That's one order of guilt (supersized), and a side of redemption. Would you like fries with that?

So what if this was my Mother's Day Card? What of it?

This is an interesting Mother's Day celebration. Leading up to today's festivities, to celebrate my unearthing constant devotion to my children I have managed to schedule two girlfriend very long weekend getaways, Ricardo put the kids in bed 3 of the 5 weeknights, I went out to lunch 4 times this week with pals, I never quite got the laundry done, and I spent the last two Saturdays scrapbooking...all day.

The guilt started settling in as I realized that all of these things I was doing was not for my family nor my children (my job). And don't start with the, "Well, you have to take care of YOU too speech." Because trust me, I'm well taken care of. As I type on my laptop, I'm lounging on my new chaise debating whether to take a bubble bath or surf the web when I'm finished here. Very well taken care of. Maybe too well taken care of. And thus, ensues the guilt.

Even better, I'm just ounces away from my goal weight at Weight Watchers, and have also spent the entire week completely sabotaging any possible success.

As if the guilt handed to you when you see the positive mark on the pee stick, because it starts at that very moment recounting every moment of whether you've had a beer, or caffeine, or taken too hot of a bath since conceiving - as if that guilt isn't enough, today is the first Mother's Day I haven't celebrated at church. Super. Being a Mom and a Catholic on a Diet is totally serving its purpose.

Usually my Mother's Day epics are comical and ironic, and worthy of beginning an entire blog about. I was told I could sleep in, and had the honor of hosting my in-law's, of which, MIL could sleep in too. We told the kids to let us sleep in, because if there's one person the children would rather wake up other than me, it's Gramma. We threatened them kindly with reminders that it was Mother's Day.

We were offered Plan A - breakfast in bed. Or Plan B - go out to breakfast. Being the awesome women we are, very accomodating, we couldn't decide. "Whatever you want to do." "No, no - whatever YOU want to do..." We never did settle on which plan.

Ricardo awoke early opting for plan A - to go to the store and get the ingredients for my request: blueberry pancakes. I think he may have been in go-mode to not only make it a nice day for me, but a nice day for his mom as well. So, he got dressed, shut our door so I wouldn't be awakened, and went to the store. Four minutes later, Lucy walks in talking: "Mommy, can I wake up Gramma yet?" NO! "But Mommy, I want to tell her Happy Mother's Day." No one is downstairs for you to talk to, is there hunny? "Noooooooo." Okay, let's go.

I got up, went downstairs with her and had the best time listening to her chit chat. Because she is me. Chatty, hillarious,brilliant, blue-eyed me.

Ricardo got back, and everyone else woke up. Breakfast was served to me and I was left alone to eat and enjoy the best blueberry pancakes, fresh fruit, and landscaping 101 on HGTV all to myself. It was just perfect. I got homemade cards that the kids worked so hard on -after all, "Happy Mother's Day" is a lot of letters to get just right on entire piece of notebook paper, let alone, a little card. Not to mention, they each added how much they loved me and their names. And they didn't even abbreviate the "from" part, which they usually do after they swear writers cramp has set in. Just a sweet, sweet day.

Parents-In-Law even got me my new all-time favorite movie: P.S. I love you. It's good. Watch it. I say this because my PIL's are thoughtful, and my children proclaimed the rest of the day, "Mom, happy mother's day, P.S. I love you!"

After Gramma & Bean-Bean left, it was time to get in the car and go celebrate Mother's Day, but instead of church, we went to Lowe's Home Improvement. Insert your own judgemental reasoning here, now. Just go on ahead.

You done? No? I'll wait.

We good now?

Okay, we did go to get the kids' new vanities and sinks for their bathrooms. On the surface this may SEEM selfless and sweet and a good mom thing to do, since their sink doesn't work. However, since their sink doesn't work, they use mine. We have a small 3/4 bathroom. Four people are using it. So, on this Mother's Day, I RECLAIM MY BATHROOM! And POOF, with a swipe of my credit card/fairy godmother made it all happen. And knowing in good faith that I had a selfish motive - I still felt guilty.

So, as we ate lunch (out), I pondered in my little head how I was going to pay back Ricardo on Father's Day. The man wants a PS3 all for the glory of the new Grand Theft Auto. Typically, I wouldn't condone such immature violence. But the man is thirty-something, and listening to him giggle with his high school buddy as they crash, mame, or steal, well - it's fun to see him let loose like that. Better in a game at home, than after a night of shots of courage at a casino or strip club, right?

But here's the deal, how am I going to surprise him with this? How am I going to keep it a secret from him. In my day, I've learned to keep a secret. But with Ricardo, I just cannot tell a lie. It's not real unless he knows about it, and it must be immediately. How will I manage this? I have to get out a fairly large chunk of change from the bank. That might be noticed. And the last video game I purchased was Frogger. The ATARI version, folks. So, how do I get this guy exactly what he needs? And I only have a month to plot and plan this...I'm stressing over all of this while kicking back a big burger. Mmmmmm. When Ricardo jokingly makes a slight mention of the PS3...again.

And I say all in one word and exclamation: "Baby lets go get it right now! You need it and i want you to have it right now and i don't know exactly what to get you so lets go right NOW!"

Ricardo knowing that in one time in his whole life to not question this moment: "Uh, ok. Let's go get it."

And we did. An hour later, our kids know EXACTLY what a PS3 is. And Ricardo has a proud little grin on his face. Me too. Because ladies and gentlemen, I have just bought off that guilt I mentioned. Turns out, it does have a price, and I feel good. The kids are happy and safe. And Ricardo is happy.

All is right with the world. It truly is a Happy Mother's Day.
That's how I roll.