keepsake

It finally happened a month ago. Lauren's little-formerly-pink-raggedy-ball-of-yarn blankie that she took everywhere disappeared. We thought it would turn up like it has every time before, but it didn't. We would have checked the local lost-and-founds, but really, who would look at Blankie and see something that someone would claim? Only Lauren.

She's taken the disappearance pretty well. Much better than I imagined. So today it was funny when, while cleaning the girls' room, I heard Lauren say, "Hey, Mom. Remember when you said that one day my blankie would just be a string of yarn?" I turned around to see her holding a single, twisted strand. "Maybe this is it." She laughed.

We stuck the strand to the cork board for safe keeping. And maybe an occasional brush on the cheek, or a little sniff.

Post-edit: We did finally find Blankie weeks later, inside one of the backpacks the girls use for dressinig up. Since Lauren's already adopted a replacement that isn't falling apart, I put Blankie in our hope chest.

sugar plums

The girls have been wanting to see The Nutcracker for a couple of years now, so I decided this would be the year. I bought three tickets online today, for the girls and myself, since Kim said he didn't really care either way and could stay home with Audrey. On the way home from school I announced my plan.

"Girls! Guess what?"

"What?"

"Today I bought tickets for us to see . . . The Nutcracker!"

"Yeah!" They shouted for joy. I loved seeing the excitement on their faces, and hoped they wouldn't be too disappointed by what I would say next.

"So, I bought three tickets. One for each of you, and one for me." The celebration ceased.

"Hey!" Ella protested, "What about Dad?"

"He said he would stay home and watch Audrey," I explained. "We decided it was the best idea." It was quiet while the girls walked ahead of me and glanced at each other as if to decide which of them would break the news.

"Um, Mom?" Lauren began, "We really like you, but we see you all the time. We want to go with Dad." As I thought about how I should respond she very politely added, "But thanks for getting us the tickets."

Of course, I'm happy for the girls to go with Kim. It will be date night with Daddy, and it will be magical.

I couldn't have planned it better myself.