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Chicky Turns 18!

Posted on January 22, 2010 by auburnchick

My oh my, but it’s a big day in the AuburnChick home.

Today, January 22, is Chicky’s 18th birthday!

Last night, we waited for her to go to bed.  We gave ourselves an extra 30 minutes to ensure she was deep in sleep, and then we let loose with the streamers and balloons.

This is the hallway to Chicky’s bedroom.  We wanted her to feel special from the moment she got up.

The next picture is the view as you enter the kitchen from the hallway.  My house is a disaster right now, but you get the point.  Banners and streamers everywhere!

Even the coffee pot (shown in the picture below) didn’t escape attention!

The den and dining room also feel victim to the decorations…

I finally crawled into bed around 1am.  I couldn’t wait for Chicky to wake up.  It reminded me of her very first Christmas…the anticipation kept me psyched up.

I heard Chicky get up and walk in the kitchen (to get her cell phone, don’t ya know), and she exclaimed, “Think you put up enough streamers?!”

LOL

She was happy, I could tell.

That pleased me because this is HER day.

We decided to do presents in the morning because Chicky has a game tonight.  She opened cards from family first, and she happily discovered a check in each one.  Every teen loves money!

Then, Rooster gave her his gift…

It’s an insulated travel coffee mug!  With her recent foray into this coffee thing, she needed her own cup (she’s been using the Mr.’s), and she needed one that would keep the coffee warm.  Rooster also later gave her his Best Buy gift card…the one he had received for Christmas.  It still has about $8 left on it, and he wanted her to use it for her birthday.  Is that sweet or what?!

Next, Chicky opened the gift from the Mr. and me…

It’s a Visa gift card, and we explained that we want her to buy a Pea Coat or a certain dress she’s had her eye on.

Her eyes gleamed as she told us what she wanted to buy, which she could now afford if she put all of her birthday money together.

I got dressed, and we headed out to spend her $$…

She got herself a 32gb iPod Touch!  You should have seen the look on her face as she opened it up.  As one who loves technology, I have to say that it’s PURTY (as in pretty, but Southern-style, you know).

Next, we decided to go to lunch.  I mean, what can be better than lunch with your Mama on your 18th birthday?  (Yeah, I know that lunch with Guy Friend on your 18th birthday would probably trump the other, but humor me, okay?).

We saw cars parked in the lot in front of the new Panera that’s going up, and we thought maybe it would be open…

If you look closely, you’ll see the sign on the window that says “6 Days.”

Oy!  I do love me some Panera, and my mouth was watering.

Instead, we decided to head to a local eatery that is popular with the high schoolers.  This place serves up sandwiches and other lunch fair.  I’d never been there, so Chicky suggested what to order.

Oh my gosh, but it was delicious!  For $6, I got 1/2 sandwich, a side (black beans and rice), and a drink!  So, it was $12 for the two of us.  Not bad at all!

We chatted about every day stuff.  It was wonderful.

This has been an amazing day.  In some ways, it’s hard to believe that I’m the mom of an 18 year-old.  Yesterday, I pulled out her baby and toddler books, and as I read through them, I was astounded at the memories that flooded in.  I remember writing those words on those pages.  Could this much time have passed already?

For those of you with young children, it is so true when people tell you that time flies, and before you know it, they’ll be grown.  Some days seem to pass by slowly, especially when the children are younger and crying with croup.  But all of a sudden, you wake up and find yourself taking pictures of a daughter in a prom dress or a graduation gown, and then you think about how quickly those days actually flew by.

I’m not going to be a weepy mom.  I’m thrilled that Chicky has reached this milestone.  My #1 mantra as a parent is that I’m training my children to be independent and serve God.  Knowing that Chicky is on the cusp of spreading her wings and flying on her own makes me a teensy bit nervous, but I know that God will watch over my little Chicky as she leaves the nest.

Happy Birthday, Chicky.  You are special.  You are loved.  You were wanted and planned for and appreciated on the day you arrived.

Watching you grow and mature has been the greatest reward as your parent.  I pray that you always put God first in your life, and that you will always seek His will and trust Him through all that life may throw your way.

I love you!!

Love,

Mama♥

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | 5 Comments »

A Gift From Francis

Posted on December 16, 2009 by auburnchick

First off, I am so sorry I’ve been neglecting the blog the last few weeks.  High school soccer season has been in full swing with the girls playing up to three games a week.  With my long-term subbing job, I haven’t had a whole lot of spare time…

Last night's game...lovely weather conditions, eh?

Thank goodness for shoe dryers (we have two)!

Anyhoo…back to the real topic of this post…gifts!

You’ll recall that a couple of days ago, I blogged about the Shetland Shorty I made for one of my students.

I took the gift to school, eager to see her reaction.  I went to the library, where we had originally planned to meet up, but she wasn’t there!  Oy!  I waited a few minutes before heading to my class.  I thought she had forgotten.

She hadn’t.  She was running late.

About ten minutes into my first class, who showed up at the door?

Francis!!

I had her have a seat while I got my students started on their work.

And then the gifting began.

As she pulled out the gifts I had wrapped in tissue paper, I grew nervous.

She saw the Bible first, and she read the note I had written inside.

I got a hug.

Then she unwrapped the shrug.

Her mouth opened in a surprised “O.”

She recounted the time she had seen me wear mine…the exact memory I had of that encounter.

She seemed touched that I had gone through the trouble to make one for her.  It was no trouble at all, I assured her.

Then it was my turn to open my present.

It was small, wrapped in ribbon, and taped heavily.

Once I broke through, I discovered this…

BLING!!!

You guys know, from reading about my travels, that I do like beaded bling!!  Woo Hoo!  And bling in which all of the pieces have been hand-picked and put together by an 18 year old…oh, but my heart sang!

We both hugged, and she told me she loved me.  Gosh, but my heart just swelled with joy.  I love this girl as well.

I am still so surprised every time I make such connections with kids.  This is my favorite thing about teaching…being touched by other lives and discovering that I’ve touched theirs’ as well.

Filed under: Knitting, soccer | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

It’s Official

Posted on December 13, 2009 by auburnchick

Chicky got some mail yesterday…

Very important mail…

A package…

Inside was…

HER ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO ROLLINS!!!!

Ta Da!!

In the spring, I had shared pictures of our visit to the school.

We knew we were home when the first thing we saw when we got on campus was the soccer field!!!

The Rollins soccer coaches had been watching Chicky play for several months and were very impressed.

We were pleased with their program and the college’s academic curriculum and student environment.  The school’s small campus will be perfect for a small-town girl…

Chicky made a verbal commitment.

Then began the long process of applying for early admission.

Rollins is one of the top schools in the Southeast.  It’s also a small college.  They can afford to be choosy.

It can be nerve-wracking to sit and wait for that letter…especially when it’s something you want so desperately.

And that’s when the mailman brought my second favorite thing (my favorite being yarn, of course).

To celebrate, Chicky ate on the Red Plate tonight.

I’ll write on the back of it tomorrow…noting the special-ness of today.

It’s kind of strange to think, but by this time next year, Chicky will be coming home from her first semester away.

Time is gonna fly…I just know it.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

It Was Only a Dream

Posted on November 13, 2009 by auburnchick

Chicky and I stood in her dorm.

We were laughing, enjoying our conversation and one another’s company.

I don’t remember what was said…only that we had finally reached a point in our relationship where we truly respected and loved each other.

Then, it was time for me to go.

I felt a great wave of sadness wash over me.  I started crying and thought about how I had not cried when I dropped her off at college a few weeks before.  Somehow, leaving her this time felt different…more permanent.

My sobs poured from deep within me.

With a start, I woke up only to find my face wet with the tears I had just shed while I had slumbered.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that it was only a dream.

And yet, the entire day, I felt as if I was carrying a weight of somberness because I know that this dream will become reality in a few short months.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

I Think I’ll Pay Next Time

Posted on October 25, 2009 by auburnchick

We’ll subtitle today’s post “Soccer Chick Makes Another Attempt at Being a Hairdresser.”

Yesterday, Chicky welded scissors, treating Your’s Truly to a much-needed trim haircut.

She did warn me, however, that she probably didn’t cut it evenly, so she agreed to straighten my hair after church.  We figured that any mistakes would show up better…and boy did they!

First, the before picture, since some of you wanted to see how my hair looked after the cut…

My hair is a lot curlier than the picture shows.  I had just dried it to prepare it for the straightener.  Rooster’s response when he walked into the living room and saw my hair like this?

“Whoa!  That’s some big hair.”

Gee, thanks honey.  Way to make a mama feel good about herself.  I love you too, by the way.

But, I digress…

Chicky got to work, finishing a couple of layers before exclaiming loudly, “Oh my…”

Uh oh.

“Is it bad?” I asked.

She didn’t say anything, so I grabbed a small mirror…

You don’t need glasses to see a couple of problems near the bottom of my hair.

Most glaring was the huge chunk near the middle.  It was about an inch shorter than the rest.

Looking at the right side of my hair, you’ll notice that it’s longer than the left side.

Now, let me ask you a question.

How would you have reacted?

Would you have cried or yelled?

I am not your typical gal.

I laughed…

And laughed…

And laughed.

I saw Chicky’s face relax, and her eyes got a sparkle in them.

I instructed her to run get my camera.  I’m always thinking about my blog, you know.

She finished straightening my hair and then began the process of evening things out.

This was when I started holding my breath.

I tried to remind my self of my prenatal classes, when I learned to breath through the painful process.

Every whomp (that’s what thick hair sounds like when you cut it) made my heart sink.

While Chicky was cutting, one of her friends arrived at the house.  They had plans to go shopping, but Chicky had to finish what she was doing first.

The other friend, who I adore, took one look at my hair and said, “Oh my.”

Um, thanks, but that’s not exactly very reassuring.

And then I started laughing again.

The sight of two teenagers leaning over my head discussing how to “fix” it was hysterical.

The conversation went something like this:

“Chicky, what are you doing?” asked her friend.

“I’m fixing it,” Chicky responded (insert a DUH from me).

“No, you need to add texture,” her friend said.

“Does texture mean that you’re trying to hide the boo boos?” I asked.

“No,” she said, “I cut my dad’s hair all the time.  Trust me.  I know what I’m doing,” she said.

Um, okay, I think.

Back and forth they went until they were semi-happy.

The result?

Flash on (I couldnt decide which picture I liked better)

Flash on (I couldn't decide which picture I liked better)

Flash off

Flash off

Chicky did a terrific job with my hair, and she could charge big bucks by hiring herself out to straighten other people’s (just don’t cut their hair…they’ll sue).  She inherited my hair, so she has loads of experience with a Chi (that’s the brand of straightener).

In the end, I will probably go to a professionally-trained hairstylist next time.  In the meantime, I going to beg Chicky to straighten my hair for a while.  My hair is wayyyyyy big at this length, and I don’t really feel like reliving the 80’s.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Chicky Has an Appointment

Posted on October 8, 2009 by auburnchick

Yesterday Chicky went to the pediatrician for a well-visit.  For the last four years, I’ve scheduled her visits to coincide with the beginning of soccer season, when she needs a physical before being allowed to play.

What was significant about this year’s appointment was that it was her last “official” well-visit at the pediatrician.

The doctor stops seeing patients when they turn 18, and Chicky’s birthday is in January.

As we sat in the office waiting to be seen, I allowed my mind to take a trip down memory lane.

I remembered the many, many visits I’ve made throughout the years.  Well check-ups to chart her growth, which wasn’t fast, by any means.  She’s such a petite thing.

During one of the earliest well-visits, Chicky was sound asleep in my arms, and the doctor instructed me not to move her.  She did the entire examination with Chicky in my arms.

I recall the visit when she was only a few months old, and the doctor thought he detected an abnormality with one of her hips.

We went straight for an x-ray.  Imagine trying to hold down a six or seven month-old.  Especially Chicky, who was walking by then…ever the active child.

The x-rays revealed that nothing was wrong with her.  She was developing normally.  We praised the Lord.

Immunizations were always bad days.  Can you say Motrin?

Then, there were those emergency visits.  Especially memorable was the day that Chicky’s grandmother (Coupon Queen) called.  Chicky had been sick, and I had to work, so she was babysitting.  She called me and instructed me to come get Chicky immediately and take her straight to the doctor.  Chicky’s illness had progressed to the point where she was dangerously close to dehydration.

When the Mr. was a baby, he had nearly died due to dehydration, so Coupon Queen was extremely afraid for Chicky.

Sure enough, Chicky had the Rotovirus…a nasty intestinal bug that kept her in the hospital for several days.  I remember the steel crib she had to sleep in.  I stayed in her room, never leaving her side, urging her to nurse and praying that she would pee (a sign that her body was hydrated fully).

We’ve moved several times during Chicky’s childhood, so she’s been under the care of different doctors.  Every one of them holds a special place in my heart as all were gentle, empathetic, and knowledgeable.

Well, except for the one doctor who tried to tell the Mr. that Chicky had asthma.  That was the only time the Mr. has ever taken either one of our children to the doctor, and I had just started a new part-time job and couldn’t take her.  Chicky suffered from pediatric croup well into her middle school years.  We had just moved to our current home and had recently selected a new pediatrician.

The Mr. came home with an inhaler and some other breathing apparatus.

I shook my head, told him she did not have asthma, and sent him back to that office two weeks later to tell the doctor.  Chicky had already been to an allergist who had ruled out this disorder.

We changed physicians after that, and I reprised my role as unofficial family physician (with the real doctor as the “expert”).

I was brought out of my reverie when the nurse called us back.

Height and weight were taken.  Chicky grew 1/4″, maybe (she’d like to think so, even though we know girls stop growing by the time they’re her age).  For fun, I had the nurse measure my height.  I’m 1/4″ taller than Chicky, and that was with my hair pulled back into a braid (hence no “big” hair to elevate my height).  I did the happy dance as Chicky grimaced.

I bemoaned, aloud, the fact that this was Chicky’s last well-visit, and the nurse commiserated with me.  She said that it’s difficult for them to let their patients go.  Hmmm…I never thought of it from her point of view.

The doctor came in, asked lots of questions, answered mine, and sent us away with the promise that we could take Chicky to his office all the way through the time she leaves for college next August.  Yay!

So, it’s another milestone…another sign that Chicky is that much closer to being on her own.

I’m both excited and a wee bit sad.

Filed under: children | Tagged: | Leave a comment »

My Week in Pictures

Posted on October 2, 2009 by auburnchick
This is lip gloss...a free sample I received in the mail! You untwist the top to reveal the roller that contains the lip balm!This is lip gloss…a free sample I received in the mail! You untwist the top to reveal the roller that contains the lip balm!
Roosters English project...based on the book To Kill a Mockingbird

Rooster's English project...based on the book To Kill a Mockingbird

I love receiving free samples in the mail!

I love receiving free samples in the mail!

Getting ready to shop!

Getting ready to shop!

Chickys fancy shoes that nearly gave me heart failure this week!

Chicky's fancy shoes that nearly gave me heart failure this week!

Three dozen brownies for the Tailgate Party before the Homecoming Game

Three dozen brownies for the Tailgate Party before the Homecoming Game

A coupon for free yogurt! Now, Ill just wait until its on sale B1G1, and Ill get two for free!

A coupon for free yogurt! Now, I'll just wait until it's on sale B1G1, and I'll get two for free!

Honoring our country before the game

Honoring our country before the game

The football team entering the field before the start of the game...very exciting with the colored smoke!

The football team entering the field before the start of the game...very exciting with the colored smoke!

One booga bag almost complete. All I need to do is make the i-cord.

One booga bag almost complete. All I need to do is make the i-cord.

More Noro! Im going to make another booga bag for a friend to give as a gift.

More Noro! I'm going to make another booga bag for a friend to give as a gift.

Filed under: children, Knitting, Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Two Down, One To Go

Posted on September 30, 2009 by auburnchick

Today was the Homecoming parade.

Chicky donned dress #2, a lovely yellow-green beaded gown, and her fancy shoes and headed out.

Rooster joined his band mates while I followed Chicky around and took pictures of her with the friends she’s grown up with.

The Homecoming attendants sparkled in their sequins, and the guys looked debonair in their tuxes.

Most of the candidates rode in convertibles.  Chicky and her escort were no exception…

The kids smiled and waved as they rode down “Main Street.”  Parents and friends hollered for them to glance their way so they could get photographs.  Some of the candidates threw candy.

All enjoyed their moment in the spotlight.

It was a fabulous afternoon, and I left the parade pumped with adrenaline.

Chicky breathed a sigh of relief when the parade was over.  The game is tomorrow, and she’ll be wearing her prom dress, which fits her like a glove, from the Spring…along with her beaded silver sandals (no more 4-inch heels).

Two events down…one to go.  It will be a little sad to see the week end.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

Unexpected Kindness

Posted on September 29, 2009 by auburnchick

Chicky did a little something unexpected today.

She performed a random act of kindness…

Toward me…her Mama.

It came in the form of this…

She had a doctor appointment in the middle of the day, so she checked herself out (after I gave the front office the official “Ok”), got herself there and back, and returned to make a surprise visit to the classroom I was subbing in.

When she entered, it was a little dark.  We were finishing up a movie.

As she drew near, I made out two cups…one in each hand.

She handed me one with the explanation that she had gotten a craving for it as she passed by but, not wanting me to get mad at her for spending money, bought another to appease me.

Now, as a mom, I know better.

I think she had a flash of thoughtfulness.

She knows how much I love a good Triple Chocolate Chip Frappuccino, and I think she wanted to make me smile.

She did.

I smiled all the way through the rest of that period, during my Planning, and into lunch, when she came home and we ate together.

You know how much we’ve struggled.  Times like this give me hope that one day we’ll be close again.

I treasure every moment.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

One Down, Two to Go

Posted on September 28, 2009 by auburnchick

Today was Day #1 of Homecoming festivities.

The school has a special shin-dig for homecoming candidates.  The girls are escorted by their male counterparts, walk across a stage, and then under the swords of the ROTC as their names are announced…

The theme this year has to do with pirates and the Caribbean (hence the ship)

The candidates leave class early to get ready, with the girls gathering in one or two teachers’ classrooms.

This was the first year Chicky has been on the Homecoming court, and what an experience it was!  I was subbing but had Planning that period (thank you, Lord), so I got to witness a room full of girls all helping each other get ready for the show.  They chatted excitedly.

Several moms showed up, hairbrushes in hand, and helped their daughters tease their hair to proper heights.

Chicky was nervous.  She worried about tripping in her 4″ heels.

I was nervous too.  I didn’t want her to twist an ankle or knee, nor did I want her to be embarrassed by falling down.

She allowed me to snap a photo before she left the classroom…

I walked to the cafeteria, where all of the candidates and their escorts were waiting, took pictures of Chicky with a male soccer player (her escort and a candidate for Homecoming King), and reminded him, several times, not to let her fall.  He assured me that he would take care of her, and then I went out to sit with the other parents in the bleachers.

I prayed…a lot…and breathed…a little.

And I waited…

Anxiously.

And then her name was called.  I hardly remember her going up the stairs, across the stage, and back down the stairs…that’s how nervous I was.

All I know is that she smiled a gorgeous smile that I knew was one of relief.  The guy hammed it up a bit, and we all got a chuckle.

Before I knew it, the party was over.  I caught up with the Mr., who was armed with the camcorder…ever the proud dad.

One event down, two to go.

Maybe I’ll actually be able to breathe for the next two.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

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