I was away this afternoon at a friend's wedding shower, and Dave and Carly were busy little bees. When I returned home four hours later I found a dozen roses in a vase sitting on our kitchen table.

Dave then proceeded to ask a leading question about if I was hungry. Curious about what he was leading to I responded with "yes" and watched my Mother's Day unfold. He began preparing a sweet onion, bell pepper, and asparagus for the grill as I went upstairs to change. Once I returned back down stairs he brought over my cards, placing them against the vase, and my gift. He and Carly had purchased me a new brownie pan from Williams Sonoma that makes brownies to mimic a HUGE Hershey's chocolate bar, and then he even made the delicious brownies during Carly's nap! While I read my cards and marveled at my flowers and chocolate he was busy preparing our pre-dinner appetizer (Chili Lime Chips and salsa) and drinks (pineapple margaritas).

He then grilled out a delicious dinner of bratwursts, bell peppers, sweet onions, and asparagus. And we had chocolate bar shaped brownies for dessert. Our wonderful meal was completed with a stroll around the neighborhood on this cool, breezy, May evening.
My first Mother's Day wasn't a trip to the spa or a fancy dinner, but it was Mother's Day our style. I spent it with my wonderful loving family and everything they did was from the heart. We had foods that we enjoy and spent time relaxing together. Maybe in 10 years I will want to spend my Mother's Day celebration alone, but at the moment I love spending this time with Dave and Carly and soaking up every moment of Carly at this young age.