The earth is warming, flowers are blooming, the grass is greening and trees are sprouting leaves, hallelujah it must be May. Welcome sweet springtime – we have so very much to celebrate this month!

As a mother, it seems so self-serving to remind everyone that Sunday, May 11th is Mother’s Day.  Did you hear me?  I said May 11 is Mother’s Day.  Please do not forget to honor your Mother on this very special day.  She may tell you that she wants nothing, and perhaps she does not, but please, at the very least, plan to spend some time with dear ol’ Mom on her one special day of the year.

I have already discussed with my family how I would like to celebrate Mother’s Day, and I hope that they are listening.  With summer coming and the long evening hours to spend with family, I have requested that we purchase a small gas grill.  Then I want to create a simple dining area outside.  My vision is that with a gas grill, we, as a family, can cook, and eat outside.  The children can play, and run around while we grill.  What a great way to spend time together with the family, plus clean up should be a snap, no floors to mop!

I’m already looking for easy grilling recipes.  Don’t miss Weber.com where you can find all kinds of recipes both easy and involved for both charcoal and gas grills.  I think you really can’t beat fish on the grill, and what a great way to focus healthy eating.  If you go to Weber.com, don’t miss the Scallop and Spinach Salad recipe, which sounds great to me.  Oh, and also don’t miss the Roasted Red Peppers – this sounds delicious. 

Simplifying evenings is my true goal.   I don’t know about your family, but we love grilled burgers, hot dogs and chicken; add a spinach or fruit salad and ice cream cones for dessert and there are no complaints from my family.   It doesn’t get much better than a long summer night, a great meal, and perhaps a game of croquet on the lawn while the grill is doing all of the work!  As an added bonus, my house will stay cooler, because I won’t be heating up the stove. 

A new grill may not be every Mother’s dream, so before you run with this idea, please take into consideration the wishes of the Mother in your life (models may vary, check your local listings…).  Perhaps your own Mother would like a set of coupons to her favorite restaurants or take-out locations.  Perhaps she would like a pedicure or a manicure, or a weekend away.  Perhaps she just wants everyone to pamper her, on her own special day.  But at my house a new way to create outdoor celebrations throughout the summer, sounds like a winner to me.

Given that I have my heart set on a new gas grill for Mother’s Day, imagine how excited I was to learn that May is also National Barbeque Month, and National Hamburger Month.  It also happens to be National Salad Month.  Seems like my summer outdoor dinner celebrations will be a big hit!

Here is something I just learned; May 6th is National Teachers Day.  I don’t know about your childrens’ teachers, but I know that mine have had a long, hard year.  I think I will talk to the other parents and suggest that we do a little surprise party for the teachers.  I think the children could write poems, make cards and make up songs all extolling the virtues of their teachers.  No school party is complete without some sort of treat, perhaps cupcakes or pizza, or cookies.  You cannot do enough to honor these men and women who contribute so much to the education of our children. 

Did you know that May 18th is Visit Your Relatives Day?  Now some relatives are near and some are far away.  I just read on a blog the other day about how one woman was keeping in touch with her far-away relatives.  She buys large mailing envelopes each month and addresses one to each of the far-away relatives.  Then when her children bring home artwork or well done papers, she asks the children if they want to share them with a particular family member.  The paper is then placed into the envelope.  A note can be included from the children too!  Then when the envelope is full, you can mail it off.  The woman from the blog explained that a grandmother had recently been in the hospital and had been delighted to receive this “get-well greeting.”  Doesn’t this sound like a wonderful way to share joy with family who is far away or under the weather?