Cinderella For A Night!

Brittany's Senior Prom...her last one...was on Saturday night. The day started off by taking her in to get her hair done. I loved sitting there watching the transformation from an 18 year old girl (in MY eyes) to a beautiful young woman. It just about took by breath away!

After we got home, we ate a quick lunch, then Brittany began putting on her makeup. I'd walk past the bathroom every few minutes or so just to make sure things were moving along smoothly. Thankfully, she didn't have any "makeup malfunctions", as she calls them. Whew...one more worry off the list! After she finished her makeup, she slipped into her dress. Ever have one of those WOW! moments? Well, that was definitely one for me! I know she's my daughter and all, but she looked drop-dead gorgeous! See...

Patrick arrived right on time and gave her a pretty corsage. Here she is attempting to pin his boutonniere on without stabbing him in the chest. I think it was a close call!

Everyone met over at Chateau Elan for pictures and to get picked up by the limo. It was so windy and all the girls were in a panic that their hair was getting messed up...Brittany, especially! Here they all are together...they looked like a rainbow!

Here's one last shot of Brittany and Patrick...yes, he is VERY tall! Brittany was wearing 3-inch heels!

And here's a picture of the entire group lined up in front of their limo! They had such a fun night! Brittany got home at 3:30 AM and came into our bedroom to tell us she'd made it home alright. Her voice was music to my ears!

Looks like I survived yet another milestone no worse for wear. Now, the real test is only two weeks away!

I'll do my best to visit all of you today or tomorrow. Abby has her final choral performance this evening, so I'm short on time. I so appreciate your continued support and understanding during this crazy, stressful, and emotional time in my life. I'm trying to savor each and every second the best I know how!

I Almost Forgot!

I was thinking the other day about something I forgot to share with you that happened on our Orlando trip. Well, we were all standing in line one morning to enter the gates to the parks. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a man walking up on the left side of us with his family. He looked like he was trying to break in line. There was a lady in front of us with a baby stroller and she was talking to another woman, which left an opening. Well, as soon as she passed through the turnstile, the man made his move and stepped right in front of us! I couldn't resist saying something to him. He had his back turned, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I said, "Excuse me, sir, but we were in line before you." He immediately countered, "Oh, no...I was here before you!" Chris and I both chimed in and informed him that we had seen him walk up with his family while we were waiting in line. We went back and forth several times, then he conceded and got in line behind us. He said, "Sorry 'bout that...I don't want to hold you up." I gave him a curt, "We appreciate it", then we went on in. Oh, did that ever get my goat! I can't stand for someone to try and break in line! I might be little, but I'm not easily intimidated! :)

Now, on to other news. Bet you'll never guess who's taking Brittany to the prom. C'mon now...who do you think it is? OK...time's running out! It's...drum roll...PATRICK??? Yep, you got it! At the end of last week, she went out to her car to head on to school only to find that he'd written, "Brittany + Pat+ Prom=?" all over her windshield. He even left her a single red rose, a note, and a bag of her favorite candy tucked under her windshield wipers. She sent me a text soon as she got to school and wrote, "You have to admit, Mom, that was pretty sweet!" She tells me that they're going as "just friends", but I'm not 100% convinced. She tells me all the time about how sorry he is for the way he treated her and that he makes her very happy and is so kind to her. So, I ask...what do you do when your daughter is 18 years old and is old enough to make her own decisions? Sometimes, you just have to bite your tongue and go with the flow. I don't think I'll ever have warm fuzzies toward Patrick, but I will do my best to tolerate him. It's situations like this that make me long to move away...far, far away...QUICKLY!

I'm off in a bit to pick up a locker strip to decorate Brittany's locker on Saturday afternoon. It's a tradition for all the seniors at her school and something all the kids look forward to seeing on Monday morning! So, I have to get a bunch of photos together and get to work. I'll try to remember to post a picture of it once I'm done. For someone who's "craft challenged" like myself, this could be quite an undertaking! :) Wish me luck!

When All Else Fails...

Make a flyer! Yes, that's what one of Brittany's good friends decided to do in order to find a prom date. He passed them out to a bunch of girls in hopes that one of them would take him up on his offer. I really have to give him kudos for being creative and taking a leap of faith. I love what he wrote down the left-hand side..."Ladies, your search is over."

I haven't heard yet if Kameron's flyers have been successful in finding him a prom date. Personally, I've never seen anything like this done before, but it sure made me laugh! As they say, "No guts, no glory!" :)

TEENAGE DRAMA...Pt. 2

I can't thank you all enough for your understanding, support, and prayers in regards to what I wrote about in my previous post today. Raising a teenager is no walk in the park, at times!

I know some of you questioned why the girls' parents were charging $15 pp for the before and after party. Well, they're providing food and they're renting casino games for the kids to play. I've never heard of anything like that, but, apparently, they're each going to be given fake money to play Blackjack, Roulette, etc. Yes, and you are right...what parents are going to stay up with those kids ALL NIGHT LONG? I don't think so! I know I would be nodding off around midnight...if not earlier! There's just a feeling inside of me that says "follow your heart". I have to believe that it's God speaking to me. We've already told her that the all-night sleepover is not going to happen, but she continues to try to break us down. We're holding strong! I'll keep you updated! Thanks, again!

TEENAGE DRAMA...Oh, What Fun!

I'm so glad it's time for "Wordful Wednesday" hosted by my friend, Angie, over at 7 Clown Circus, because I have a whole lot to say this time around! I know, that's so out of character for me, right? Please drop by Angie's blog and see what all the other participants are yakking about this week.

Now, as many of you know, it's prom season and girls and guys are making preparations for this unforgettable event! I, in fact, took Brittany out this past weekend to find her shoes and jewelry. Here's her shoes we ended up finding at DSW. They were originally priced at $60, but they were on sale for half-off, so I paid only $30 for them! Score one for ol' mom! They're very sharp-looking with rhinestones across the toes. The downside is they have 3-inch heels, so Brittany's feet will be killing her! She said that she plans to kick off her shoes and dance in bare feet, anyway. Now that I think about it, maybe I should have invested in a cheap pair of flip flops!
Here's the necklace and earrings we found at Accessories Necessities for only $24.99. They're so sparkly and shiny! Tiffany's has nothing on these babies! :)
We already have her dress, of course, so we can scratch those major items off the list. Now, this is where it all goes south! Brittany had planned to go with her boyfriend and a group of 23 friends to dinner, then on to the prom. Well, there are two girls in the group, one whose father is an orthopedic surgeon, who've come up with THE PLAN. They wanted to rent a fur bus at a cost of $30 pp, then go to The Melting Pot in downtown Atlanta for $35 pp. Oh, and one of these girls is having a before and after prom party (no drinking, drugs, smoking, etc!) at her house at a cost of $15 pp. Can you see where all of this is headed?

There have been a number of kids in the group (Brittany and her boyfriend, included) who've decided that they don't want to spend that kind of money on eating dinner before the prom. I mean, we're talking a minimum of $80 just to ride to the restaurant and eat dinner...double that for a couple! So, Brittany, along with several others, suggested that they eat at a more reasonably priced restaurant, such as Provino's. The two girls who planned everything canned that idea real quick! They said they weren't about to eat their prom dinner at a restaurant where others might be wearing SHORTS! It's become the biggest fiasco ever! Last I heard, they've decided to forgo the fur bus and eat at another restaurant closer by, but that's equally as expensive. Brittany and her boyfriend are getting so frustrated, they're now thinking about doing their own thing.

Now, I failed to mention that the before and after party is an all-night sleepover for both girls and guys! Everyone is still wanting to attend the party...yes, even Brittany! We had quite a "discussion" about it last night! Chris and I both feel uncomfortable allowing her to go to the girl's house for a party because we don't know her or her parents! Most of the other kids we know very well. We don't have the assurance that those kids will be properly supervised! Secondly, we certainly don't like the idea of her spending the night there with boys...friends or not! Please don't get me wrong...Brittany is a very good girl and I thank the Lord up above everyday. However, things can and do happen with kids her age, particularly when adequate adult supervision is lacking! Plus, it's a proven fact that the reasoning portion of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex, doesn't fully develop until about the age of 21, which makes it hard for teens to understand the connection between actions and consequences. Brittany is a prime example of this. She can't seem to grasp why her daddy and I have reservations about the party...we're just being meanies. If it were a bunch of girls, we might be more inclined to let her stay, but with boys being invited, that's a whole different story.

We realize that as your child gets older, especially when they turn 17, you have to start loosening the reigns and allow them room to grow and mature. We, in fact, suggested to Brittany that she attend the party for a few hours after the prom (we were trying to COMPROMISE!), but that was a NO-GO! She feels that we're ruining a memorable night for her because most of her other friends, including her best friend, are staying all night. Are we being unreasonable or unjust? Her ex-boyfriend, Andrew, will be spending the night, too!

I would LOVE to hear your take on the situation we're facing. Would YOU allow your 17 year old daughter to attend a sleepover party for guys and girls? My feeling is that, as a parent, you sometimes have to take a stand for what you feel is right and stop worrying about being your child's best friend. PARENT is a verb, not a noun. Oh, I feel so much better now, but I would love to hear your thoughts! For those of you who've never raised a teenager...just you wait! Uh, oh...I think I just saw another gray hair pop in on the top of my head....I WONDER WHY! LOL!

"Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years."~Author Unknown



P.S. Abby got her palatal expander put in, but her mouth is really sore and she talks kind of "funny". She said it's like having a big glob of peanut butter stuck to the roof of her mouth! I have to give the expander a turn with a key twice each day for 3 weeks, but she'll have to wear it for 4-6 months. It's expanding her upper jaw so there will be ample room for her teeth. The next phase will be to get her braces on. Brittany said the "loved" volunteering with the Special Olympics. Her job was to hug the children as they crossed the finish line...that's exactly what I did in college! She said they were all such an inspiration! Thank you for your prayers!

A Prom Tag? OH, NO!!!

My sweet friend, Carrie, at Carrie's Little World tagged me with this utterly embarrassing PROM TAG! Oh, what a stinker she is! Now, the only good part about it, if there truly is such a thing, is that I shared my prom picture recently, so it shouldn't come as a big shocker to most of you.

Here I am with my prom date, Eddie. We dated for two solid years in high school. I wasn't too happy with him the night of our prom because he came in clothes that were totally mismatched. The pants were his, the jacket was a friend's, and the VERY LARGE shirt was his father's. He didn't even wear a tie! Oh, no, he had to expose his St. Christopher medalion for the whole world to see! LOL! That look on his face spells misery...at least I was able to squeeze out a smile! I'm going to have to think read hard about whether or not I'm going to reveal the actual year the photo was taken. Maybe I'll conveniently "forget" all about it! LOL! Of course, with the way my brain operates these days, that might very well be the case. So, let me just say that it was the time when disco was alive and well, and Duran Duran was a big favorite of many.

Now, any guesses as to who's in this next picture? Well, I did a "google" search on Eddie and found out that he's currently a tennis pro in Arkansas. This is the picture of him that was on the website of the country club where he works... When I showed it to Chris, his exact words were, "Boy, you sure hit the jackpot when I came along!" Trust me, that's his typical "sassy" response! Someone's a little stuck on himself, wouldn't you say?

Now, I warned Chris that I was going to show HIS prom picture for all to see! No way was I going to disappoint you! :) Well, here it is in all it's glory! Look at what a peanut he was as he stood next to his date, Kelly. He said he weighed about 112 lbs! He'd asked her to go to the prom with him about a week after she broke up with someone else. He said that when they got to the prom, she saw her ex-boyfriend there alone and started bawling. She, basically, dumped Chris to reunite with her ex! Isn't that awful? Their theme was "Stairway to Heaven", but it was a night he'd rather forget!
Ok, here are the rules:

❶ Leave me a comment guessing which year this photo was taken...(yes, the wrong guess might hurt our friendship...LOL...totally just kidding!) I will post the correct year in a few days after a few guesses come in...how fun! Hmm, on second thought, maybe not! :)
❷ If I TAG you...dig up your old prom picture...post it and let's guess the date, too. If you really are that self-conscious and don't want us to know the date...maybe we can guess the decade?. If you are married to your prom date, let us know! If you aren't, try to post a prom picture of your prom and a second picture of your husband's prom. Let us know where each of your dates are now and their relationship status!! (and, of course, YOU are way cuter than his prom date!) If you are single...let us know where your prom date is now!
❸ I am going to TAG some people...and then those taggers need to keep it going by tagging 5 other people! I can't wait to see all of your pictures! Fun huh!?

Alright, though I usually don't like to tag people for fear of leaving others out, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity with this one! So, I'm going to TAG:

Jodi-Green Acres
Pam-Life By The Creek
Lorrie-The View From My Door
Heather-Family Forever
Amy-From The King's Table

Don't let me down, ladies! You can't chicken out...I want to see those treasured photos from yesteryear!

"It is indeed ironic that we spend our school days yearning to graduate and our remaining days waxing nostalgic about our school days."~Isabel Waxman

I Can't Believe I'm Doing This!

Today is Friday's Favorite Family Foto over at Pictures, Pots, and Pens hosted by Deborah. It gives participants a chance to showcase some of their family pictures. It's always a lot of fun!

OK, this first picture shows me in my 4th grade class when I attended Jones Elementary School in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Can you spot me??? I'm the third girl from the left on the bottom row. See the 6th boy over from the top right? He was my first boyfriend, Mitch. We used to walk on the playground holding hands. Would you believe that I met up with him, again, in college and we dated for a couple of months? Small world, huh? Don't you just love the clothes we all wore? Gotta love those knee socks and plaid pants! :)
Alright...close your eyes real tight and begin swaying gently from side to side. Imagine you're hearing REO Speedwagon sing "Can't Fight This Feeling". Yes, we're back in the 80's and it was some of the best times of my life! Here I am with my boyfriend of 2 very LONG years, Eddie...he was my date for our Jr.-Sr. Prom. Oh, what a perfect little pair we made! LOL! Look how much taller he was than me...I was even wearing 2-inch heels! I had gotten mad at him right before we left my house because he was late picking me up! I love how he's barely touching my arm...and that look on his face is PRICELESS! I was trying so hard to appear happy! We broke up not long, afterwards. Sad, but true! Don't you just love those snazzy decorations? Eddie's leisure suit is, well...what can I say? Check out the collar on his shirt? How about my Farrah Fawcett hairstyle? Oh, this picture makes me laugh!
"Growing up is never easy. You can hold onto things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves for growing up."~The Wonder Years

Have a fun and relaxing weekend! Big hugs to you all!♥



*Pop over to Moonlight Hollow...she's having a treasure hunt in celebration of her 100th post! Woo hoo!

Cinderella For A Day

What time is it??? It's time for Blue Monday hosted by my friend, Sally, over at Smiling Sally. Participants are asked to share something that's blue, and I have the perfect thing!

On Saturday, Chris decided to go work out at the gym, then he mowed the yard when he got home. No, our grass is NOT green just yet, but he wanted to take off the dead top layer. Well, Brittany has been asking me to take her shopping for her prom dress, which is in April, so I thought that would be the perfect opportunity, since Chris was going to be busy for awhile. Abby, Brittany, and I piled in the car and we were off in search for the "perfect" dress.

Now, a few weeks ago, we'd stopped by a local antique store that we'd never been in before. It had aisles and aisles of all sorts of great things. If Chris hadn't been with us, I could have made a killing! Well, when we walked down one aisle, the girls and I saw a gorgeous dress on display. It was a hot pink color and had ruffles all around from the waistline to the floor. It was just so different from anything we'd ever seen. The only problem is that it was a size 8 and Brittany wears a 1/2. So, we really didn't think much more about it until Saturday. I told her that we should go back to the antique store, first, and see if she could try it on. The owner of the dress was, actually, in the store and she told us that the dress had come right off the runway in New York City and that it was such a special one-of a-kind dress. She said it would easily sell for $1000, but she had it priced at $189. I, of course, WAS NOT going to pay that much money, but she said she'd work with me.

Well, Brittany, Abby, and I went to the bathroom in the store so that she could try it on. The color looked really pretty on her, but it was too big around. I asked the owner of the dress if she thought it could be altered and she said that it could, but that it would probably cost around $150, which was about the same price as the cost of the dress. I told Brittany that it just wasn't going to work, and she agreed. Then, the lady told me that her daughter was a senior in high school and that said she'd found her prom dress at a consignment store about 20 miles down the road. She gave me the address and we headed that way.

It was a very cute little store that was tucked alongside a brand new modern shopping center. There were all sorts of long, formal dresses running the entire length of one wall. We were in hog heaven! We all picked out several dresses that we liked and Brittany took them to the dressing room to try on. She narrowed her choices down to 3 dresses. Abby and I, along with the shop owner, agreed that this long, royal blue dress was THE ONE for her. It looked so gorgeous on her and fit her like a glove. We will have to get the length altered just a little. Best part is that I paid only $73 for it! Chris was thrilled because I'd prepared him before we left that it might be hard to find a prom dress under$150. So, whatcha think? It laces up in the back and ties in a big bow...so pretty! Now, you want to hear the real kicker? Brittany's boyfriend called her when we were leaving the antique store asking if they we going to get to see each other or not. She told him that she was out with me and her sister to look for a prom dress and you'll never believe what he told her! He said, "OK, I tell you what...when you get back home, you find yourself a new prom date!" Then, he hung up on her...and broke up with her over Facebook by changing his status from 'in a relationship' to 'single'! Oh, it's been a mess, but let me just say that I'm very thankful that their relationship has come to an end! God has answered my prayers! Brittany is a very strong young woman and she's doing fine...God had his hand in this.

Please be sure to pay Sally a visit and wish her and all the other participants a Happy BLUE MONDAY! “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”~Lyman Frank Baum

P.S. I'm a bit bummed...I've lost two of my followers since this morning! I've heard others mention that the same thing happened to them! An epidemic? Who knows! I just hope and pray that I didn't offend anyone, or bore you half to death with my stories about my family, but I'm just being ME. Please, dear followers...come back!