"Hey babe, time to wake up."

"No."

"C'mon. We made you breakfast and there's presents."

"Mmm. Why doesn't Mothers Day ever mean sleeping in?"

"Because you have three kids that made you a mother and are very anxious to tell you how much they love you."

She grinned and opened her eyes, finding all three kids standing next to the bed, their hands behind their backs and smiles on their faces.

"Mornin' mama!" the boys chorused while Avery bounced up and down with a big grin on her face.

"Good morning."

"We maked you breakfast. And got you presents. And we maked something so cool for you too, mama. Wanna see it?"

"Well I would actually like to view the inside of my eyelids for a little while longer, but I guess for you three I can get up."

The kids clambered onto the bed with her and Adam brought breakfast over, two trays piled with enough food for all of them.

"You really think it's wise to let Avery eat in our bed? We're going to have to wash the sheets. Or even burn them."

He gave her a look and she rolled her eyes as the kids dug into the breakfast they'd made.

"This is good sausage daddy, but where is all the bacon you made?"

"Between your mom and your sister, it's gone already."

"I like bacon too," Ben noted with a nod. "Also strawberries."

"I like eggs and pancakes!" Colton added, taking a bit of both.

"And I like mama," Adam said, leaning over to kiss her.

"Why do you guys always do that? You make all excuses to kiss!"

"Yep, and you always complain about it."

"I'm the son, it's my job."

Adam chuckled and grabbed Avery's hand right before she plopped it into a puddle of syrup.

"Daddy," she said, giving him a little pout.

"Your mama's right, this was a bad idea for you," he said, picking her up and putting her in his lap. She grimaced but was consoled with a piece of fruit.

"Mama, we have a lot planned for today," Colton said. "I cannot tell you all of it though. It's a surprise."

"Okay. I like surprises."

"You don't even want to guess?"

"No, daddy went to a lot of trouble to keep it a secret. I don't want to ruin it."

"Wow, you are patient. I was beggin' to know and it's not even my surprise!"

She smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Daddy, can we give her the first surprise now? Please?"

"Why don't you wait until we finish eating?"

"But we waited for weeks!"

"I know that."

"Please daddy? Please?"

"Okay, go get my computer but be really, really careful."

"I will put it in the bag, okay? Be right back."

He hopped off the bed and ran out of the room happily while Ben watched him go.

"Cole got a rip in his jammies. In the butt."

"Thanks for letting me know, buddy."

"He's not wearin' underwears."

Lindsay snickered and shook her head, finding it safer to not question the antics of her first born.

"Ah mama?" Avery said suddenly, her little head tipping in question.

"Yes baby?"

"Ewwie."

"Oh, that's something you need to talk to daddy about."

"Ewwie, daddy. Ewwie."

"Honey, I don't want to change your diaper. It's gross. I'm tired of diapers. Why don't you just start going in the bathroom?"

She sighed and made her eyes round and innocent until he stood up from the bed and took her downstairs.

"I never goed potty in my diaper," Ben said, picking up one of the last strawberries. "I am a big boy."

"Yes, you're a big boy now, but you used to go in your diaper."

"Forget it, mama. I not want to know."

"You are the strangest child I have ever known in my life, Benjamin."

"Yep, that's what I do."

She chuckled and started to clean up the breakfast that Adam had probably spent an hour on, but was gone in just over five minutes. She loved when he made breakfast and even more when it was breakfast in bed, but the cherry on top was all the kids piling in with them. It was the perfect start to what she had a feeling was going to be a great Mother's day.

"I brought daddy's computer," Colton said, hefting it onto the bed. "We made a present for you. It's on there."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, but wait for daddy and the baby Aves."

"Okay."

The boys leaned back against the pillows, both sighing while they waited for Adam and Avery to return.

"Do you like bein' a mama?"

"Of course I do. It's my favorite thing in the whole world."

"What is the best part?"

"There's three best parts. And they're called Colton, Benjamin, and Averylin."

"Hey Cole, that's us!"

"I know Ben! We must be pretty awesome for mama to say we're the favorite thing. I thought it would be the fruit snack taxes she takes when she opens our fruit snacks."

"That be my favorite part if I were a mama," Ben agreed. "I like fruit snacks."

Lindsay chuckled. She could never predict the kinds of things they would say and even if she tried it was never as amusing as what came out of their mouths.

"Okay, Little Miss Poop is all clean," Adam announced as he came into the room with Avery toddling behind him.

"That's funny, daddy. Little Miss Poop. Aves you are Little Miss Poop."

"No! Baby!" Avery protested, frowning at him. "Baby Avee."

"And Little Miss Poop."

"Okay, that's enough of that moniker," Adam said as Lindsay leaned over the bed to lift their pouting daughter into her lap.

"I don't think you're Little Miss Poop, baby. I think you're Little Miss Pretty. How's that?"

Avery grinned and nodded while Ben reached over to hold her hand.

"Okay, are you ready?" Adam asked, opening the laptop and hiding the screen from her so she wouldn't be spoiled.

"Yes, I'm ready."

"Okay, here we go."

He turned the computer around and hit 'play' for the video he'd created. It started with a clip of the kids all sitting on the couch, smiling and waving.

"Happy Mother's Day, mama!" the boys chorused while Avery clapped. The video cut to just Colton, sitting on his bed, deep in thought.

"Colton, what do you like best about your mama?"

"Um, I like that she's pretty and she gives us hugs and kisses all the time. And she makes my lunch for school and draws me cartoons on my napkin. And she loves us and cooks us dinner and cleans our whole house and does the laundry and even scrubs the toilet. And she is always nice to us and she says the truth all the time. And I love when we dance around the house and sing songs and when we watch movies and she does silly jokes and I like how she wakes me up in the morning with hugs and tickling. And I like that my eyes are the same as hers too."

"Is there anything you want to say to her for Mother's day?"

"Yep! Thanks for bein' my mama and takin' care of me so much and always saying how you love me. And I really love you back a lot too and you are the best mama in the whole world and you're the prettiest lady and I think you win all the other mamas in the whole universe!"

"Okay, should we go talk to Ben now?"

"Yup! This is Colton Matthew Ross, signing off. Stay safe out there, folks."

Lindsay chuckled and leaned over to kiss the top of Colton's head.

"I meaned every word, mama."

"Thank you sweetie."

"Shh! My turn," Ben said, pointing at the screen.

"Hey Ben, what are you doing?"

"I just playin' with this," Ben answered, holding up the cookie dropper. "I put it on my toe."

"Remind me to wash that."

"Okay. Wash this, daddy."

"Great, thanks buddy. Hey, remember what we talked about?"

"Yes. For mama's day. You gonna ask me questions?"

"Yeah. What do you love about mama?"

"I love about mama that she 'tect me from bad things. She snuggle me big when I have scary dreams. She read to me a lot. We do puzzles too. I love about mama that I fit in her lap real good and how she always kiss my cheeks. I like how she love me and sissy and Cole as big as the world. I like how she love you too, daddy. And she take care of our pets. And I grow big an' strong 'cuz she feed me good food. I just love mama a lot and a lot and a lot!"

"That's good. Do you want to say anything else to mama?"

"Mama one time when we haved punkins for carvin' I maked a monster, 'member that? It was big and mean but then we throwed him in the trashcan and then he was just a loser."

"I meant did you want to tell mama anything for Mother's day?"

"Yes. It is mama's day later. And I will love you that day and give you smooches an' hold your hand 'cuz I like to. See you later mama, bye!"

The video changed again, this time finding Avery on the couch where she was trying to chew on her foot.

"Hi baby."

"Hi daddy."

"Can you say hi to mama?"

She giggled and waved at the camera.

"Ah! Hi mama."

"Baby, do you love mama?"

She laughed loudly and threw her head back as she clapped.

"Mama! Mama!"

"Can you say I love you mama?"

"Ah luh mama!"

"Can you say happy Mother's day?"

"Hatty mama say!" she repeated, bouncing up and down with a big grin.

"Blow kisses!"

"Mwah!"

The tape cut back to the kids on the couch and they were all grinning from ear to ear.

"We love you mama! Happy Mother's day!"

Lindsay wiped a little tear from her eye as the video ended. She knew she'd be watching it over and over and over probably until the kids were grown up and had babies of their own.

"Did ya like it mama?"

"I loved it."

"Good. Me and Ben, we had to plan out what we was gonna say because it couldn't be just blatherin' words. It had to be special."

"It was very special. It was one of the most special things I've ever gotten."

"We got you more presents. They're down in the kitchen."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Why don't we all get dressed and then we can go downstairs for more presents?" Adam suggested, taking Avery and lifting her over his head until she giggled.

"Okay daddy. Whatever we wanna wear?"

"Yep, whatever you want to wear. Probably jeans and t-shirts."

"Okay. C'mon Ben, let's go!"

They boys hopped off the bed and ran down to their room while Adam tickled his daughter and kissed her cheek.

"Well baby girl, what say you and I clean up breakfast and get you dressed all cute while mama takes a nice not shower?"

"Ah daddy."

"I think that's a yes, Toothy McSquiggles."

She giggled and bared her few teeth at him while he stood up.

"You madam," he said, pointing at Lindsay. "Should go take a nice shower or a bubble bath with those bubbly things you like and don't worry about the kids or the house for a bit. Okay?"

She nodded and he leaned down to kiss her.

"Happy Mother's day, darling. I love you."

"I love you too."

"You didn't."

"I did."

"But… it's… do you know how much these cost?" Lindsay asked, staring at the brand new, stainless steel espresso maker that had taken up residence on her counter.

"Yes, of course I know. I've been saving up for a while."

"A while?"

"Since we were dating."

"You what?"

He chuckled at the expression on her face, the raised eyebrows and flushed cheeks and the way her voice went up a few octaves.

"I wanted to get it for you earlier but I wanted to wait until you were done having kids so you could have coffee whenever you wanted."

"Adam… I don't even know how to use this!"

"I'll teach you. Do you like it?"

"I love it. I really, really love it. Can I have coffee now?"

He chuckled and nodded.

"I think we might need to send the kids up to have a nap though," he commented. All three kids had been up since five and were yawning and rubbing their eyes and were just a few minutes away from getting very cranky.

Without much argument they took the kids upstairs and tucked them in, promising it would be just a short nap and they would all have lunch once they woke up. Avery was asleep before her head hit the pillow and the boys weren't too far after her. Lindsay and Adam tiptoed back downstairs into the kitchen where Adam gathered up the espresso beans, the shot glasses and the flavor syrups, then set them on the counter next to the machine.

"So honey, can I ask you a question?"

He nodded and she grabbed one of the syrups, glancing at the ingredients before she spoke.

"How come you can make fancy coffee but your drip coffee sucks so, so bad?"

He chuckled and shook his head.

"I have no clue. Come over here so I can teach you."

"Can I wear an apron?"

He gave her a look and shook his head before explaining all the pieces on the machine. Once she'd learned all the terms, giving him a hard time the entire way, he put the beans into the top of the machine.

"Okay, now you have two options here. You can either tamp your own shot which is my preference, or you can let the machine do it for you."

"We'll have the machine do it for me."

"Okay. Now before we start there is one very important thing when making coffee."

"What's that?"

"You can't let a shot go bad. You have ten seconds to mix it with milk before it gets bitter. So you're going to want to start steaming your milk before you run your espresso. Got it?"

She nodded and he helped her along, steaming the milk until it foamed.

"Okay, now hit the button for the shots. We'll make two shots and I'll let one go bad so I can show you."

She made sure the shot glasses were lined up under the spouts, then set the machine to make two shots. They were ready within seconds and as he poured the first one into the steamed milk, he pointed at the second.

"See how it's changing color? You don't want it to do that. Once it gets too pale when it's flowing you want to pull it off. See how the dark heart of it is rising? You need to get it in the milk before that happens. Once your milk is done steaming you can put in your flavors, but not if it takes too much time and distracts you from pulling the shot."

She nodded slowly and he chuckled, throwing out the bad shot and handing her the latte he'd made.

"There's no syrup or anything in this, it's just the shot, milk foam and regular steamed milk."

"And that makes it…?"

"It's a latte. Now if you want flavorings, you can add that in. Like if I take this peppermint syrup and add that, and then this whipped cream and just a few pinches of crushed peppermint candies…"

She grinned as he spruced up her drink, looking either like a mad scientist or a very serious coffee engineer.

"There, try that."

She took a small sip and let her eyes light up in coffee bliss.

"That's amazing."

"And much cheaper than going out, no?"

"Adam, this is the best present ever! Make me another one?"

He chuckled and stole a sip of her drink, then set it on the counter and pulled her into his arms.

"I love when you teach me stuff," she said with a grin. "Plus you look really hot when you're all knowledgeable and stuff."

He smiled and rested his forehead on hers, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I can't believe you've been saving up for this so long. Are you for real?"

"Yes I am."

"You're amazing."

"Yes I am."

She smiled and reached up to trace over his lips with her thumb.

"Linds?"

"Hmm?"

"You are the most amazing mother in the world and our kids are so, so lucky."

"Do you really think that?"

"No, I know that. No where in the world could I have found someone as perfect as you to raise our kids. Thank you for everything you do for us, Linds. We'd be lost without you."

She didn't know what to say and her eyes drifted shyly to the ground for a moment. Embarking on motherhood had been terrifying and she knew she was doing well, but she didn't think it deserved all the accolades. And it wasn't just today either, Adam always bragged on her for being a good mother and a good wife and she sometimes wondered if she really measured up. She knew he wouldn't lie to her though, so she was forced to believe that he really thought those things about her.

He leaned down and kissed her slowly and gently, threads of their very first kiss running through it, along with all the strength of their relationship since then. It was powerful in its simplicity and her heart started to pound heavily while he pulled her closer.

"I love you, Adam."

"I love you too."

He released his tight hold on her and was about to say something else when the doorbell rang.

"You gonna go get that babe?"

"Oh, is it for me?"

He gave her a short nod and she kissed him quickly before going to the door. He stopped what he was doing for a moment just to listen for the squeal of happiness and surprise when the door opened.

He wasn't disappointed.

"Taylor what are you doing here? When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me?"

There was more laughing and squealing and Adam chuckled to himself. It had been Taylor's idea and he was glad she'd suggested it.

"How long are you staying?" Lindsay was asking as she led Taylor and Josh into the kitchen.

"Only until Tuesday, but we figured a short time was better than no time at all."

"Yes it is. Come in, we'll make you coffee."

"Oh, so you're already pimping out my coffee making skills?" Adam asked.

"And you're surprised?"

"Guess not."

The kids woke up just an hour later, happy and hungry and ready to eat lunch. Adam had picked a seafood place on the beach because the kids had never had it and Lindsay had been asking for it for weeks. Josh and Taylor followed them to the little diner on the beach where they were all served huge portions and stayed for over an hour, as if they didn't have a care in the world. All three kids loved shrimp and fought over the last one until Josh plucked it off the plate and ate it himself, saving the entire group from a meltdown.

The afternoon was warm and breezy as they headed to the park, the place they couldn't stay away from for more than a day. Ben and Colton begged Josh to push them on the swings and he happily obliged, pushing them so high that Lindsay was sure they were going to scream with fright. They didn't though and Avery clapped as she watched her brothers drift higher and higher into the sky.

"Mama! Avee up?"

"No baby, I don't want you to go up that high."

Avery grumped and glanced over at Taylor, her eyes wide.

"Avee up?" she asked hopefully.

"Nope. Listen to your mama."

She was about to throw herself on the ground and have a tantrum when she spotted the Messers on the other side of the playground.

"Ahmin! Hi!" she squealed, pulling herself to her feet and wobbling slowly over to them. Austin scooped her up and kissed her cheeks, then joined Lindsay and Taylor in the grass.

"So why do you think the guys planned this for Mother's day instead of sending us to a spa?" Austin asked, without greeting.

"Because you would never go to the spa?" Taylor said with a chuckle.

"Small technicality."

"Ahmin," Avery interrupted, trying one more time. "Avee up?"

"On the swings? I am betting your mama said no to that. There's no baby seat over there."

"Big!"

"You might be a big girl but not big enough for the swings. Sorry sweetie girl. Out of luck."

Avery frowned and crinkled her nose up while crossing her arms.

"Ah daddy."

"Yeah, go find your daddy, see what he says," Lindsay chuckled, knowing Adam would be even less inclined to put his youngest child on the swings. Avery stood up and walked unsteadily across the grass, wrapping her arms around Adam's leg when she found him. He picked her up and she motioned hopefully to the swings, but he shook his head. Frustrated she shrieked and dropped her head to his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. She wasn't upset about not getting to play on the swings so much as she was upset about being told she was too little to do something.

Adam walked back over to them and held Avery at arms length, silently asking which one of them wanted to take her. They all refused and Avery wailed louder, very upset with her predicament.

"Okay, okay, I'll take her," Lindsay said, reaching up for her daughter. "What a pair of lungs you have my dear."

"Mama Avee big."

"I know honey. You're big, just not big enough."

"Yeah, kiddo," Austin said sweetly. "If we were judging on fat rolls, you would be the first one on the swings."

Avery sniffled and folded her hands in her lap, leaning against her mama unhappily.

"Don't grow up too fast baby. Your time will come," Lindsay assured softly, smoothing Avery's bright red curls back and kissing her forehead. The laughing and teasing continued around her and she sat back, watching every member of her family, seeing how much they all loved each other, observing how happy and comfortable her kids were and knowing down in her very soul that this day was a celebration of the most wonderful things in her life.