MarytheKaytheBlog

Unexpected Weekend Plans...

This weekend I was getting excited about walking in the MS Walk in honor of my dear friend Carissa.  (That's her in the picture in the right column punching my arm.) Afterward, many of us were getting together to celebrate at a fun brunch.  I sure do love my friend Carissa, and I sure do HATE what MS does to so many dear people.  The yearly Walk is a way to help raise awareness and funds to help find the CURE.  I don't usually ask for money here...but if you know someone with MS, or if you would like to help out--here's a simple way to do that!

 

 Did you notice that I said I was going to do the MS Walk...  Well, I've had some unexpected weekend plans, and will be joining with some dear friends to do a different kind of a walk...  A we-want-to-walk-beside-you kind of walk. 

I told you earlier in the week that my dear friend was heading home because her dad was dying.  Well, tomorrow, several of our girlfriends are loading up and driving to her hometown.   We know Jenn will be busy with family, and busy greeting and visiting with the many, many people who loved her dad.   But, we couldn't not go.  Dear friends need to walk through these things together.   Even if we get very little time to hug her neck, whisper loving words or funny words into her ear, she'll know we're there.  Through thick or thin, true friends are THERE.  Filling in the gaps, picking up the slack, loving on each other's kids, cooking a dinner, picking up a carpool, listening on the phone, giving a knowing smile, driving to a funeral. 

Friends don't ask many questions in these times.  They go.  They do.  They love. 

(If you think about it, I know Jenn and her kids--and whole family would really LOVE your prayers for peace.  They've lost a dear daddy, a husband, a grandaddy, a friend.  Thank you.)

Throwback Thursday--It's 80's Prom, Baby!

 I don't know if your town has had Prom yet, but ours did a couple of weeks ago.  It's been so much fun looking at all the pretty Prom pictures online!  I have to say--it made me a little nostalgic...

So, in honor of that nostalgia, I thought I'd share my Prom pictures.  But first--guess who STILL has her Prom dresses???  Oh, yes I do!!! 

Before I show you the truly retro 80's Prom pictures, I thought it would be fun to have a photo session with my girls.  When I asked if they wanted to try on my Prom dresses, they ran to my bedroom closet before I could even finish the sentence.

I bet their daddy will not like these pictures.  (Sorry, honey!)  I am sure these pictures will conjure up for him visions of shotguns and large redneck men threatening skinny adam's apple boys...already terrified of some certain girls' crazy-eyed daddy.

I hate to say it...but I think my husband will rather enjoy terrifying interested boys ringing our doorbell.  But, I guess daddies do need things to look forward to, don't they?

So, here are our precious darlings that caused their daddy to tell me way back when I was first pregnant with them...  "I sure hope I don't have to go to prison some day because of some boy."

First, I would like to introduce you to Sara Beth, who is modeling her mama's Junior Prom dress of a pastel pink moire taffeta.  This Mrs. Hanry couture dress has a sweetheart neckline with spaghetti straps, with a dropped waist cascading into a 2-tiered ruffled tea-length skirt.  The outstanding feature of the dress is the over-sized bow on the back of the dress that Mrs. Hanry herself designed.  This dress is a classic example of the preppy year 1987.

 
 

Our next model is Rebecca.  Rebecca is modeling a Senior Prom dress of black satin with a black lace overlay, fabrics specially selected from Hancock Fabrics for this very occasion.  This dress is also a Mrs. Hanry couture, featuring a strapless sweetheart neckline of the shiny black satin.  The fitted bodice gathers gently at the waist to fall into a full tea-length skirt with a lace overlay.  This dress also features the dramatic over-sized bow, once again a Mrs. Hanry original design. 

 
 

 
 And without further ado, I present to you...1987, in all of its glory!!!  Please welcome MarytheKay and her dear friend Stacey!  MarytheKay and Stacey met on the first day of junior high, and were the best of friends all the way through high school.  How fitting that we have prom pictures together.  *smile*  (I miss you, StayJack!!!)
Okay, do you see the pink high tops?  Yes, I was very proud of those shoes. Actually...I wore pink dyeable heels (of course), and took the high tops to change into.  Oh yeah--tha's a dancing girl you see there!!!  I am very sad to say that I can't find my Junior Prom picture with my date.  Junior Prom was actually my FAVORITE dance...with none other than John David.  (Little shout out to John David! I'd better shout loudly...I'm pretty sure he doesn't read this blog!)

 

Drum roll for the Senior Prom, folks...  Please help me usher in 1988, in all of its glory...

Sadly, no high tops for this dance.  I am sure you're not looking at my shoes, though.   You're looking at my hair--wondering how in the heck did I get it so tall?  I hate to confess...that is natural cowlick height, baby.  There is a little White Rain to smooth it, but that cowlick is doing all the manual labor.

(My fire engine red fingernails make me giggle a little.  Va Va Va VOOM.  Those nails remind me of my very first professional manicure, earlier that day.  Miss Sheila was so kind to me that morning.) 

Oh!  Forgive me for being so rude!  I would like to introduce you to John David.  By the time Senior Prom rolled around, John David was already an important college boy.  We went to this dance as just friends (note the yellow roses - for friendship).  The fact that he still drove down for the dance, and kept his promise to take me to Senior Prom meant a lot to me, and surely exemplified his integrity.  Now, the fact that he kept looking at his watch all evening did not mean so much...  (Oh, you know you did!!)  But, a girl can't have it all, now can she?

Before I close, I'd like to say that these Prom dances for me were wonderfully and innocently fun.  I know there is a lot of talk these days (and on t.v. shows) about the heightened pressures of Prom night.  That was not my experience at all.  My experience was all about dancing and laughing the night away with a group of good friends.  My prayer for our daughters is that they will be able to have the same innocent and memory-making kind of fun someday.

And, of course, if their dates have anything different in mind...they can consult the scary man in the back seat holding the shotgun.

 

When Mama Kat mentioned a writing prompt of prom dresses, I knew I had to link this one up!  Click here to see some of the other crazy retro (or not so retro) prom dresses, as well as some great writing.  Thanks, Mama Kat, for a great Weekly Writer's Workshop!

TOP TEN Things that Shouldn't Surprise you as a Parent

 
 Consider this a New Parent (or Pre-Parent) Primer.  Or, just consider it a treatise in helping you understand that group of people (parents) who will not shut up talking about precious little Johnny and Susie, who frankly, are not that interesting.  This TOP TEN list is my gift to society.  My Parenting Public Service Announcement, if you will.

But, I must warn you.  Prepare yourself before reading this list.  These items may terrify you, as you peer down at your rosy-cheeked baby sleeping in her little crib.  How can your precious little rose ever do the things I am about to detail? 

Well, honey, I don't know.  But, somehow these precious babies of ours grow up with a 1-track mind: Make. My. Parents. Looney. Bin. Crazy.

And I gotta tell ya--they all succeed.  One crazy story after the next.  The list below is not an exaggeration.  Sadly, each item is scientifically proven to be fact.  At least at our house...

The TOP TEN Things that Shouldn't Surprise you as a Parent:

10.  Blood-curdling screams.  Indoors, preferably.  And when Mommy is on the phone.

But, remember--don't let this surprise you.  Babyface hasn't gotten stabbed or lost an appendage.  I am sure her big sister just took the Barbie shoes that she wanted.

9.  A bathtub full of mud.  I don't mean muddy footprints.  I mean physical mud that you can pick up and make 6 whole pies.

Just remember--at least you got to enjoy that 5-minute call to your best friend.  All alone and locked in your bathroom.  Don't try to figure out how 1 small child can create 15 pounds of mud and transport it to the bathtub without a front-end loader.  Where messes are concerned, children have magical powers.

8.  Sometimes a quiet 3-minute time out means a warrior will emerge from the bedroom, happy, but covered entirely with Maybelline war paint.  Or Bobbi Brown war paint, as the case may be.

You might want to be shocked at how quickly and how expertly the war paint is acquired and applied...to your child's entire body.  I have found that where make-up is concerned, children are professionals.  Heaven knows why we don't put this skill to use, and have our darlings working in the cosmetology business.  At least maybe then they could afford to replace the $458 worth of ruined "war paint." 

7.  No matter how much advance notice your school-age children have, all major school projects will be started the night before they're due.  And usually when the printer is broken.  And your husband is out-of-town.  And 1 or more females in the house have PMS.

This should not surprise you.  Especially since it is the exact way you got through high school and college. 

6.  A bathroom trash can overflowing with toilet paper.  And not just any bathroom--your very own precious Master Bath.  Where you long for privacy, but somehow never get it.

As you peer into the 2-foot pile of toilet paper, wondering what is on said paper, you should not be surprised.  There is always a logical explanation.  Sometimes a hurt elbow needed a cast.  Other times your darling angel needed to blow her nose 87 times in a row.

5.  While we're in the bathroom...I might as well be honest...Because no one else will tell you this.  But, you should not be surprised to walk by the toilet and gasp when you see the largest and longest...well, poop, if you must know. 

I'm sorry, but it's true.  Every parent in history has a story.  The poop will be so abnormally large and long, that you will be convinced it is a world record.  You will peer around the corner at your darling toddlers, and for a moment worry that the stubble-faced man next door has come and left a deposit in your child's bathroom.  Don't even try to understand the physics of size and input and all that.  It won't make sense.  Physics just doesn't apply to large poops.  Just do what we all do--call your husband on the phone and describe it in great detail.  You'll be tempted to take a picture, but please, decide right now to draw that line.

4.  The worst screaming, pinching, hitting, pushing, wrestling, yelling fight ever in the history of the world.  Or the history of this week, if you have especially active hoodlums.

Try not to be shocked when you are finally able to calm the savages enough to understand their words...that the sibling revolution began because, and I quote, "ShelookedatmemeanandthoughtIwasstinkybecauseIamlittlerthanherandshealwaysbesmeantomeandI'mgonnashowher."

In other words, "She looked at me wrong."

You may be surprised to find yelling coming out of your own mouth.  And you may also be surprised at the ridiculous things you are yelling: "Stop looking at your sister.  You are forbidden to look at each other.  You are forbidden to talk to each other.  You are also forbidden to breathe each other's oxygen.  And I might even forbid you to breathe altogether, if you don't stop fighting.  Now, go play.  And just be nice to each other. Please."

3.  When looking for a missing tennis shoe under your daughter's bed, you will instead find weeks-old cookie dough.  And typically the brightly-colored slice-n-bake kind with cute pictures in the middle--like pink bunnies and yellow chickens.

Face it--brightly-colored cookie dough is irresistible to children.  And, let's just be honest--if our husbands wouldn't find out, we would hide cookie dough under our beds, too.

2.  No matter how clean you leave your kitchen and living room, if your husband keeps the kids while you get a much-needed night out, your home will be a disaster when you return.  Even if you're only gone an hour and a half.

Now, please hear me.  I am not criticizing dads.  My kid's dad is a rockstar of fun.  Which is the problem, actually.  I will return home to find a kitchen counter filled with empty Cold Stone cups (even though there's ice cream in the freezer), water color paints and masterpieces drying across the entire kitchen table, a kitchen sink full of dishes and pots and pans (because he kindly told me not to worry about dinner), half-eaten bedtime snacks of sandwich bread and several mostly-eaten yogurts, and a gigantic living room fort using at least 23 blankets and sheets.

And yet, I still smile as I walk into the dark and quiet house.  Because I really did have a great night out.  And face it--dads are fun.  Moms just have supernatural multi-tasking abilities.  (Which also translates as:  Moms are not as fun.)

1.  Even though it's a rule not to have drinks in the living room, and even though I don't even buy grape Kool-Aid for this very reason...

In the time it takes me to type out this blog post, someone will spill an entire quart of grape Kool-Aid onto my best wool rug.

And blame it on her sister.

Heaven help me. 

Excuse me, while I grab the paper towels...

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Getting Crafty: Scrabble in the Kitchen

In my recent Totally Eye Candy Linky Dinks, I linked up Oh So Chichi's Scrabble Tile Decor craft project.   I knew from the moment I saw Jaime's adorable--and easy--way to use Scrabble tiles as a kitchen decoration, I HAD to try it!

I knew just the shelf that needed a little more whimsy...

I thought I could get rid of the red candle there in the middle of the shelf, and replace it with the Scrabble tiles.

I used a pint canning jar to hold the extra letters.  You know how I love these glass jars!  Oh look...the Scrabble tiles are nearly camouflaged with my nifty early 1980s butcher block laminate.  Groovy. 
 

It's time for some COLOR!!  And we all know what color I'm going to choose, now don't we?

Duh.  RED.  (It is my signature color, you know.  Name that movie)

I just used basic craft paint, and painted it with a sponge brush right onto the raw wood.  It took me about 30 seconds to paint it.  IGG (Instant Gratification Girl) really loves projects like these that take less than 5 minutes! 

Well--what do you think?  Want to see it closer-up?

Isn't that SO FUN?  Just this weekend, since we had some guests over (remember...the 70 guests for breakfast?), I changed the letters to "Welcome."  I don't know if anyone else noticed it...but it sure made me happy.

After it was all done, I did feel like the red paint needed a little something extra.  Possibly a little more depth?  To add some depth/definition, I used some white craft paint, and dry brushed it on top of the red--to give it a more aged/weathered look.

What do you think?  Which one do you like better?  The difference is only subtle...and I'm not sure the pictures do them justice.

I also wonder if some black paint dry-brushed on would look better?  Help??  What do you think?  (You can double-click to see a larger picture.)

Do you have a spot in your kitchen for a little whimsy?  I love the idea of being able to put up words appropriate to the occasion, don't you? 

I will admit...the shelf isn't finished.  It still is lacking something...I just don't know what yet.  Any ideas??

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Well, Good Monday Morning, Neighbor!!

 My heart is heavy for a very dear friend today...So I thought I'd post a couple of things that made me smile, and even giggle.  You know what?  I bet a lot of your hearts are heavy.  I bet we all could use a little break from our problems, and just take a moment to giggle and breathe easier.

I'm here to help, you know.  *grin*

Before we get on with the giggles...would you please say a prayer for my friend?  She is heading home today, to a dad who is probably dying.  If I could take away all the sadness and stress she is facing in the upcoming days and months, I sure would.  But, I know I can't.  Instead, I'll just pray for her like crazy, and be available.  I'll probably write more about that this week.  But for today, I just ask for your prayers.

Now, let's all take a deep breath.  And just give your brain and heart a break for a moment.

You know what show of my childhood always brought a smile to my face?  Mr. Rogers.  Let's take a little walk down memory lane...  Let that familiar little tune just take you back, and his comforting voice give you a little smile.  Stay with me, now.  I promised you some laughs, remember?

 

Annnnd who wants to see Mr. Rogers breakdancing?

Oh.  You're so welcome!

 

 I have a new bloggy friend Kelley (we're friends, right, Kelley?  Kelley???), who wrote about the 5 reasons Mr. Rogers stressed her out that made me CRY I laughed so hard.  Oh my word, if you've never been to Kelley's Break Room blog, you are in for a TREAT.  That girl is FUNNY.

 

And, in closing...surely met Mr. Roger's not-so-close relative Mr. Robinson on Saturday Night Live back in the day.  Yes?  If not, please watch on...  (Oh, and just so you know, the person posted the video backwards on YouTube--so the words read backward.)

 

I do hope you've gotten a giggle or two here today.  I hope you are able to breathe a little easier this Monday morning.

I sure know there is a BUNCH on my prayer list lately.  If you'd like to add anything to that list--and for anyone reading here--to pray about, please leave it in the comments.

We've got to stick together during the tough times.  And how wonderful we can all reach out and feel a little connected on the world wide web.

C'mon, now--group hug, group hug.  (In theory.  You know my feelings about unnecessary awkward hugging.) 

Hows abouts a little laughs Linky Dinks

 I feel I must tell you why I am a little late in posting today...  I've been dusting.

What?  You don't believe me?

I know it only happens a couple of times a year.  But, today was one of those times.  See--my husband gets this crazy idea once a year to invite 70 people over for breakfast.  Now, surely you all know me well enough by now to realize I don't DO breakfast.  I make it a point not to talk before 9:30am. 

But, today, I guess I shall have to talk AND be pleasant--all before 8:00AM!!  Now, I realize all you CHIPPER people are all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and can't for the life of you imagine who wouldn't want to chitter chatter away at 8:00am.  Well, you morning glories can just come hang out with me at midnight some time, and I will give you all the chitter chatter you like!

Now, enough blabbing about my crazy husband inviting all those people over for breakfast.  To be honest, it's actually not too bad.  We've hosted this breakfast for quite a few years now.  And to be REAL HONEST...my husband does all the cooking.  I KNOW!!!  He's a peach. 

Now, ON with ze links.  These are some GOOD ones.  You really don't want to miss any of these!!!  So, plop onto your couch and get comfy...  Here 'tis!

 

I found a very funny video recently on a blog I really like--Serenity Now.  I mean, any video with Tom Hanks would catch my attention.  Combine Tom Hanks with Toddlers and Tiaras, and you've got a winner!  Enjoy.  Oh, and watch for some funny cameo appearances.

 

 GIFT ALERT!!!  GIFT ALERT!!!   Man, it really is too bad my birthday is already passed...  Pioneer Woman actually featured these chalkboard placemats just the other day.  I knew I had to have them the moment I saw them.  Good for homeschool--check.  Good for fun and games at dinner time--check.  Good for being doggone cute--check.

 

Reading this by Jamie the Very Worse Missionary may be the best thing I read all week.   Ah, especially the end.  Make sure you read to the end. 

 

I'll leave you with this one last link by Jon Acuff.  This just made me smile this week.  Is there a better word than delightful?  That word just conjures up happy smiles for me...and also of my Aunt Mae.  Because she was definitely delightful.  But, that is a story for another day. 

 

It's been real nice knowing you folks.  I shall go now and feed the hordes of people looking for their breakfast.  It just wouldn't do if they knocked on our door and I was sitting here on the computer in my pajamas, now would it?  (And also, the computer would surely break...and that would be even more embarrassing...)

Now, go ye forth and enjoy the weekend!  That's an order.  I'm hugging ya all in my heart...cause you know I wouldn't do it with my arms... 

Man, parenting is HARD!

 Photo credit

I don't know if you've read between the lines in my posts recently, but Dave and I are in a real struggle.  We've been wrestling with the decision about when is the right time--if ever--to stop homeschooling Rebecca (our oldest), and integrate her into public school.  I use the term "wrestling" because that is exactly how it's felt inside my heart and brain.  My heart has been heavy, feeling the weight of this decision and it's long-term implications.

I wish I was using this post to announce the GOOD NEWS!  We've made a decision!!  But, sadly, I am not.  We're still trying to figure it all out.  There are so many pros and cons for both scenarios--homeschooling vs. public school.  We have very specific goals and reasons in choosing both options for Rebecca.  Now, it's just a matter of prioritizing, and figuring out which goal is most important for her long-term growth.

At the very core of all of this parental questioning and prioritizing, Dave and I both have been praying for God's leading.  The most difficult part of this whole decision-making process is that we haven't heard a clear answer yet.  And one of us is getting slightly impatient.  (Bet you can't guess who!)

Dang, parenting is hard, isn't it?

Just recently I read a wonderful article about parenting with a long-term goal in mind.  Joey Staples has been working with teenagers his whole adult life.  So, when he talks about raising teens, I listen.  He recently compared raising children to the debarkation of a cruise he and his wife recently took.  The comparison just makes sense to me.  I encourage you to read what he has to say.

The one negative about Joey's article, is that at the end...he doesn't say whether homeschooling or public school is the answer for Rebecca.  Shoot.  I was really looking for a sign.

I'd love to focus on SOMEONE ELSE'S problems for a moment!!  What have been some of your difficult life decisions?

Breathing Prayers

 Photo credit
 

Travel with me today, to your favorite park.  Come alone, if you can, and leave your cell phone in the car.  Come on--you look like you need a breather today, a little break from the hustle and bustle.

Come on!  It's Spring!  The sun is shining, there's a slight fragrant breeze, and a bench is just over the hill.  Let's go sit, and look out over the water... 

 

Breathing Prayers

 

Walking aimlessly, quieting my thoughts, feeling a bit silly

To have no agenda, no path to follow, glancing awkwardly about

Wondering if anyone is watching me

Sitting down on the warm concrete bench, this feels more natural

Feeling myself breathe in and out, actually hearing it too

Listening to the mother and child nearby, talking

Watching the swan skim across the water, pulling a lazy ripple

Feeling the sunshine warm my arms and my hair

Breathing prayers, to the rhythm of my breathing

Thank you, Lord

What a beautiful day

Oh, the peace, and the stillness

Feeling thankful, God

Your world is so pretty

So vibrant

Why don’t I slow down, more often?

Nature breathing prayers, too

A lovely sing-song chirping

Little paws skittering up and down the tree bark

Leaves brushing to the wind’s rhythm

The water’s beautiful trill and its low ebb and flow, ebb and flow

 

Thank you

Oh, God

Thank you.

 (1995, Landa Park, New Braunfels, TX)

 

Dear readers, I have an assignment for you today.  Yes!!  An assignment!  I do hope you are able to participate.  I want you to go outside--all alone if you can--and just soak in the beauty around you.  Take a walk, go to the park, sit on your deck...whatever it is that calms you, stills your soul.  Be deliberate in your quiet. 

And listen.

What do you hear?

What do you see?

I find that sometimes in my busyness, my noisy life, I can't hear God speaking.  Sometimes, though, if I get quiet enough, I can.

And I believe that right now, God is speaking to all of us in the beauty of Spring.  What a gift Spring is!  I need to slow down, so that I can open that gift...with my eyes, my ears, and my heart.

I would be ever so blessed if you are able to join in, and would come back here and share about what you saw, and heard, and experienced.  Come on!  It'll be fun!!

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Tuesday's a good day for a list, right?

I don't have any deep and meaningful insight today.  So, if you were looking for those things, I really have to wonder about you.  Because--seriously--do you ever come here looking for deep and meaningful?  Crazy, maybe.  Or even a chuckle or two. 

So, without further delay, {ahem} here is my Tuesday list.  {straightens papers and looks seriously into the camera}

 

1.  I checked to see what I wrote about last year around this date, and guess what?  I noticed I wrote about how I was SICK last year at the SAME TIME...with the SAME SICKNESS that I suffered through last week.  (Flu-ish, respiratory crud that makes you feel like dying and/or coughing up a lung.)

I find that strange that I would be sick at the same time  and of the same thing.  (Okay, I know I just said that in the above paragraph...I am saying it again for emphasis, dangit.)

Don't believe me?  Click here to see!  Also--click here if you happened to miss the bedroom makeover I did for our daughter's 10th birthday (that was a part of the same post).

 

2.  My husband and I are taking the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace course.  Surprisingly, I am LOVING it!  Okay, so maybe I am not loving the work part--where we have to set up a budget--oh, and FOLLOW the budget...  But, I am really loving the class itself!  I have been thoroughly entertained by Dave Ramsey--and I have learned a lot.  Have any of you taken this class?  I'd love to know!

 

3.  Right now, as I am typing these very words, my daughters are screaming, and making VERY LOUD thumping noises in the bathroom.  I think they are throwing something against the wall of the shower.  That is how committed I am to you, my dear readers, that I am finishing this entire sentence before checking on the little hoodlums.

 

4.  I don't mean to brag...but these are the intellectually stimulating games I just found my 2 daughters playing.  It makes a mama proud to see her children stretching their minds while having a good time...

 

 

     
 

 

 
 5.  Just for fun--what do you think the caption for any of the above pictures should be?  The WINNING  caption will be featured in an upcoming post.  Obviously, you have 3 choices to caption:

1) Barbie, pre-launch

2) Barbie, post-launch

3) Pepto Bismal...crown?

 

6.  That's all she wrote, folks. 

A Birthday Weekend and a Full Heart

Our family has had a weekend full of celebrating our Rebecca's 11th birthday.  I think we're all a little tired, but our hearts are full and happy.

Rebecca has come and hugged my neck at least 3 times, saying, "Mom, thank you SO MUCH!!!" 

The plans for this year's celebrations began with Rebecca's one birthday wish.   (Okay, who are we kidding?  She makes birthday present requests year-round.  Birthday and Christmas requests are practically a full-time job for both our daughters.  But, THIS request was a month before her birthday, and in response to my "What would you like to do for your birthday this year?")

"Mom, all I want for my birthday is a mother-daughter date.  I'd love for us to get manicures and pedicures together, go shopping, go out to lunch, and maybe go to the movies."

What mother can resist a daughter who only wants to spend time together?

I was total mush to the idea.  "Okay, my darling, whatever you want.  How about a pony and a new car, too?"

So, we planned our Mother-Daughter Day.  And, little did she know, her daddy and I planned a special surprise for the end of the day for our whole family together...

We started our day at the nail salon.

It was even more special when we ran into our dear friend Susan--the mom of one of Rebecca's dearest friends! 

This is Rebecca's very first pedicure.  I know lots of young girls get pedicures and manicures these days.  But, to me, these are special occasion treats.  I'm glad we got to share this moment on her 11th birthday!

And her very first manicure, too!  Note the bright orange color she selected!!  Silver for her toes, and bright orange for her nails.  Not exactly what an elderly 40-year-old mama would have chosen, but it does make a mama smile to see her daughter's individuality blossom.

Next, we were off to shop!

First stop...Justice!  I kept trying to steer her away from the accessories, and towards the clothing.  I wanted her to pick out a cute outfit.  All that silly girl wanted was a fun t-shirt.  She even decided against the sunglasses.  What???  Since when do you not want another pair of jeweled sunglasses?

All she wanted from the whole store was a t-shirt and a flower headband. 

Her unselfish attitude blew me away.  And just made my heart overflow with gratitude for this sweet girl, this sweet day together.

(For the sake of full disclosure, I must tell you that shopping does not always go this same unselfish way...  But, for some reason, the atmosphere of that whole day was just sweet and thankful.)

She wanted to head to Claire's next.  But, I told her we'd come back to Claire's...After lunch... (dun dun dunnnn: Foreshadowing!)

Next stop:  The Disney Store.  I can't tell you the last time we shopped here.  Mostly, because the mama is mean, and says, "Now, there is not a THING we need from that store.  Let's keep moving."  But, today when Rebecca asked, I said, "Sure!"  It seemed like a festive, birthday thing to do!

 She really grinned when she picked up Mr. Pricklepants from Toy Story 3.  Because she had been so unselfish so far, I said, "Let's buy that totally unnecessary toy that I know you'll never play with!"  Okay...what I really said was, "Would you like to buy him?"

And we did.  (I'm happy to report that Mr. Pricklepants is very happy in his new home.)
 
Next, our rumbly tummies were telling us it was lunch time!  Birthday girl got to pick out wherever she wanted to eat.  She chose Thai Thai.  Atta girl!  You have chosen wisely.  (Name that movie)
 How FUN that we saw more of our dear friends--Carissa and Amy!  Especially fun since Carissa is my official special events photographer.  (You didn't know I was so fancy, did you?)
 Oh yes!  The birthday girl proudly displaying her manicure!  Love it!

Next stop... We met up with Daddy and Sara Beth in the parking lot of The Landing.  Daddy told Rebecca that in honor of her birthday, he thought she should get her ears pierced.  Then, because it was April Fool's Day--he and Sara Beth yelled "APRIL FOOLS!!!!" 

But, DOUBLE April Fools--because she WAS going to get her ears pierced!!!  She couldn't believe it.  She has been asking to get her ears pierced since she could talk.  (Well, almost that long.)

Next stop:  Claire's (finally!)
 
 Who knew they could pierce both ears at one time?  Okay, probably the whole world knew this...but I didn't. 
 Here she is!!  Our pretty 11-year-old with the pierced ears.  Already, I am regretting this decision...thinking, "What have I done?  My baby is growing up too fast...she looks too old...take 'em out!" 

Okay, growing up is good.  It's just hard on a mama and daddy's hearts...

Oh, but she's not too old to be PICKED UP by her daddy...IN PUBLIC

 "DAD!!!  HURRY and PUT ME DOWN!!!  Someone might see us!!!"

Last stop...Let's go sit down and talk about the day over some yummy frozen yogurt!

 What an amazing, fun, special day we had celebrating Miss Rebecca!!!  We had lots more celebrating over the weekend--with Grandma and Grandpa coming to visit (they've not missed a birthday yet!), and a yummy meal (and some much-anticipated Chuck Taylor shoes) at Nana and Pops' house!

So, even though I am a little exhausted from all of the celebrating...my heart is full.

At the end of the Mother-Daughter day, driving home in the car, Rebecca said at least 4 times--"This has been the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!  Seriously--the VERY BEST DAY!!!"

My heart took a little snapshot of that moment, and tucked it safely away, deep inside my mama heart.

I'll be thinking about those words--and the grin covering her entire face--for a long, long time.
 
 And someday, in a moment when our mother-daughter relationship seems difficult...I will pull out that little heart snapshot...and I will remember the happy, sparkling eyes, the joyful lilt of her voice, and the 11-year-old grin covering her entire face.  And I pray, that because of this happy memory, I will be able to extend just a little extra grace.