Carnavale Family: Mother's Day Surprise!

Emerson has been working a lot lately, so I was really excited when he told me on Thursday that he was going to try to leave work early. He got home at about 3:30, just about the same time as my dad called me to ask me if I'd gotten the Mother's Day present they'd sent me. I said I hadn't and he said that he'd sent it UPS and that he had confirmation that it had been delivered. I asked Emerson if he had seen anything on our front porch when he drove in and he said that he had seen something out there. So, while I was still on the phone with dad, I went to check the door. When I opened it, to my surprise, there stood my mom and dad! I couldn't believe my eyes! What a Surprise!! My mom had just been told that morning about our mother's day surprise and had been given a few hours to pack and no method of communication (so that she wouldn't slip the surprise to me :)). Dad has been planning this since February and, apparently, Emerson, Lizsett, and Sherrie have all been in on it. It's been so much fun having them here. Ana Elisa is in heaven and has been laughing and playing with them from the minute she saw them.

Here are some pictures we took together when we got home from church today.

Emerson is making us a Mother's Day feast. He is making Brazilian food--rotisserie sirloin steak, rice, beans, grilled veggies, salad...need I say more?!) I have the best husband in the world!

The weekend has been fun. We bought Ana Elisa a little pool and a sprinkler to play in outside, and we've been out there playing with her, and watching her play when we wear out (she seems to be able to outplay the whole bunch of us!)

Mom and Dad bought Ana Elisa a pair of sunglasses since she keeps trying to wear theirs. She was so excited because they let her pick them out herself. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter. She is my biggest mother's day gift ever!

Last night, we went to Emerson's soccer game and Ana Elisa went on an hour walk with Gampa. She was in heaven. They went to see the pond and the ducks. When they got back from their walk, Ana Elisa really got into Emerson's game. She yelled and screamed to Emerson from the sidelines and would yell at anyone who would get near him.

After the game, mom and dad took us out for ice cream.

Emerson says that Ana Elisa has found a new best friend in gampa. She plays hide and seek with him, shows him which walls he should bump his head on, and insists he go everywhere she does. If he disappears, she goes on a frantic hunt for him. I'll be surprised if gampa gets any time to rest while he's here because Ana Elisa just won't let him sit down, unless, of course, she can sit on his lap...

It's been a great Mother's Day. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother who has sacrificed so much for me and my sisters. She is so unselfish and has always put us before herself. I can only hope that I can be the kind of mother she has always been. Thank you for everything!! I am so happy that they were able to come visit us.

To Emerson's mom, Cida, and my sisters, Lizsett and Sherrie, thank you so much for being such great examples to me of what true motherhood is. You are all so generous, hardworking, and selfless. You are raising (and have raised) such wonderful children. I wish you could all be here to celebrate with us.