sorry if you get tired of looking at them….i can't help it.
they are just so pretty.
the rain is trampling them right now.
boo hoo.
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ooo-weeee…I love the spirograph icons in your comment section! kids … LOL! Too funny! i love how talby’s shoes match her shirt. 🙂 or perhaps a smaller basketball? I want to be your neighbor! Our kids would have so much fun together! I LOVE that he is swining while he is on his skateboard, stick thingy! Funny! And I love all of your cheerful colorful photos. Did you know we had snow today in Colorado? Ha ha ha, funny post! Your kids are cute. Mine are all grown , 3 girls 27,25,23. I remember the chaos like it was yesterday…wait it was -I babysit 3 grandkids, 4yrs, 2yrs and 8 mos.!! I always love your posts and get a kick out of your pictures! Too funny! Your kids are adorable! i read the heading 3 times before i realized it said “net” and not “hat”. was wondering what basketball had to do with hats. Heehee…very good. How do u get it back out of the net? Lol…ours finally rotted and fell off! At least he was resourceful enough to get it down and work out some aggression at the same time…Kim Ha! I’d just take the net part off. bummer! lol-adorable! you captured it with both photos and words! Looks like it’s at least fun for them both. So cute! I wonder if you clipped one or two sections with scissors if that would help, or would the whole thing unravel? LOL, nice post, very cute Love it! The coordination to stand on a skate board and swing a bat…I’d be flat on my back. Oh to be young again. great pictures. enjoying reading your blog this morning. 🙂 so cute! love it! Oh my gosh that is EXACTLY what is happening to ours. I think I’ve told Jason 10 times we need a new net!!! He’s got some mad skills swinging while on a skateboard. Laughed. Out loud! bummer! you would think a basketball net would be basketball size! i guess you should never assume anything! ha!
my boy getting tickled for trying to be too cool in his picture. :) Happy Birthday Scotty! Oh Meg….I hear you. My eldest turns 12 on May 26th, she is having a pool party with her soccer team and everyone of them have a cell phone..my daughter is the only one without….I know she wants one because everyone has one but really Why..so they can text each other when they are sitting right next to one another….so we are holding out….. I LOVE having boys! So much fun all of the time! Happy belated birthday to your boy! I agree with you on the cell phone thing. When my older son turns twelve in July, I MIGHT feel the issue out, but why? is right! On another note, my son Oliver turned nine on Monday, too! Happy Birthday to our beautiful boys! @Flower patch girl: I think its sad that younger people won’t know about pay phones. I always used to have to carry a couple of quarters in my bus pass wallet, just in case! I hope I can hold off on getting the cell phone. My kid is just 6 and doesn’t need one or even ask for one yet. But I know that my DH is a pushover… we’ll see! Looks like a fun birthday party, I wanna go bowling now! 🙂 I am loving checking out your blog…lots of great pictures here! Just say no to the phones! amen to holding off on the cell phones. keep em’ young longer. Looks like an awesome time! And your chocolate-iced cake looks yummy!!! I can’t stand the cell phone thing. That’s all you see anymore – tweens texting. Annoys me just slightly. 🙂 I can NOT believe they are 12 year olds (or thereabouts) they look older. What is it with kids these days. What are we feeding them???? Looks like a great b-day! I think I’ve said this before, but our 3 girls have one cell phone that they share (that will probably change when Erin goes to college in the fall) and the phone has had texting disabled. Our middle daughter writes me an essay every birthday/christmas/etc. saying why they should be allowed to have texting. She also uses the “you don’t trust us” arguement as often as she can. Doesn’t work. I don’t see the point. I’m ok with having a phone when they’re out late or something, but I don’t get the texting. I absolutely LOVE the last picture with all the boys. You must frame that for his room. He will treasure that always. Looks like a great weekend. You did good Mom. 🙂 meg guess we share having a baby during the week of mother’s day…poor amy she had to share her bday with her grandma c that’s in heaven now, mother’d day and her b day until she stood up for herself and said i want to celebrate my b day all alone (: well ok missy…so we don’t combine anymore. tell scott i would like a piece of that chocolate cake hahaha ): Happy Birthday! My little firecracker shares the same birthday! She just turned 2! 12? wow. scott and craig are total twinbos! if those boys are as goofy as mine are, i bet you guys had fun bowling! happy bday scott! Happy birthday to Scott! My mom is the same way about the cell phone. I will be getting mine soon (I have to pay for it myself, though). She felt that I didn’t need one if I was always with her. She is giving in now but, of course, the condition is that I pay for it myself. She says that I will appreciate it more if I get it that way. Luckily, I’ve saved enough. 🙂 I am in full support on your stance regarding cell phones. My oldest just turned 11 last week and is fairly emphatic that he is need of a cell phone. Some of his friends have had them for 2+ years. Thankfully, his best buddy who lives next store does not so his mother and I have formed a solidarity pact against them…for now. Happy 12th to Scott! Too bad I can’t call him on his cell phone and tell him myself… 😉 I think they only need them if they are in activities and are old enough to be waiting for you by themselves, ONLY in emergencies. our daughter had one for a brief period of time when she was 9, but it was more cause it was an extra and nobody was using it. she didn’t really use it either though!!! I agree with the not needing a cell phone at 12. I know where you are…..school or home, you don’t need a phone. I love boys!!! I’m in the minority with you on the cell phone thing. Loved your last post too on Mother’s Day stuff! The birthday looked fun and happy despite lack of cell phone! And I could sink my teeth into that choc cake! I am SOOO in the minority with you Meg! Cell phones cause trouble when they are too young to have them! oh my goodness these boys are growing up. I love seeing several of my former students. I would have to say that I think Scott has some GREAT friends. Cell phones, wow. Man, what will the kids have when our kids are 12??? Man, that string photo is awesome!!! Happy Birthday!!! My little guy (yep I still call him that) turned 12 on Sunday. Can’t believe it! He is also one of the few on earth with no cell phone. He did get some new sunglasses, it’s hilarious his attitude totally changes when he wears them. We call him “Cool Shade Boy”! “everyone” has a cell phone except my 12 year old. good to know there is actually one other 12 year old that doesn’t have one. Good for you not letting him have a cell phone yet! My parents didn’t let my siblings or I have a cell phone until we were driving, and even then it was only to be used for communicating while we were out with the car, not while we were home with the family. I’m hoping I can do the same with my little girls, but who knows, As my oldest is only two things may be much crazier by then! Scott is SO CUTE!! happy birthday! I can’t even imagine 12! Our oldest will turn 10 next week and I’m super struggling!!! (He’s having his first slumber party…do they call it that with boys?!?…oh man, I feel old!) I’m being stubborn on the whole cell phone issue too. She thinks she needs one RIGHT NOW! She’s 11. Not gonna happen. We don’t know exactly when it will happen. Just know that she won’t be getting one any time soon. Happy birthday Scott!!! Happy Birthday Scott!! Your cakes looks delish!!! Looks like he had a fabulous time with his friends! avoid cell phones until you can’t anymore. sigh. I have a 12 year old boy and he does not have a cell phone or ipod or anything really for that matter. We did just get a Wii for Christmas (a gift from grandparents). I feel like I am becoming my mother when I say “It is not necessary” to a lot of things – but they are just not necessary. I love reading your blog – brightens my day everyday. I laughed when I saw TWELVE…only because of my post FOUR. My cousin’s friend has an iphone and she is in second grade. seriously… perspective people! Looks like Scott had a lot of fun for his birthday weekend! Love the pictures as always! :o) Regarding cell phones – my kids each have one due to my husband and I being over an hour away from them at work every day and they are both in athletics and stay after school sometimes, etc. So it is mainly for safety purposes but they do play on them a lot – which doesn’t bother me but it bothers my husband terribly. I don’t care as long as we are not trying to do some family thing – then it REALLY bothers me! But, at Scott’s age – I see no reason to have them that early either. So you are not alone! ;o) Awww looks like lots of boy fun! My kids won’t have cell phones for a long long time. Not until they NEED them. And I can’t imagine why they would NEED one;) Oh, the cell phone dilemna. Nothing but trouble and wasted time as far as I’m concerned. scott is a carbon copy of your husband. incredible! I think that if your child is with you most of the time, they probably don’t need one. Our 11 year-old daughter has one. We let her go out into the neighborhood to walk to her friends’ houses and she goes to a tween skate park on Friday nights. Because of this, she has a cell phone. Whether parents decide to let their child have one or not, I don’t think either side should judge the other. It seems a lot of the time, the parents who allow cell phones get judged for doing so. I think that’s pretty sad. Our kiddos get cell phones when they get their driver’s license. Try not to feel pressured in to providing them cell phones before you feel they need them. Go with your gut, Megan. God has given you the wisdom you need to be their Mom. :o) I don’t understand the whole cell phone thing either and I grew up in that business when we had car phones before cellular service ever happened. My daughter will be 10 in July and she is asking for one. We home school so she is NEVER away from me except at select friend’s. She does not need one and she won’t be getting one either. I’m sure I’m totally out of touch…oh well. ok…i know that if i do it…then many many of you do it too.
is it too much to expect them not to wipe the paint off the window art? i know i am full of complaints. not because i want gifts…i can buy myself what i want when i want. even it's just for five minutes. i am not unhappy. I love this! (Just found you via Marta Writes) I really like the idea of teaching our children how to take care of a mom on Mother’s Day rather than expecting them just to know. It seems so obvious now that you’ve said it! Is it warped that I’m reading this and feelin’ it… but at Christmas?! Great post and great comments. Thanks. I feel better after a rough week doing n doing for what feels like the whole world and knowing I’m supposed to stuff my own stocking and buy myself something special. Don’t get me wrong, my kids are awesome n hubby tries… I could never vent on my own blog so thanks for allowing me to highjack this! Feel free to delete. It was just good therapy to get it out! I totally agree with you. You do need to teach your chidren to be thoughtful. This was the first year that I insisted that my husband make Mother’s Day special. I wanted the kids to make me cards and yes the cheesy breakfast in bed. It was nice that they recognized me. You’re right we have to teach them these things. Great post:) If you have not watched this video..you must..it is so funny! I just want to share one thing we do with our kids. Chez nou la fête des mères n’ est pas encore arrivée … I read your blog often and totally enjoy it. This Mother’s day was my first. We spent it at my in-laws and celebrating my husband’s grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary. We got flowers and a card for my mother-in-law. Half way through the day my husband folded up a piece of computer paper and “made” me a card. Oh well. I have been telling myself to not expect much in the way of gifts or surprises. I just find it hard to not get a little excited and anticipate that my family will treat me extra special one day out of the year. At the end of the day I know that I am well loved, so I suppose that makes up for it. oh my! this is a lot of comments! i read this post earlier but still have been thinking about it b/c i’m the same as you, no expectations and then you’re not let down. but since i’m a planner, i’m already thinking of what to do for father’s day. yet i’m unmotivated since “my” day didn’t amount to much. any ideas? what are you going to do? can you do a post on what others are doing so i can get ideas and do something without having to put much thought into it :)then if it’s anti-climatic it won’t be like IIIII was the one up all night brainstorming… i feel like i can soooooo relate. i’m 30 and this july i’ll be 31. after my 27th bday party it was hard not to expect another awesome bash but i moved from nashville to florida and now i’m down to 2 real friends. they’re a married couple with kids… I had some of the same feeling on Mother’s Day. Thank you for your honesty. I love that you kept your post about Mother’s Day so real. I spent my day with two stepchildren who totally ignored me. While I understand I am not their birth mother, I do cook, clean, shuttle them to/fro and attend all their events. love this! was tempted to write on my FB status line on mother’s day “everyone, keep your expectations low” 😉 my hubby began cooking the bacon for my “breakfast in bed”, then fell asleep on the couch while it was cooking… guess who finished it aND cleaned it up!! You are so honest and straightforward, and you say these things with grace. Thank you. Thank you for posting this. Yes, I do love you for your honesty – and your humor and creativity, too. i think we would be friends in real life. those were my thoughts too. is it too much to ask for the kids to behave? for one day??? then, like you said, the finger is pointed at me. i’m the one that didn’t teach them to care for others. i’m the one that assumed that by caring for them they would, in turn, learn to care for others automatically. sadly that isn’t the case and i have three kids that call each other idiot and fatty and have had me contemplating more than once getting a fifteen passenger van just so they didn’t have to be near each other in the car. ain’t life grand? Thank you so much for this post! I even read it to my hubby, who said, “See, we’re not the only ones!”. :o) I enjoy your REAL posts like these. I just sent my girlfriend a text telling her to read this blog post! You are dead-on sister! We were wondering if we were the only ones suffering with Mothers Day Pains! “i am disappointed that by now….i haven’t taught them these things. Okay, I’ll just say how sorry I am for you..what a stinker..here’s to better ones in the future. I count my lucky stars…my hubby is great and my kids were only a *little* whiny and annoying but for the most part, it was a great day! This is why I love your blog so much. You are so honest and say things that we can ALL relate to:-) Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This really hits home for me. At least your kids are little and they probably really didn’t know it was Mother’s Day. Mine is 21 and he barely acknowledged it. In fact, this was what I got: a text from him about something else, and tacked onto the end of it was “btw happy mothers day”. Gee, thanks. This was somewhat better than the year he totally forgot my birthday…until I told him the next day. Ugh. If I don’t do it, it doesn’t get done. Obviously you struck a chord!! Your home is so normal…I know exactly what you mean about what gets taught (or doesn’t). I just realized the other day that we never sent out the thank you notes for my son’s birthday presents. His birthday is in January. Nor did we do Christmas, and we get very nice gifts. Sigh. It is so easy to feel like a failure. I guess if we didn’t have hope (especially in the Lord, and the comfort of being covered by his righteousness) then we would be goners. I had that Mother’s Day about 6 years ago – but it was mostly my husband’s thoughtlessness. I was heart broken. I waited a week to “cool” then had a “talk” with my husband. I explained that maybe his father didn’t do these things and I wasn’t clear in my expectations – but here is how it works. I expect a gift. Nothing extravagant – but a gift. I explained why mother’s day would be important to me – you know, being a mom and all. And then I explained this also applies to birthdays and anniversaries. (I totally gave a pass for Valentines Day – not important to me) I have never brought it up again and he has been on it ever since. Make sure your family know how you feel. Sometimes these things have to taught – even though we think they should just be known. (case in point – my husband!) now* following. 🙂 oh and just saw that you have charity water on your sidebar! I love you already. 🙂 I’m not following. ok this is random coming from a stranger but I have to say you have ADORABLE hair! just had to say it. lovely blog. 🙂 you ARE funny! I strongly disagree with you!! I have been reading your blog long enough to know that you ARE modeling “love for one another and making people feel special!” You do so many sweet things for your kids and others. . . so do not blame yourself. I think even though your kids aren’t getting it now, you are teaching them and one day it will click. I’m not a Mom yet, but I love your blog and I loved this post! SO relieved that you didn’t call any of the kids out by name … Some day, they’ll figure it out and the GUILT for this (and other things) will kick in. Sigh. I grew up with an older brother and sister who both were in high school when I was born. They never EVER called me names. I always had so much fun with them when I was growing up. Even now at 40, they are a large part of my life. Our parents have been in a nursing home for several years. My siblings have stepped in and in addition to aunt and uncle, they are also “grandparents” to my three boys. I love them so much. But I digress… My argument is that the DAD is supposed to teach them how to treat the MOM on Mother’s day. I teach them how to treat dad on Father’s day, how to treat each other on birthdays, etc. etc. so Mother’s day is his job. You’re so right though, that when it upsets me the most, it’s usually something that they should have learned from me and I didn’t do a good job of teaching/communicating. Sigh. We do our best though, and although we should always aim high, sometimes our best is enough. Hi Meg- My Mother’s Day was spent on a plane with Ellie (my youngest) heading to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for her 3 month check-up to ensure she remains cancer free. My 13 year old daughter was back at home with her grandparents and my husband was driving the 14 hour trip from Richmond to Memphis so he could be with us while Ellie received her MRI and we awaited the news of whether cancer returned to her brain or if she was still on the path to being cured… (got the news tonight – God continues to heal her…CANCER FREE!!) It wasn’t how I would have liked to spend that day but I couldn’t imagine not being there with Ellie on this journey. So much has changed in our life over the last 2 years and we are just so thankful for all the good. I don’t why I am telling you this much but I know you are thankful for all of it too. You are an amazing mom and I love that you keep it real and tell it like it is. We all live that life – nothing is perfect – it doesn’t exist but only for moments at a time…love each day, try your best, thank God for it all and pray you get to do it all again tomorrow. Um, let’s talk about your top/dress/whatever {Ca-ute!}, and your gorgeous hair . . . oh wait, that’s not what this post was about. Sorry. Meg, thanks for being so honest. It’s so refreshing. It is one of those days that we want to be special, but since we are the only ones in the family that are mothers, well, no one else really gets it. Thanks for your sweet comment on one of my recent Derby posts! Happy belated Mother’s Day!! well…some of it I think is an age/maturity thing and some of it is a personality thing. and then some of it is what you teach them and what they see. i’m saying this coming off a mother’s day spent with my mom and two teenage sisters (i’m 25 – they are 18 and 16 – yowzers). we do really all love each other. sometimes it’s just harder to tell than others… the older we all get, the better i think (hope?) we all behave. although my mom might argue with that! 🙂 Thank You!!!!!!!!! I think my day was an exact replica of yours 🙂 Girl, I’m with you. While visiting my parents…my mother was sick and staying in bed all weekend. So we skipped church to go to in-laws….she wasn’t really expecting us…went to lunch at mc donalds, because hadn’t planned on eating out and everywhere was packed and our kids were starving. Cranky all day. 🙁 I will do better next year and try to make stuff more special. Thank YOU for being real. Yes, that’s why we like you. My Mother’s Day: mothers day doesn’t work. meg- i love this- because i get it- i get it daily! that “what is there problem?- why can’t they get it together!”- oh right- they learned that from me– opps Thats funny, I felt the same way. We traveled 2 hrs one way to meet my husbands mother for lunch. My almost 4 yr old decides that he has to pee every 10 min and scope out the place. CRAZY!!! On the way home and absolutely no entertainment for 3 kids that have had Dr. Pepper for lunch I decide to have a Mommy nap. I do deserve this right? NOT! Didn’t happen. I was ill. Got home and new we were having company and the house was wreck. Excuse me if you heard me all the way from GA. Then I cooked my own supper. Taco Night. Shredded cheese, cut lettuce, browned ground beef, heated taco shells, cut tomato’s up, and put all of this in the lazy susan for everyone to to devour before I even got to the table with their drinks. I so wanted to scream. So after supper I told Mother very loudly to stop cleaning, that we had already cooked our mothers day meal and we AIN’T cleaning. I don’t care if it is a word or not. And yes, he got the hint. I ended up getting a chocolate waffle cone from Bruster’s too. How sweet! Whatever??? Ok, now I am done. I couldn’t let you feel like the lone ranger of witchen. Just keppin it real. I had a crappy day, too. for about the same reasons. Stupid holiday 😉 Sorry for your bad day – your hair looked really cute! is this the meg that put together gifts for her kids for each of the days she was away in Africa…or the one who did a week of fun Christmas crafts?? Ummmm…I think you DO show you kids how to make people feel special. Wow you have a lot of long comments! I’m not a mum but I have been with my mum on mothers day when things are very similar. I think all kids are the same! We mothers are so darn hard on ourselves! Thanks for saying what every Mom is probably thinking to herself…expectations too high? Amen Sister, you’re preaching to the choir. We were supposed to go to Olive Garden for M Day, but when we got there it was too early to hang out for 15 minutes and go have lunch. Soooo, we went to Best Buy (guy store) and by the time we got back to Olive Garden the wait was 1 hour. I knew it would be busy, it’s always busy plus it was M Day. Rather than listen to the wait grumble we went to Red Lobster where we could be seated immediately. I know, still yummy food, but not Olive Garden. Red Lobster = Father’s Day. So sorry your Mother’s Day didn’t turn out so well. I just shamelessly reminded my little ones (and my husband!) all day long that it was Mother’s Day. Hope your next one is tons better! Laughing with you…not at you! Ugh, the ice cream truck is here right outside my driveway. At dinner time…good times. Have a great day after Mother’s day :)! ~Heather R. Meg, I can feel your disappointment, but selfish little beings that they are, kids are kids. Eventually they’ll get it right! You just have to remind them for a week or two that Mother’s Day is coming up. Ha! Right there with you 🙂 My kids were the worst behaved at Church they have ever been and my husband’s attempts at quieting them down only made them louder. Friends sitting a few pews away kept looking over, obviously wanting to help, but being afraid their efforts would only add to the din my children were making already. It was mortifying 🙁 I watched the kids while the hubby mowed the lawn, then went out for some alone time which was interrupted 30mins later by hubby asking me to bring home something for dinner. At least we had cake and ice cream for dessert 🙂 Meg, I just love Annie’s bangs – she’s stinkin’ cute! (that is Annie right?) I loved this post. I was just thinkin’ of you and Ashley Ann. I just heard about all of the nasty weather in KS and OK. Hope you are okay. Take care! You are way too hard on yourself. Your kids are still kids. You are still ‘mom.’ I would be suspicious if they were too well-behaved. So far, it looks like your kids are genuine and sincere, healthy and energetic, and connected to their family with strong relationships. I love the pictures. They say so much more about who your kids see than a perfect pose might offer. Looks very ‘loved’ to me. I seriously don’t get how they didn’t know it was mother’s day! Didn’t they make something at school? I am a teacher, so I am flabbergasted as to how they acted like they had no idea?? I’m starting young! they’re 2 and 4 and I told them all day that it was mothers day and what happens on mothers day – no fighting, no whining, no crying and lots of I love you and hugs for mum who is queen for just one day …. i repeated this over and over and over and I think by the time they are ten they will now it by heart and i would hopefully have created a wonderful mothers day for the future! ohhhhh i feel so much better…. i reall y think they should do away with these holidays. they are only a set up for a let down… “Her children arise up and call her blessed”, Proverbs 31:28. Your children are still in the growing process but one day (I promise this is true) they will recall all the special days that you were their mother. I totally get this. My Mother’s Day was really great but I get this in an everyday sense. People think I’m crazy to take my kids to the grocery store in the middle of the week when I could go myself if I waited two more days. But if I don’t do it, how will they ever learn how to behave in the store? That’s my job as their mom right? It’s hard sometimes but it’s good to do hard things. The outcome is always better than going the easy way. 🙂 Thanks for keeping it real! Hi Meg, OH man! I feel so bad for yoU! seriously, my day started off good, but then the girls got crabby and they “almost” ruined my day by being sassy, but then I had them re-check the attitude (which we left home) and we went out to the forest preserves for a nice walk and out to lunch at Panera. So I know what you are talking about, seriously! oh how I love seeing posts like this! Not because I want you to feel unloved on Mother’s Day but because all of us moms have felt that way. You know, except for those perfect moms who blog and have a perfect husband and perfect kids and a perfect life and they poop out flowers & butterflies. Oops, did I say that out loud?? I think this year was the first year when I really feel like my kids made me feel like I was important. Oh sure, they still argued and whined. But their presents this year were very special & heartfelt. And my husband, after being a parent for 8 1/2 years, just may be starting to “get it”. You didn’t ruin my buzz. In fact, you made my day. I cried several times yesterday, mainly because I felt guilty about how sad I was that no one in my family did anything to make it feel like a special day. I’m not looking for anything extreme or expensive, but like you said, how about less screaming or punching, or fewer dishes in the sink. Thank you for being real in your post. LOVED the post. So very true for so many of us. I tried to lower my expectations as well. It helped but still the lack of thought is beyond ridiculous. hey at least you got to go to lunch. I got up early with the kids while my hubby slept in and of course my kids forgot. So when my hubs finally made it downstairs he wished me a happy mothers day the kids “oh happy …. mom”. Real special!!! Thank you so very much for making me not feel alone in my feelings. I hate that my 16 year old can’t manage to say happy birthday or happy mother’s day to anyone in our immediate family. She apparently thinks it isn’t important unless it it’s for her. Ticks me off and I’m pretty sure she didn’t learn that from me because I have done everything to teach her the opposite, but somehow it doesn’t matter. I think it will get better when the kids are old enough to realize what a good thing they got! I don’t have kids yet but I do know now what an awesome and amazing mother I have. We took her out to brunch. While we were waiting, a toddler started throwing a tantrum and the mom was fussing over her while the dad stood by. My mom was GLARING at the dad. “It is mother’s day! That dad should be the one taking care of that! Let the woman enjoy herself!” she kept whispering to me. I’ve also learned the importance of nicely wrapped gifts (however small, the wrapping is important!) and a card that actually SAYS something. I’m 25 and happy now to spoil my mom a little bit! But I still think when I have kids I’m going to take Mother’s Day as a girl’s day, hang out with my girlfriends and leave Dad at home to watch the kids. You are not alone! Love you for keeping it real and for saying what most of us are thinking & feeling. My request for the day was breakfast at my favorite diner, my car washed by my 2 guys & a late lunch at the park with my extended family (mom, sis, their families, etc.), easy clean-up. I got breakfast which was very nice, although the rest of the day was hectic & all the “mom’s” ended up preparing all of the food & no picnic, I ended up hosting at home, as usual. 🙂 SO GET IT!!!!!!!!!! I was going to post a very similar post, but decided to stay pretty neutral since my hubby reads my blog……..don’t want to seem ungrateful. But yes….have no expectations and no disappointment? NO…have no expectations and still be disappointed. such is life. I like that you said we must “teach them” to treat people special. I make a huge deal out of all occassions/holidays……..you think the kids/hubby would get it…… 🙂 You are hilarious and funny…..and real. I get accused of that too………I have never commented on your blog, but do read it often…… I love this post. I love how real you are. It made me think of what I’m teaching to my children…I think it’s time to do some loving on others and sacrificial gift giving. You are an amazing woman, thank you for sharing your not-so-ideal Mother’s day with us! Loved the first picture. Who took them for you? Great post. Made me smile. Then it made me hungry. Who knew that there are so many of us!!!! Hmmmm…where you a fly on our wall yesterday?!? The boys remembered and made me some pretty nice things, but 2 seconds after I hopped in the shower WW3 broke out…really all I want is a nice shower…is being able to shave Both of my legs too much to ask for? Wow. I could have written this myself. Only not as well and with much more whining. So glad someone wrote about a less than perfect day, makes me feel a little more normal. Apparently I’m not the only one who has some training to do with the children. Thanks for posting a real post. I thought I was the only one who had a day like this. Hubby tried so hard to make the day special for me, but I guess kids have different ideas. They really think life is all about them. I guess I have more training to do. You stole the post right out off my finger tips – still got to get my kids to bed!!!! but man… Amen and Amen…. should I say it again… Amen!!! I love that you are real, too. 🙂 Sorry that Mother’s Day was rough…I have been there, I think we all have! (Birthdays are normally the worst for me, I always have really high expectations.) For what it’s worth: 1) from what I’ve seen on the blog I think you do a great job teaching your children and 2) you looked super cute yesterday. 🙂 WOW! This sounds EXACTLY like my Mother’s Day! At one point, when my husband was telling our entirely too cranky almost five year old that “today is mommy’s special day”, her response was “Well, when is MY special day?” I looked at her and lost it: EVERY DAY! EVERY DAY IS YOUR SPECIAL DAY! BECAUSE EVERYTHING I DO IS FOR YOU AND YOUR BROTHER. AND WOULD IT KILL YOU TO BE NICE JUST. THIS. ONCE? No buzz kill here! Just sentiments exactly as I would write them, if I would take the time, which I won’t because I don’t want to give yesterday any more thought. First, happy belated mother’s day! you didn’t kill my buzz…mother’s day is over rated in my books. my girls were driving me nuts and acting crazy! just for one day i would like a little peace and quite, but that is okay. thank you for putting down what i wanted to but didn’t have the guts to. I’m sorry your Mother’s Day wasn’t all you hoped for either. I have to say that I was very disappointed in how mine turned out. My husband got up at 8am for all of five minutes to ‘feed’ our children breakfast. He gave them rice krispy treats. He went back to bed and I got up to get them a more suitable start to their morning. Then I got upset because some hair clips I made were falling apart. I asked for help in finding the tool bag to get the super glue. When I told him what it was for, he told me it wasn’t a big deal. And it wasn’t in the long run…but for those 10mins it was a big deal to me and I did not appreciate it. The girls and I left for church without Dad (who started to complain of a headache). 30mins into church, he showed up. Things went better. Came home, made waffles and home-made whipped cream with the girls. He didn’t help out a whole lot…just waited until it was time to eat. He stressed out over the girls playing in the backyard and I had to remind him several times that them getting dirty was really not a big deal. Finally it was time for bed. I had to ask him to turn off the TV for our last 30mins up together. Bedtime with the girls was fun. Stories and songs and giggles. Daddy was asleep on the floor for all of it. Then we came downstairs and he started to complain about his life and someone at church and then we talked about how it might be a good idea for him to move out. HELLO!! you went to sugar sisters!! that right there should cancel out everything negative! 🙂 I so feel your hurt and disappointment. The sad thing is that I did bring up my girls to feel compassion and thoughtfulness, and they are that way, just not to me! I try not to get my hopes up, but every year the same thing happens. Thanks for putting my feelings into words. Yesterday was my 7th Mother’s Day. Yesterday was the first Mother’s day that I wasn’t disappointed. My husband brought a new tree in for me on Saturday. (That was good – even though I don’t nomally like early gifts….I guess hiding a tree was hard). We had a nice family drive on Saturday – totally unexpected. And then…..what I planned for Sunday – I invited a family over for a BBQ. A family that could use a little extra love. I’ve found I just do better when I serve others. It’s my gifting, and it really helps me to have no expectations for myself. Here’s to next year!! 🙂 I just had a long conversation with a friend about expectations. She never has any for herself because she doesn’t want to be disappointed. I on the other hand expect to be blessed. Proverbs 23:7 says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. So believing good things are gonna happen is key… I think. Also little hints and reminders along the way helps;) So sorry your day was less than. If it’s any consolation you looked adorable at lunch. Still rockin’ that new ‘do. Thanks for keeping it real. I really didn’t appreciate my parents UNTIL I went to collegE DO YOU NOTICE HOW I’m writing in all caps off and on. That’s my son…Anyways, you are a wonderful mother. I mean, that’s why so many of us follow you. I think I’ve decided mother’s day is going to be my day to retreat into the mountains and not return until everyone is asleep. I think we all get discouraged when we give our heart away but Jesus wouldn’t have it any other way. Love you girl! Meg – don’t be so hard on yourself. Kids are selfish by nature. They do learn by example but from what I’ve seem on your blog …. they know all about how to be generous, kind, and willing to help others. They are just being kids, it’s their job … drive you crazy. Be glad you are pretty much past the puked on stage. I was puked on 6 times yesterday. I still smell vomit … I think the scent is stuck in my nostrils. Good times. Meg, I struggle with excpectations, too. My daddy always did really special things in really special ways and I often feel sorry for my husband and children because they have to follow in his footsteps. I have taken to giving some general ideas of special things I enjoy. My sweet husband really likes to do special things for me but I think sometimes he gets overwhelmed by all of the options. He prefers that I just outright tell him some things that I want. Hi Meg, That is upsetting. Somehow my kids have it right, and I’m not sure how; they made me 14 cards between the 2 of them, a banner, chalked the sidewalk…all little things that meant a lot to me. My husband got me a gift too, but really, that wasn’t what meant the most. So I’m not sure why my kids are this way. We’ve always made a big deal out of birthdays for all in the family, not so much $ (well, usually, not always)…not sure why mine get it. EXCEPT that my father made a HUGE deal out of my Mom’s bday and Mother’s Day. He always let us make a cake (from a mix, but still)-one year we made the cake aqua and the icing lavender. Lovely. 🙂 But it was fun, and I’d like to think I had something to do with my girls being this way, but really I’m not sure. I would tell them that it’s the one day for you to feel special and that they kind of hurt your feelings. I don’t think that’s wrong! 🙁 This was my mother’s day too. I also feel guilty complaining but really…I melted down and ended with a little gift at the end of the day! Here’s to hoping next year is better! I just got off the phone with my hubby, crying how I feel about Mother’s Day….and that I am the reason it turned out that way. And I feel all alone, and I’m so sorry that your post makes me feel better because I wish we were up today with warmth in our hearts about how perfectly yesterday went and what a fantastic job we’ve done raising our kids. I COMPLETELY understand! My first mother’s day I was expecting a parade I think. Now I know it’s just another day (not really, but kinda), and if you get a card or flowers or chocolate it becomes an even better day. If your kids see you go all out for your mama though, they may start to understand what it’s all about. =) Oh Meg… I so feel ya. Love this post. So real & honest. I understand this so much – while yesterday was actually the best mothers day ever for me, and I really REALLY was trying to have absolutely no expectations – I know exactly where you are coming from with your post. You are not alone (unfortunately) I am in tears. Finally, someone writes what I have been dying to say. my mother in law gave me that advice of “never expect anything” years ago. i hated it then and i hate it now. Happy (belated) mother’s day. As a reader of your blog, I think I semi-qualify to say you are an amazing mum. The fact that kids are kids, will make them not think about certain things at times. You are sooo right! Yesterday morning I cried for a full hr because I expected someone, anyone to remember it was Mother’s Day (I am also 8 months pregnant so the hormones are all crazy). And it didn’t get any better from there…definitely not a stellar Mother’s Day BUT you are sooo right. How can I expect something that they don’t understand or are taught. Next year I will straight up tell the family what I expect (and it isn’t cards and gifts…more like thankful attitudes). I too do not have expectations for “Special Days”, though yesterday I did feel a little sorry for myself… Only because, on Thursday of this past week my husband make a big production after some jewelry commercial aired on TV… I said that for Mother’s day I didn’t think husbands should go crazy on gifts since I’m not “His” mother. He responded that Mother’s day is a for him to celebrate me as his wife and mother of his children. Good post! I told my mom I was going to enjoy mother’s day yesterday while my kids still adore me… I acutely remember a brother home from college for Mother’s Day, trying not to take drugs for the day (soon to be checked into rehab) and screaming (obscenities) at my mom from the top of the stairs on the way to church. Even the best moms, and my mom IS THE BEST, have their hard days! same thing over here! kids were awful in the car, wined all day, were angry when we left, got so messy they needed a bath (ugh), fought with one another…. basically drove me batty! cheers to us…. the mommies! better luck next year? it is oh too easy to get sucked in to the ol’ expectations. I HATE that. But it is so hard on days like yesterday. and they almost always fail when you can’t let go of those expectations. Ugh! It’s hard being a mom! I like keeping it real…but let me say that at least around here and with a few of my friends, “it gets better the older they get”…many were waiting into the 20 somethings of their kids….my Mother’s Day gets sweeter and sweeter each year….our girls are 20 and 24. The husband/children training is often years of plugging away and suddenly you start seeing the fruit. And some personalities just flow with this better. Treat yourself this week! Love yourself… Yep…I feel ya! My 5 year old was in timeout A LOT of the morning, my 2 year old was a little monkey and my baby was sick and fussy. It felt like more work because my husband wouldn’t let me do anything but then he doesn’t know where certain things are, how to do this or that and so after all was said and done, I ended up having to fix all those things. UGH. yep…i could have written your post as well…i am blaming it all on my husband’s mother though…he’s the one that needs to do some learning. Aww Meg! feel for you 🙂 I have been there so many times and over the years I have learned a few things…#1 Remind them it is Mothers Day (a few days before)and hint at what you would like. #2 Your husband sets the tone.It is his job to rally the kids and make them tow the line. Now that my kids are teenagers it is a bit better…but it all boils down to giving you respect on that day, honoring you and what you do day in and day out. Compassion is a hard lesson sometimes to teach children…but you live it with your life and as they get older they will understand. Hi Meg. I enjoy your honesty so much! I must have said myself 10 times yesterday…. “just one day” can’t everyone be nice just for one day?! I guess as moms we have to be happy for the few joyous, kind, and sweet moments we do get! Thanks for giving me a good chuckle this morning, and making me feel like I’m not alone in these Mother’s Day thoughts! ohhhh gawwwwwwd, i could have written this post. and i hate complaining because it makes me feel all whiney and it’s all about me. Megan, thank you for your honesty! I think there are more moms with stories like yours than not… That’s why moms are the strongest people in the world. This Mother’s Day, all I wanted from Fiona was to come to church early with me, so I could sing in the choir because we were saying farewell to some friends who are moving away – the wife stands in the choir next to me. Well, of all things, on this ONE DAY, my daughter who usually happily comes to church, begged off, saying her throat hurt. She’s got some kind of allergy-related thing, not strep. No fever. Just tired and didn’t want to bother. It shocked me. I think of her as generally being compassionate — often typically “only child” selfish on a day-to-day basis — but certainly not on MOTHER’S DAY. I had all the same thoughts you did. Where did I go wrong? It really did upset my whole day because it was so hard to accept. Turned out OK, but, not my best Mother’s Day, that’s for sure. I’m glad you can sympathize. 🙂 I know exactly how you feel. I try every Mothers Day but it still seems like deep down I’m hoping for some super special surprise. The episode last week of The Middle pretty much said it all, lol. When my kids get in that “it’s all about me” mode, I always remind myself that it takes the frontal lobe of the brain 25 years to fully develop… It’s the only thing that keeps me semi-sane. Meg, i will always leave comment..word verification or not 😉 thanks for checking. i mean, how do you not leave a comment when you go ahead and post pics like that?! yes, that’s why i keep coming back for more. I’m so glad the day is over too. The expectations of a day like that are so high and so easily let down. I was irritated with my one kid who thought we should do special things celebrating him! Even after explaining over and over again that it was Mom’s day, he just couldn’t wrap himself around that concept! Rgh! Glad it’s over! (Don’t get me wrong — very thankful to be a mom — but I don’t want to wait until my first grandchild is born to have my son be thankful for own mother!) Oh Meg, I am sorry! Don’t feel bad for the way you feel. You are right, they should know how to act when you take them out. You have taught them that but sometimes they just don’t follow the rules. Okay. Can I just say that you have literally let the sun shine in on my post Mother’s Day funk. I was feeling blech! about my Mother’s Day. Nothing was really different than normal. I guess I’ve just been feeling a bit burnt out. Last yr my daughter went out back and picked MY roses and asked for a vase. She fixed a beautiful arrangement for her Sunday school teacher. No gift for me. No card. Nothing. I was so hurt. So, I get what you are saying. This year they were all great, so I think it is just seasons. Sending big hugs knowing exactly how you are feeling. Don’t feel bad now for speaking it out loud. But, you said it is you who teaches them… Megan, I have seen yor love when you make celebrations for them and you have done that job. Just give them time for it to stick and for it to grow in them. IT WILL! yeah. my mother’s day was less than awesome, too. First, I love that motto too. I always say LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS…and sometimes that goes all the way down to just no puking. Sometimes maybe even lower? ok….you have validated the fact that i am not CRAZY!!! lols You arent whining….just being honest…and that IS what I love about your site!!! Life isnt always what you want it to be…and holidays are no exception….I have felt the same thing at times…for Christmas my husband bought me a purple coat and said “purple is your favorite color”…um…pink is my favorite color…ya…i cried…lols… My husband let me sleep late. After that, it was a normal day. I cooked, cleaned, changed diapers, and disciplined all day long. If I don’t do those things, who will? My husband is very helpful, but it still takes two sometimes! Megan, I totally hear you. As the kids were bickering last night and my son was telling me he only wanted PB&J for dinner, I was seriously counting down the minutes until bedtime so I could get some peace and quiet. Just another day in our house too. Oh Meg – I could have written your post. It’s not whiny, just real. I have 4 (11+6 year old triplets) and there are days I feel exactly like what you just described in this post. All part of being a Mommy I guess. There is a special place in God’s heart for mothers – and He teaches us so many lessons through our children. Happy belated Mother’s Day to you!! I feel your pain…my daughter woke me up at 5:30 a.m. so I could open the card (her dad bought for her to give me). She signed it. It was cute, but noisy. Then while I was getting ready for church my husband came to me and asked me why I posted that I was sad on my facebook. I didn’t. It was 10:00 by then and the time stamp was 5 hours ago. I know who was up at 5:00 a.m. How she managed to do this I don’t know she is nine, has dyslexia and a lot of trouble reading but she is a whiz at the computer. I was getting posts and text messages from friends wanting to know what was wrong. I don’t know how you do it…I only have one child! I know how you feel..oh so well! I have a three year old that was throwing tantrums all day. I did at least 4 loads of laundry. Cleaned the house – it didn’t feel like a special day. I am even 26 weeks prego! I did take time in the afternoon to stop the chores and scrapbook. Sometimes I think we just have to not expect people to make special moments for us but create our own. You are a great Mom! I grew up with a less than ideal sibling situation (my bro had MAJOR adhd) in which I didn’t get a whole lot of attention and it created a weird family dynamic and I can guess my mom felt like you a lot of the time. Because my brother equaled about 4 kids. It will get better! Now we have fun on holidays, we rarely argue, and we all appreciate my mom (an she knows it). Kids just have to learn what it’s like to not have mom there for everything all the time.
mom….you are funny…and you tell funny stories. happy mother's day mom. Each photo was so beautiful in a wonderful and unique way. This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed looking. Thanks for sharing your mother’s day…. I intend to write on my blog about it this weekend… yes, that is one week after the event. I hear you on the above. And I hear your love for your kids. Life is just funny sometimes. Sweet, sweet You and your mum look so alike! Both of you are really beautiful! I love your mom’s freckles! Awww. 🙂 didn’t you used to have a pic up of you in crazy glasses? hmmm….I wonder where you get it from? My goodness, you dad sure is good looking! Our mom is wonderful – thanks for putting it out there for the world to see. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms today Has anyone ever told you that you favor your mom? You do! Your mom rocks! What a heartfelt and beautiful tribute. Happy Mother’s Day!!! Beautifully said. A happy Mother’s Day to you! Your mom is so cute! Happy Mother’s day! What a beautiful Mamma you have! Your tribute made me think of my Mom that is 350 miles away….it was very nice. Lovely! Happy Mother’s Day!! Very sweet post Meg. I’m sure to have a daughter like you, your mom must be a wonderful woman! Sweet tribute. Happy mothers day to you Meg! Happy Mother’s Day Meg! Thank you Megan. I’m all vah-klimp! Have a great day Meg. Sweet tribute to your momma! happy mother’s day! Awww so sweet! Hope you all have a great day 😀 You have such a wonderful Mom (: Love, love, love the photo with the purple glasses. What a cool Grandma! Margarita Recipe? Do share please:)
Love the earrings you’re wearing in that last shot. Those first pictures with your younger son (I think that’s right) are so funny. And Talby is looking so like you! What a sweet face! Happy Mother’s Day Meg!! I love the photo of Talby. She is adorable! i love the photo of you and your pooch! it truly is the good stuff. thanks for sharing! please move to alabama and be my bff. pretty please! Wonderful, happy pictures! Especially the ones of you all terrorizing some indoor pool. HA! Looks like so much fun! All of it! good stuff for sure!! love the pool pics the most… Such priceless photos! I’m so glad I found your blog. I loved the guest post at 320 Sycamore! Fun times 🙂 And I love Waffle’s “mean dog” face 🙂 I love it that you have to help him be mean 😉 Happy Mother’s Day Meg!!!!!!!! oh ya, i forgot to say, it hard to make a doodle look vicious, even when you try too! love waffles haircut – looks just like koda used too sniff sniff… and oh my goodness, talby looks just like you!!! Looks like fun!!! My little ones just started taking swim lesson 2 months ago. We are loving it. Can’t wait to let them take off and swim this summer. Your pictures are lovely!( As per usual lol) stop it with the cute kids. its not fair to the rest of us! 🙂 please have a drubers giveaway! 🙂 This is the 3rd post I have seen today about Drubers. Makes me REALLY want donuts! this post is going to ramble on and on…with many links. it's my new favorite store. 5. i am a guest blogger today. Maybe I should’ve purchased that watch… I am a HUGE Francesca’s fan! I don’t go very often because dangerous things happen with my wallet. Oooh, the dining room will be so fun! Can’t wait to see it when you’re done! 🙂 Just pourd my coffee and I am sitting here sipping and reading your blog while the family is sleeping… heavenly way to start my day. Hope you had a nice mothers day : ) I read 302 sycamore too 😀 Great blog! You are so funny…I call myself a ding dong, too. Like the old-school cakes. Soft and spongy on the outside, full of fluff on the inside. haha That refers to me, not you. 🙂 I think you are awesome. I think Ding Dongs are pretty cool too. haha I can’t wait to see the finished dining room!! Nice post(s) about mothers, you inspire as always, thanks!! ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh nnnnnnnooooooooooo! you added word verification!!! 😉 you. are. awesome. Ok, please tell me what color that is on your walls.. it is incredible! I am heading over to Melissa’s right now! Awesome guest post! Great words. Thank you, Meg and Happy Mother’s Day! I am always so pleased to find a new post. I wish you all the best this Mother’s Day Weekend. I was thinking about your pillows today, and your photography, and your lovely writing voice. You have been given many talents. Thank you for sharing them with us. I for one am very appreciative. I went and read the post. I made a book on MyPublisher and love them…well, not the price but the quality is amazing. meg, that was beautiful! As a renter, Apartment Therapy has been a great place for me to visit! I love it! and I love that now there’s a book! Hi Meg…I just stumbled upon your site this week. First off- I love your blog and all it entails…your home is so dreamy and you display a very realistic- yet FUN looking family. I have a question. Do you take custom orders for pillows…? I went to find Francesca’s after reading PW too. Loved it! Your guest blog post is AMAZING! Thank you! I really needed something like that! Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks for the guest blogs. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I needed some mama inspiration to keep me going with these two boys of mine! Thank you. That is quite an honor! Now I’m off to check out all your links. Happy Mother’s day Meg:) I wish your guest post had been on 100 blogs today, because it’s something every mom needs to hear. Thank you again, Meg! Good luck with the dining room~can’t wait to see. Happy Mother’s Day~ love that you merged 2 people [hilarious]. 🙂 but loved your mother’s day guest-post EVEN MORE. made me cry. so well written, so many WONDERFUL points. and the photos speak volumes to the lives your children are leading [as always]. such an awesome post – glad it can be found in TWO places in the internet world. 😉 The guest posts were so awesome. I got tears in my eyes just from the emotion. Enjoy those kids because it goes by way too fast. Now, I am a grandmother and it is going by way too fast. Happy Mother’s Day to someone who appears to be a #1 Mom! Can’t wait to see the dinning room. I showed my hubby the pic of the pipe from your post earlier this week. . . he told me this morning he woke up in a cold sweat last night dreaming about finding the same pipe in our house. ha! Totally different subject. . . but every time I see the commercials for the McGruger movie I think of you. . . . wonder if it will be as funny? Oh Meg, THANK YOU for the MyPublisher link!!! I get emails from them but delete them after a half glance. I use them to make a coffee table book every year of my daughter’s life. I wait until they have a BOGO or a B1Get-One-1/2-Off sale, and give a copy to my mom for Christmas. Combine those sales with this gift certificate savings and I’m in savings heaven!! Thank you!!!!!! I LOVE MyPublisher! I love Apartment Therapy, that book looks neat! |
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Kelly - I love the ruffles of them! Kelly
Michelle - These are absolutely my favorite flowers, so I won’t ever get tired of seeing pictures of them! They’re hard to grow here in Alaska, though. I just haven’t had good luck.
Jemm - Oh, my gosh, those are so beautiful! Mine are just barely starting to bloom. You’ve got several kinds there. Very pretty the way you edited them too.
deb meyers - Never too many peony photos! I’ll enjoy yours until mine explode.
Loved the recital story. I wish I’d been that kind of mom to my firstborn. I used to consider it weakness but life has proven it to be the better way : )
Readers! Don’t pick off the ants! God designed them to eat the peony bud coating. You will have no blooms if you kill the ants.
deb meyers
tess s. - i love peonies. i’ve planted them once in a garden and we moved before the next spring so i never saw them bloom again.
i’ve heard they attract ants. i’m hoping to plant them in the new house. (newly developed… we don’t even have grass yet…. it’s a HUGE blank canvas.)
Emilie - I got some shoots from my great aunt’s house a year ago… I have 3 or 4 plants that come up and this year I finally have ONE bud… finally! I check every day to see if it has bloomed 🙂
Nina - I love them!
Rachel / cREaTe - so i have a peony question for you. when do you think i’ll get this kind of crop? from the bulbs i bought from aldi’s & just planted on monday? some how i think i missed the boat this season. 🙂 ha ha ha but yours are GORGEOUS. enjoy!
linda lou - our peonies smell like a bottle of perfume….they are hidden on the back side of the house only us and our neighbors can see them, they came from my mother in laws bunch which amy and i both have(: to carry them on!!
tell annie to hang in there there will be more piano rectials for her and it will be easier..
Sara Cameli - Photo’s, not the real flowers… ha ha.
Sara Cameli - Meg, can you put these in your shop? I’d love to buy some…. 🙂
Sandy - Thanks for sharing. Mine aren’t open yet so I’ll enjoy yours until I can bring some inside.
Leah in FL - Beautiful ….
Thanks for sharing. :o)
kasey - gorgeous!
Sophie - They’re your favorite flower, aren’t they?
They’re mine too (:
Last year I was working on my school’s plot of land with some friends and a teacher and there were tons of them. The teacher saw me keep looking at them so she let me pick some and take them home, before they all died off. I walked home with a huge bunch of them in my arms. It was raining but me and my peonies were beyond caring (:
Angela - One of my most favorite flowers! I’ve been following your blog for a while and you always have the most amazing photos. And I’m really glad you posted these pics since I didn’t even think about taking any photos of our peonies and they have already come and gone for the season where I am 🙁
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh, I could NEVER get tired of these! They are just AMAZING! Great, great photos!
jeny - never. ever. tired. beautiful.
and … you did the most honorable thing, allowing her to have her feelings and sheilding her from the others. (this coming from a music teacher’s child)
Linette - I love peonies, but I don’t see them much where I live now (Georgia). I remember they always seemed so fluffy and cool to the touch. They usually had big, black ants in them, too, which I didn’t love.
I have been reading your blog for well over a year now, and this is the first comment I’ve left. But I really like everything you post. 🙂
Karen Gerstenberger - They are so beautiful! I couldn’t get tired of their beauty. They made me think of some of the couture dresses I’ve seen in magazines lately – soft, torn chiffon and silk. I wonder if peonies gave the designers their inspiration. Thank you for posting them!
Kimberlee J. - Do you think my neighbors would notice if I picked a few large bouquets out of their yard until I get some to grow over here? 🙂
Kari - They are gorgeous! I love them and can’t wait to have some peony bushes of my own someday!
Megan - I adore peonies! They bring back such wonderful childhood memories of an elderly neighbor and the visits we had. I’ll never get tired of seeing them!
Julie - I love Peonies too! Every house we ever lived in when I was young we always have several peony bushes… sadly, I don’t have any now… I need to make a mental note to purchase some and get them planted so they will bloom next year!!
Stephanie - Beautiful!!
MEG DUERKSEN - hi dina.
with peonies….i have always meant to put cages around them.
but i forget till it’s too late.
so….buy a cage for each bush.
then next spring (like you’ll remember this??) 🙂
put the cage on before it grows then when it gets big it will be supported by the cage inside that it grew around.
and the blooms won’t be on the ground…like mine are now.
after the blooms die cut the stem back and the bush stay green all summer.
just water them like everything else…nothing major.
when it’s fall you can cut it down to the ground.
in the spring they come back from out of the ground. 🙂
they are about the easiest plant you can get.
good luck!
Flower Patch Farmgirl - Who could ever tire of peonies? Mine are still tight little balls…come on, warm weather!!
Staci - Never tire of your beautiful pics 🙂 Rain (tornado) Rain (tornado) GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!
Melissa - my favorite too! I wish I had a bush of them for myself!
Jules - Those are nothing short of spectacular! Amazing photos!
Krista - The dark pink ones are just gorgeous!
Dina - Mine are in full bloom too…. LOVE them:-)
Question… the blooms on mine are so heavy, they drag on the ground. How do I groom/take care of these bushes? I so DON’T have a green thumb — wish I did:-( Do I cut them back at a certain time of year or dig up and divide?
Just wondering:-) LOVE you pics!
Tanya - I love them! So pretty.
Melissa Gruber - they are my favorite and i don’t have one bush in my yard of them…that needs to change this year! i am going to get one!
Meredith - Wow. Those are just beautiful. I can practically smell them through my computer screen.
Debra - Quick, go pick them!
Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. - I never get tired of peonies! Ours won’t open for a few more weeks…
Nancy - Just lovely. I wish I could grow those. I think my dogs would eat them for lunch. 🙁 I will enjoy yours.
Penny - Beautiful photos. I love Peonies. My name is Penny and my grandmother-in-law (from the south) always called me Peonie!
My mother has a very old peonie bush that I think is over 50 years old. The shoot came from her childhood home. I grew up with them and love them.
Cindy Ashmore - Very pretty!