mom's turn: Belated birthday treats for Mao…

Mao turned 18 in the middle of our California vacation. Not a great day to be cooped up in the car and on the road. But we hoped the rest of the vacation made up for that. Teeny said she really liked the shark teeth necklaces when we went to the beach in Alabama, so we found a fossil mako shark tooth in a shop on the Bay in San Francisco. We got that, deciding it would have more sentimental value, and Teeny said that she would make her a kumihimo necklace to hang it on when we returned home. How appropriate and what a sweet smile!!

Happy Birthday Mao!

Belated Birthday Bounty

For my birthday my grandparents took me out to eat and then shopping. I go an AWESOME pair of Ed Hardy shoes from my grandpa. They are purple, one of my favorite colors, and black and have skulls on them. Sounds kind of creepy, but they’re not! On top of being totally adorable they are EXTREMLY comfortable. Great walking around shoes or shoes for my hip hop dance class that I am now taking with Mao! I also got an adorable belt and shirt, purple of course, from Marion. Thank you Pop-Pop and Marion!!!

Birthday Blues

Our plans for Teeny’s birthday fell through…she’s been dreaming of skydiving for 11 years now, and we were going to do a 3 generation dive (Judy was flying in). TWO MONTHS AGO (I called last week to book the dives, what cruddy timing) the laws changed and you now have to be 18 to do a tandem dive. Disappointment of the 11 year plan crumbling doesn’t begin to describe her emotions for her sweet 16! And needless to say we had nothing else planned because that was going to be so expensive. So now we must rally and find other things to be happy about. Instead she got an aquarium, a new set of pajamas (Travis called it her “birthday suit”), a gold “Sweet 16” necklace charm & chain, and a new purple iPod nano. We also took her to the bank to open her own checking account, Starbucks for an afternoon snack after picking Trevor up to spend the afternoon with her, and then we all went to eat at LaShish, her choice for her birthday dinner. It was Mao's first time to eat Lebanese food, but she enjoyed the shrimp and gyros. GG came with us there as a surprise and Kazum (the owner) had a special birthday cheesecake waiting just for her!!I think we managed to regroup and have lots of fun anyway. Now if I can recover from the shock of having a 16 year old…

“Today was my birthday! I had a great b-day! We picked up my bf and hung out at my house for a while, and then we went out to eat. It was awesome. We went to eat at my favorite restaurant, Lashish, where they surprised me with a VERY cute birthday cake with a fairy on top. I got some awesome b-day presents including a beautiful sweet 16 golden necklace, a purple iPod, some cute pj’s, a fish tank, and some yummy dark chocolate! It was the best birthday I could wish for.”

Mom's turn: my birthday wishes came true

My fantastically talented daughter finished the necklace she gifted me for my birthday. It turned out so beautiful…but of course I’m not surprised. Her talent has taken off and I’m lucky enough to reap the rewards. She stitched my necklace with iridescent hexagon beads and turquoise seed beads in a Russian spiral pattern. She left it up to me to pick the colors and charm and she chose the pattern. I also found the most delicately carved silver holder to go with it where she takes her lessons, The Bead Company. I was so enchanted with the finished product that I needed a chance to show it off, pajamas just didn’t do it justice! So I made reservations at the Melting Pot for a mother/daughter dinnerwhere we had the cheese and chocolate special. I must admit that the cheese was great, but the yin-yang chocolate was to DIE for!!!!!!! We even had seconds on the dippers!

Mom's turn: Phantom footsteps

The older I get the more I reminisce about what my mother would have been like at my age – I have outlived her age at her death by 4 years & 2 weeks now. Never seeing your mother grow old leaves the “wonder” factor wide open: I wonder if I look more or less like her the older I get,

do I see her in my smile?

I wonder if she would have “aged gracefully”, I wonder what health problems would have been genetic, I wonder if we would have gotten along as great as I do with my own daughter, I wonder if my personality is like hers as an adult, more than ever I wonder if she would have ever overcome her demons here on Earth. I have a great role model who jumped right in when she was needed and has guided me through most of life – my aunt! Since she was my mother’s sister, I have a vague idea about some of the looks, but they had totally opposite personalities. SO – back to wondering…I wonder what I would have been like if Mom finished raising me,

would I have such a colorful personality?

I wonder what my life would have turned out to be like and where I would be living now. I have very few memories of her as well, so I wonder what her voice sounded like, I wonder what her hair smelled like, I wonder how tall she would be standing next to me when we hugged.

would she have stood by me & my choices today?

I remember patchouli and silk and Janice Joplin and a hippy commune…these are a few things I hold on to. My mother was tiny – so all of her things I had would never have fit me if they would have lasted…but my aunt held on to this one shirt that still, if I smell hard enough, smells like the essence that I remember in the color of her eyes. So now on my birthday wearing my mother’s shirt – perhaps I can feel just a touch closer to knowing a memory and following in her phantom footsteps.

Mom's turn: Using the "F" word

That’s the perfect way to describe my birthday! Family, Friends, Fur-babies, Fun, & Food!

It started with kisses & a smile...

and then Travis taking me shopping for “something for the house because you’ve made it so beautiful”…a real ahhhhh moment; he’s such a sweetie!! SOOO – I chose a cast-iron firepot and soprano wind chimes

for the back patio that is “a project in the works” in hopes of inspiring us to finish this fall when the weather cools off a bit. And I also found an elephant item that I have never seen before, chocolate elephant candy, so I definitely had to give that a try!! Then my DD gave me a “hand”…in a card that is. She’s so creative! The hand was holding a certificate “good for one necklace” made by her. WOW!! I’m excited…can’t wait to see what it turns out like.

I received tons of well-wishes through email, phone calls, and cards from all of my friends; Ginger even gave me a shout out on her blog – how sweet is that! I feel so loved. I was also surprised by Travis with friends for dinner and laughs as well…insert “fun and food” here :-D Definitely a FABULOUS birthday!

Mom's turn: Better Late Than Never

Okay – I know it’s the “thought that counts”, but I really did feel terrible about getting my aunt’s birthday present mailed out to her over two weeks late! However I think it will DEFINITELY be worth the wait…as it is another Teeny Original. She drew this picture of a Boston Terrier – my aunt used to breed these dogs and has always had a soft spot for them. Currently she just has one, her name is Baby.

Mom's turn: A Visitor from Tennessee

We had a visitor all the way from Franklin, TN…his name was Flat Evan. He’s based off of a character in the book Flat Stanley, by Jeff Brown and part of a school project to keep children interested in reading. He came to New Orleans just in time to celebrate Christina’s birthday and Mardi Gras holidays with us!

girls being silly

For Christina’s birthday Flat Evan enjoyed playing games, watching movies, and eating king cake for dessert.

Showing some love

It was Christina’s 15th birthday, so she was working on her driving permit and took him for a ride. WATCH OUT, make sure you wear your seatbelt!!!

Flat Evan was nervous!!

He also got to play with our dog Samson…well, sort of. Samson really wanted to eat Flat Evan, see his tongue peaking out!

yuuuuuuum

On to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, LA for a weekend of fun. Surprisingly, the weather was perfect for the earliest Mardi Gras date in the history of Mardi Gras. We went to all sorts of parades, including Bacchus and my favorite Orpheus, and caught bags and bags of beads.

throw me somethin' mister!

Flat Evan got LOTS of beads

Flat Evan even got to attend Orpheuscapade, a very formal ball with lots of celebrities and we saw another Flat Stanley character.We didn’t introduce ourselves because they were on the other side of the floats, and even though Flat Evan is flat, we didn’t want to be the next ones to get flattened by crossing the parade barricade!!

a close up view of one of the beautiful floats with hand-painted flowers and fiber optic lighting on all three cars

We had fun and hope that Flat Evan did as well. Come visit again some time and we’ll see what else Louisiana has to offer.

Happy birthday Teeny!

Today my baby turned 15!! I can't believe it's already been 15 years since God blessed me with such an incredible miracle. Teeny is such an honest, sweet, talented, incredibly smart, funny, beautiful young lady so full of love and joy it makes my heart sing. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect daughter!!

This morning started with giggles and grins with friends and continues into decorations, hamburgers, cake, games, presents, and football after church. What more could a little girl, er excuse me, young lady ask for?

In the driver's seat

I'm SOOO excited! I turn 15 years old in just 8 days! I also got an early birthday present...driver's ed! I am really nervous about it but excited too. My parents say I have to drive to Colorado for our vacation in March to practice! Watch out world, here I come!

I love early morning surprises!

What could it be???

oooooh the anticipation...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! I can't do THAT!!!!! What if I wreck with my instructor????

I love it! Thanks Mom & Dad.

the "GIFT"