know what's coming. And  I'm sure they appreciate it.  But wouldn't it be wonderful to  actually give Mom some amazing surprise?  This year, my sisters and I were able to do just that.

KC (child #4) was planning to drive up to our dear home in Anacortes, WA with her boyfriend for a roommates wedding on mothers day weekend.  My other married sister (E, child #3) and I mused about how fun it would be to go up to WA with her and be there for Mothers day.  Alas, school and work and husbands and church callings made it seem like an impossible dream.  Suddenly things fell into place.... one of us would drive and one fly.  We told Dad the plan, not sure if we should let mom know or not.  Dad said "You can't keep it a secret from your mother!"  and we took that as our challenge. Of course we could!  maybe.  probably.  We think.  The end result: YES we did keep it a secret, but it was hard and I am sort of surprised she didn't find out.

Flashback to thursday before Mothers Day.  KC, boy, and I drove all day to blessed WA, and picked up E at the airport at 6 pm. We flew (figuratively) to Anacortes, so excited to be with our family, and the house was empty.  Only the puppy greeted us.  After the longest 20 minutes of my life Mom, Dad, and little sister (child #6) came home from dinner.  Mom walked over to give KC a a hug and E and I jumped out from the hallway with "Happy mothers day" signs.  I had never seen her so surprised!  She was so happy too!  She gave us all big hugs and kept saying "my girls! my girls!"  It was a wonderful moment I hope to never forget.

The rest of the weekend has been summed up nicely in various other blogs and emails.  We had a very packed Anacortes weekend and savored every minute. I skipped out on the roommates wedding (but made it to the reception) and spent sometime with my hubby's family instead.  It was fun to see my cute sister-in-law and attend her baby shower.  We are both expecting boys this summer! 


Other Anae highlights:

• kayaking with porpoises (SOOO cool!!... and seals and a bald eagle)
• sailing the new little boat (Ariel) around Campbell Lake
• driving frantically back and forth to Mount Vernon every day
• nice wedding reception by the water
• planting flowers in mom's "mothers day garden"
• walking the dogs
• stairs beach and THE tree at WA park.  It was so warm I didn't need a jacket!   That's saying something!  We had the best weather all week.
• small hike through ACFL
• traditional mothers day dinner (tri tip!)
• babecue and smores at the beach
• semi-family pictures in the back yard
• talking, reading, laughing
• playing board games together
• Maddie's 4 mothers helping her get ready for school.
• doing hair and make-up in the bathroom with all my sisters (this hasn't happened FOREVER and might not ever happen again)
• fancy brunch at a cute cafe with just the girls
• musical performance for mom (we made her cry)
• Gavin always asking to drive the mitsubishi to practice stick shift 

E and I are in the blue kayak. The porpoises were less than 5 feet from us! It was very exciting and  a bit nervous-ing

Maddie and her puppy- Hercules

My face is covered by the sail. I'm at the tiller.  It was great fun!  Teddy loved it too.

As much as I missed my husband, I loved being with my family.  Likely because I knew a time like this will likely never happen again.  Our baby will be born soon (the first grandkid in my family), and other grandkids will soon follow I am sure.  More missions and weddings loom in the Murray family future.  Real jobs, moving to various states, attending college all over the place.  It's getting busy.   Which is why it was so wonderful to take time to just be with my sisters and parents and enjoy being together.