Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!

Aren't idioms... special?

I love my boys! For Mother's Day in the past two years, they would go shopping (the day before) and both pick out a present for me. This year they got me a gift card to Kohl's to find myself an outfit, and Neal got me two books off of recommendations from his mom, East by Edith Pattou and Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey.

Contrary to the title of this post, I am very grateful for their thoughtful gifts - I always feel guilty going to buy clothes for myself and I am always excited to try new books so this was perfect! Thank you!

I don't know how Neal is communicating to Aedan about what they are doing and why when they go shopping. I'm sure it isn't Neal's fault but Aedan seems to have a semi-unique gift giving sense. Here is last year's presents from Aedan:

Yesterday I realized that I still have yet to eat this sucker... Maybe I will have a nibble today. Well this year's gift was equally funny:

He chose two Thomas the Tank Engine books for me, one even has those buttons to push that make lots of loud noises! I'm glad he gets so excited about the gifts! Thank you Aedan! I love my gifts although I think Aedan might have a fit if I try to claim them as "mine".

It reminds me of a time when I was younger and I wanted to make a pair of pants as a present for my dad. I don't remember if I chose the fabric or pattern or both but they were basically baggy blue/green tie dye pants with elastic at the bottom of each leg. I remember being so excited about it and how we were keeping it a surprise. My mom had me cut out the fabric and I experienced one of those gaps in time where I was doing one thing at one moment and then something else in the next moment and I basically ended up cutting one of the pant legs at the knee. I cried and cried when I realized that I ruined his present. My mom tried to reassure me that he wouldn't even notice it (who notices if one leg has a massive seam at the knee?) and that she could make it work. Well she sewed it all together and I was so excited because it was as good as new in my mind. I don't remember my dad wearing it very much but when he did I made sure to take notice. I've mentioned before that I don't particularly get a thrill out of sewing and maybe this experience is my reason why....

The news of Aedan's love of trains is spreading fast and his grandma gave him some fun Thomas the Tank Engine clothes. The day he got them in the mail, he absolutely had to wear them. No worries that on that day it was 40 degrees outside. He sure is grateful for these clothes and I can't keep them washed frequently enough for his needs! Thank you grandma for the fun clothes!