Dear Mom,
How do we tell you how much you mean to us....how much you've influenced us as mothers....how much your love and sacrifice has taught us??
Guess we should start with...
Guess we should start with...
Thank You!!!
Nope...it is SO not enough to say thank you. We say it every time we see you...thank you for the baby food...thank you for the organic fruits and veggies that you just happened to pick up on the way over...thank you for the endless baby supplies...thank you for listening to our parenting worries...thank you for all of the advice...thank you for taking care of our sweet angels and being the best Nani in the world...It is SO not enough to say thank you. We need new words. These two seem old and tired and not sincere enough.
Now that we are mothers, we are able to catch a tiny glimpse at everything you have gone through as our mom. The crazy unconditional love, the constant worrying, the realization that you will do anything for this tiny little life. You have taught us so much about love, kindness, and sacrifice. Here are just a few things we remember about growing up with a mom a like you...
Ice pops -- homemade ones...made from real fruit juice. Grape, orange, apple... Louise: "I can still taste them. I close my eyes and I am running in to grab one from the freezer in the middle of summer. I can't wait to make ice pops for Xavie and tell him about the delicious ones you used to make for us." Chloe: "My boys love my ice pops. They have no idea how many healthy hidden ingredients are tucked inside them. :) I love the fact that I am using the exact same ice pop molds that you used (thanks for giving them to me!) so many years ago. I think about you every time I make them." See? You've started an ice pop legacy...
French braids -- Wonder how many hours you actually spent braiding our hair. Although painful at times because you had to "pull tight" and because we asked you to make them at the last second right before you had to take us to school, it is one of our most favorite memories. Louise: "Remember when you taught me, and I would spend hours practicing on my dolls? Then I learned to do it myself. My arms killed from practicing on myself, but I was so proud that I could braid my own hair." Chloe: "I still think you are the best french braider around. I never quite mastered it like you...good thing I only had boys. I remember how tight and neat my braids always were...you were always the perfectionist (wonder where I got that trait from??)."
Beach walks -- Our long walks to the wreck will always wear a path through our memories. Our collection of beach glass overflowing, we walked and talked and laughed. We used to think we were in a different country by the time we got to the old shipwreck. Chloe: "Remember finding the blue beach glass? It was always so exciting! You'd walk for hours just to make sure Louise got a good nap in that backpack. What a great mom! Guess that's where I got my walking gene too - remember the hours I spent walking Ben in the stroller for his naps in the afternoons when he was first born?"
French braids -- Wonder how many hours you actually spent braiding our hair. Although painful at times because you had to "pull tight" and because we asked you to make them at the last second right before you had to take us to school, it is one of our most favorite memories. Louise: "Remember when you taught me, and I would spend hours practicing on my dolls? Then I learned to do it myself. My arms killed from practicing on myself, but I was so proud that I could braid my own hair." Chloe: "I still think you are the best french braider around. I never quite mastered it like you...good thing I only had boys. I remember how tight and neat my braids always were...you were always the perfectionist (wonder where I got that trait from??)."
Beach walks -- Our long walks to the wreck will always wear a path through our memories. Our collection of beach glass overflowing, we walked and talked and laughed. We used to think we were in a different country by the time we got to the old shipwreck. Chloe: "Remember finding the blue beach glass? It was always so exciting! You'd walk for hours just to make sure Louise got a good nap in that backpack. What a great mom! Guess that's where I got my walking gene too - remember the hours I spent walking Ben in the stroller for his naps in the afternoons when he was first born?"
Doritos and 7Up - We called you a health nut...you always cooked healthy meals. We didn't have soda, cookies, or chips in the house. Nothing with artificial color, flavor, or preservatives! You tried to make sure we ate nutritious, good-for-you things. Every now and then, however, for a special occasion, we got to have Doritos and 7Up. Louise: "To this day, when I have either one, the memories of the summer house and Trufelli Day come flooding back. Every now and then, on a rare road trip, we'd stop at McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts, and I can still feel the excitement over powdered Munchkins." Now, looking back, we are so grateful for that healthy life. It made us appreciate the 7Up days so much more, and because of your example, you've raised two healthy daughters who try to give their family healthy, wholesome food too.
Cabbage Patch Kids - You were the mom standing in line for hours to get us those beloved Cabbage Patch Kids. You even had to travel from store to store when it seemed like everyone had sold out. Miraculously, Christmas morning came, and we had those dolls under the tree. Thank you for doing that...even though a doll seems so silly to us now, the love it took to find them for us...that's not silly at all.
After School Specials - Long before the time of DVRs, you took the time to tape all of the after school specials for us. We both can still remember sitting in the basement, curled up on the couch, eating our snacks and spending time with Mom. Chloe: "I remember waking up from my nap when I was around 3yrs old, coming downstairs to the basement and curling up in your lap. I was groggy, and I needed a good half hour of cuddling. I still remember playing with the beads on your skirt, my favorite skirt of yours, while you watched tv."
Never missing a thing - Whether it was a ballet recital, a gymnastics meet, a soccer game, piano practice/concerts, a tennis lesson, a volleyball match, or a swim race, you were there. You never missed a thing...ever. We are so lucky to have a mom who bent over backwards to get us to practices, lessons, and games on time (or early) and stayed there with us supporting us and cheering us on. Chloe: "Remember the time we walked to ballet in the snow after the blizzard because the roads were blocked? It was sooo cold, and I thought...can't we miss just one class? I think of that each time I drive Ben to baseball or make the 45 min trek to Key West for swimming lessons. I also remember the dedication it took to be at every gymnastics competition..." Louise: "I remember the hours I spent practicing my serve or shooting goals in the yard. You were always there to encourage me. Hearing you cheer me on in the stands on game days always made me so proud." You taught us responsibility, accountability, and persistence. Now, we can pass it on to our kids.
Amazing Cakes - You always made the most amazing cakes for our birthdays. Endless hours spent just to see them disappear in the mouths of very happy children. We are trying to carry on this delicious tradition the best we can, with your help of course. Thank you for spending hours decorating cakes for us and now helping us to do the same for our kids.
Your sewing skills - From our Christmas dresses to our Halloween costumes, you must have spent so many hours at your sewing machine. Louise's wedding would not have been the same without our amazing custom-made dresses. And now, our boys sleep in pjs made by their Nani.
Ornament making - We both remember making Christmas ornaments together. It is so fun to hang those on the tree every year and think about that precious time spent with our mother.
Saying no - When raising kids, you have to say no a lot. But all of those nos open the door for a yes down the line. You said no to Nintendo and video games, but that allowed us to play outside more, read more books, and spend more quality time together. You said no to Cancun in high school...what sixteen year old really should be in Mexico with no parents?...but you said yes to a semester abroad in France. No new car at sixteen, but a car for our graduation from college. We had the earliest curfew out of all our friends....but really what 16 yr old needs to be out at night past 11 or 12 midnight? Although we didn't always appreciate the nos then, we sure do now. Saying no is SO hard, but it is really important when you want to raise appreciative and hard working kids.
Playing with us - No matter how busy you were, you always took the time to play with us. You never just plopped us in front of the television. You actually played with us...got down on the floor with us and played. We both remember the songs you sang to us too. Remember "Happy Talk"? We see you now playing and singing and doing that very same thing with our children, and it reminds us of those most precious early memories. There is no one like Nani. Our kids love their Nani so much, and it makes us love you so much more to see your absolute devotion to them.
Staying Home - You stayed home with us. You were there for everything: first laugh, first food, first crawl, first step.... You taught us the preciousness of every moment with our children...how fleeting and important it all is. You taught us that we only have one life... You lived the words of that cross-stitch that you have hung up in the house: "Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow, so quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep". We both found out that there was nothing we wouldn't do to be able to stay home with our little angels....nothing. That is due to your example and your and Dad's financial help. THANK YOU.
On this Mother's Day, we both wanted to take the time to honor you and the mom that you are. We have learned so much from your love and devotion to us and our children. We appreciate you more than you know. We love you more than you know. Thank you for teaching us everything we know about motherhood.
Your daughters,
After School Specials - Long before the time of DVRs, you took the time to tape all of the after school specials for us. We both can still remember sitting in the basement, curled up on the couch, eating our snacks and spending time with Mom. Chloe: "I remember waking up from my nap when I was around 3yrs old, coming downstairs to the basement and curling up in your lap. I was groggy, and I needed a good half hour of cuddling. I still remember playing with the beads on your skirt, my favorite skirt of yours, while you watched tv."
Saying no - When raising kids, you have to say no a lot. But all of those nos open the door for a yes down the line. You said no to Nintendo and video games, but that allowed us to play outside more, read more books, and spend more quality time together. You said no to Cancun in high school...what sixteen year old really should be in Mexico with no parents?...but you said yes to a semester abroad in France. No new car at sixteen, but a car for our graduation from college. We had the earliest curfew out of all our friends....but really what 16 yr old needs to be out at night past 11 or 12 midnight? Although we didn't always appreciate the nos then, we sure do now. Saying no is SO hard, but it is really important when you want to raise appreciative and hard working kids.
On this Mother's Day, we both wanted to take the time to honor you and the mom that you are. We have learned so much from your love and devotion to us and our children. We appreciate you more than you know. We love you more than you know. Thank you for teaching us everything we know about motherhood.
A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving
Happy Mother's Day!!!
Happy Mother's Day!!!
We love you with all our hearts!
Your daughters,
Chloe and Louise
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