April Showers bring May flowers(and the crud)

We've been sick. I hear it's going around. Is it the Swine flu?:) Jackson kicked it off with a nasty tummy bug and then spread to Christian and I've got either a rip roaring sinus infection or the flu. But we are on the mend. I notice that all through the winter when I was logging 20 plus miles a week of running that I did not get sick AT ALL!! But mommy has put herself on the back burner once again and not only do I suffer but everyone in my house does. It's not fair to anyone. It's a daily struggle as a "stay at home mom" not to feel guilty and that I need to be productive 24/7. I have a tendency to think I'm selfish if I put myself first. I think all mothers feel this. The best advice I can give is don't feel guilty about taking time for you, taking care of you. If you do not take care of yourself, you can't take care of your children. I am constantly amazed at how it's the mothers of many children that seem to be the most relaxed and at peace(except for that mom from Jon & Kate plus 8). Is it that they learned they had to let go after the 3rd or 4th child? Is it that they have it all together? What' the secret?(That gives me an idea about some mothers days posts I'm going to do next week-stay tuned)

Anyway , I digress! Today is May Day. Does anyone even celebrate May Day anymore? I know our parents had the maypole at school. It's a tradition I have always wanted to start with my children. I have one of the neatest books, Mrs. Sharp's Traditions:Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort and Joy.

It is one of my favorite books because it talks about how you can create traditions with your family that have gone by the wayside in our modern times. For the month of May she talks about May Day and how to create a Maypole and May Day baskets of flowers that you leave on someone's doorstep as a surprise. Wouldn't that be so sweet to do with your children?

Of course Martha has a few of her own fabulous ideas.........

A Maypole cake for your party (Recipe)

Party complete with flower crowns(Article)

Learn how to make the pole

And since I didn't get my act together to leave a basket of flowers  for someone on their doorstep, I'm sending this out to all of you on this beautiful 1st day of May!!!!