April 5th is a day I have never celebrated before. This year that has changed. Our newest, and oldest child's birthday is today. I recently received her birth certificate, and I couldn't remember if those documented a birth time. They do not, fyi. So I had to tell my daughter I don't know what time she was born. I said, "some time today, I think you are just going to get a special feeling, and when you realize it's happened let's say you were born at that time until we find out otherwise." For kids, it's important to know the minute they were born, right? That way you can officially brag that you are in fact that new age when the minute hits.
I wouldn't dream of making her wait until after school to open her birthday present. She has been begging me for days to tell her what it was, to the point of near tears. I discovered she does not like surprises. I can identify with that! So I gave her some decent clues, but still made her wait until today. She left this morning with a new necklace with her new name engraved on the front and her new initials on the back, along with an April birthstone and a horse charm. She loves horses. Written in her birthday card - with a toothless dog whose tongue forever hangs out of his mouth (literally) on the front of it that looks like our Cavalier, Walter - was a message that we will be going on a horse trail ride this weekend. I was filled with pleasure as her eyes slowly widened and the corners of her mouth raised with every next word read. I'd say we get brownie points for that! She also got a bag of hot Takis (talk-eez, also know as hot chips). These are the buzz around elementary schools in Raytown. They may be popular in other districts as well, I don't know. But I have one child who can't stand them and two that love them. The kids love them so much that when the kids in Kennedy's classroom earned a special reward, they voted on Hot Takis over extra recess. There is even a kid's rap about Hot Cheetos and Takis! Ha! I have yet to meet an adult that likes them, but am actively looking. I saw a bag of them sitting on the secretary's desk at the kid's school and asked if they were hers. "Ha, no," she said, "those were brought in for a student." I had to ask where they were in the chip isle. But never the less, my daughter got her requested Hot Takis for her birthday today and she was thrilled. Now enough about Takis... although it is fun to say. She is getting a cookie cake tonight with coffee ice cream, per her request.
This week I realized I have finally settled on the fact that our new daughter is not leaving. Before that, after she had officially moved in, I kept randomly having a sinking feeling that I was going to have to take her back after a day or weekend with her. Then I'd quickly remember, oh yeah, she's with us for good! Those have finally gone away after three weeks.
April 5th will be a day we will forever celebrate now. It's a pretty special day.
I wouldn't dream of making her wait until after school to open her birthday present. She has been begging me for days to tell her what it was, to the point of near tears. I discovered she does not like surprises. I can identify with that! So I gave her some decent clues, but still made her wait until today. She left this morning with a new necklace with her new name engraved on the front and her new initials on the back, along with an April birthstone and a horse charm. She loves horses. Written in her birthday card - with a toothless dog whose tongue forever hangs out of his mouth (literally) on the front of it that looks like our Cavalier, Walter - was a message that we will be going on a horse trail ride this weekend. I was filled with pleasure as her eyes slowly widened and the corners of her mouth raised with every next word read. I'd say we get brownie points for that! She also got a bag of hot Takis (talk-eez, also know as hot chips). These are the buzz around elementary schools in Raytown. They may be popular in other districts as well, I don't know. But I have one child who can't stand them and two that love them. The kids love them so much that when the kids in Kennedy's classroom earned a special reward, they voted on Hot Takis over extra recess. There is even a kid's rap about Hot Cheetos and Takis! Ha! I have yet to meet an adult that likes them, but am actively looking. I saw a bag of them sitting on the secretary's desk at the kid's school and asked if they were hers. "Ha, no," she said, "those were brought in for a student." I had to ask where they were in the chip isle. But never the less, my daughter got her requested Hot Takis for her birthday today and she was thrilled. Now enough about Takis... although it is fun to say. She is getting a cookie cake tonight with coffee ice cream, per her request.
This week I realized I have finally settled on the fact that our new daughter is not leaving. Before that, after she had officially moved in, I kept randomly having a sinking feeling that I was going to have to take her back after a day or weekend with her. Then I'd quickly remember, oh yeah, she's with us for good! Those have finally gone away after three weeks.
April 5th will be a day we will forever celebrate now. It's a pretty special day.