It's an extra special Mother's Day this year, because my kids are finally old enough to know the true meaning behind the Hallmark holiday, which is ... just give Mommy a break, okay? No fancy gifts required. At all. Just give me a day with no fights, no whining, no messes. Just get along, give Mom some peace and quiet, some alone time with a book, and that would be just about the best day ever.

They totally got it. But of course I still did get some amazingly fancy gifts to go along with this promise, and the day couldn't have started out any better.

Here's a tally of all the little blessings I've received so far today:

1. Sleeping late. 8:50 woo-hoo!

2. Breakfast in bed. I had ordered scrambled eggs and fruit, but the eggs got used for French toast while I was sleeping (you snooze, you lose around here). But I enjoyed the corn flakes and fruit -- what was left after my daughter ate most of it while I was distracted doing my son's maze ...

I was talking to my husband earlier in the week about what I wanted for Mother's Day. He asked. Sort of. But yes, I was that person, making demands about the gifts he should bestow me with for all the hard work it takes to be me, a mom of now 17-month-old twins. I was in mid-sentence, saying something that probably sounded like me me me me me when I realized I was being a fool (a fool who just the day before went on a pricey H&M shopping spree -- they have Swedish Hasbeens for $60!). So I told him, you know what? I just want some pretty flowers and maybe you can bake me some chocolate chip cookies. Hubs said, I would have done that anyway. Oh swoon!

So then I told him about all the gifts I thought I wanted for Mother's Day ....

It's Mother's Day. And when you are a mother, even though you want all of the love and the relaxation the day can offer, it's important not to forget about the amazing mom that has been there for you, through thick and through thin.

I may be the one with young kids — which is definitely more stressful than having grown kids — but I am pretty sure my mom still worries about my brothers and I ... probably more often than she should! Ahhh ... the life of a mom.

So, this year, instead of telling the world my mom told me what a blow-job was when I was just 6 years old, I've decided to tell her the things I very rarely say ...

MILF Blondies -- Mmm!It's good to have a Mother's Day dining backup plan -- well, because that breakfast in bed from the kids is really sweet but ... AND, you know hubs forgot to make a Mother's Day brunch reservation. Again. So after you're done explaining ... again ... "Yes, honey, Mother's Day is like the busiest dining out day of the year next to Valentine's Day," you might want to have your own plan. After your long, uninterrupted nap and full body massage, of course.

With some picks from our friends at Coupon Sherpa and some finds of our own, here's a roundup of 11 eateries that are giving FREE food and drinks away on Mother's Day weekend. Can't beat that! Many of these finds are totally FREE for Mom, but some do require some sort of minimal purchase to get the freebie. In all cases, however, they're GREAT deals! Check 'em out.

If you're like me, you grew up with several mom options on Mother's Day. There is the actual mom, the grandmothers, the stepmothers, the step-grandmothers ... it can be overwhelming. However, it did sensitize me to the fact that there were many women who cared for me, and on that special day, they all should be recognized. Or at least telephoned to say "Happy Mother's Day, I love you."

If you're also like me, you now have your own kids, and the thought of a (god-forbid) divorce followed by your husband hooking up with some trollop makes you think, "Uh-uh. That tramp will NEVER be the mother of my kids. This is my day, b***h."

Needless to say Mother's Day can be fraught for both the children and the stepmoms.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and so as we reflect on another year gone by, we give you our second annual Motherhood: Our 2011 Year in Review, measuring the events that took place between Mother's Day 2010 and Mother's Day 2011. Holy cow -- a lot happened!

And because straight lists are boring, we've charted the most popular stories of the year, giving each a rating; either "needs a spanking," deserves a "gold star," or somewhere in the middle.

Just click on the image below to get to the larger, interactive version!

And now you are curious about our 2010 Year in Review? See our Mother's Day chart from last year!

Is there one story on this chart that stands out as the biggest? Anything we missed?

Strawberry Basil LemonadeMany of us who spend a lot of time in the kitchen owe everything we know to Mom -- either because she taught us essential cooking techniques or shared old family recipes and secrets. Others don't have memories like these; but as moms now themselves, they can pass along their culinary knowledge to their children.

In celebration of Mother's Day, we asked our favorite food bloggers to share a recipe that has special meaning to them with respect to motherhood. Some of these recipes may remind you of your own mom. Some may remind you of cooking with your kids. ALL are guaranteed to make you hungry.

Let's take a look ...

Motherhood is one of those things that you just can't prepare for. No matter how many books you read or how many movies you watch, nothing compares to actually being a mother. It's simply amazing. Sometimes perfect, even. But it's not everything you may have thought. Let's debunk some myths about being a mother, shall we?

1. Mothers think their babies are beautiful. One of my first thoughts upon seeing my daughter for the first time was how massive her cone head was and how very much I hoped it was just temporary. Now, I do think my children are beautiful, but they have gone through some pretty questionable phases and I'm ready to cringe all the way through their adolescence.