Friday Haircuts

My children were in desperate need of a little summer shearing, so we kicked off the long weekend in style with haircuts at Melonheads.

This was only Malachi's second professional haircut, the first being before his first birthday, so I was a little nervous about how he'd do. Worried for nothing... he sat like a champ, totally distracted by his choo-choo chair and with a little car for each hand. I had to reward his great behaviour with a new BUS, even if I was a little sad to see all those gorgeous mahogany locks all over the floor and my little boy looking like he was twelve. There's nothing quite like a haircut to grow them up in an instant!

Before:

After:

And the Princess getting pampered:

What the first day of Eleven looks like

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THYRA!!!

Someone please tell me quick that I am nowhere near being old enough to have a daughter who is ELEVEN! Yep that's right, my little girl had her 11th birthday today, and I can't believe how much she's grown in the last year. Grown in size and grown in maturity, and might I add grown in smart-alecky-ness as well.

Yes, the teenage years are descending swiftly upon us, but I'm strangely looking forward to it. It's fun to have a daughter who is growing up into someone that I can relate to in a whole new way. In fact her request for gifts this year fell very much into the "clothes/giftcard" category, and our present to her is a girl's day at West Edmonton mall next month with a friend for a mini shopping-spree. Yep, I can definitely relate to that! I can't wait!

Last year, I had warned Thyra that the big parties would be over after her 10th birthday, save for milestone occasions, but I couldn't let the day of her birth pass without a little celebration.

We brunched at Heritage Park's Wainwright hotel with Gavan's family and had a double celebration as coincidentally, Thyra shares a birthday with Gavan's mom Roslyn. Happy birthday to Grandma Roz too!

After brunch and gospel meeting, we invited some of Thyra's friends back to the house for a little impromptu party and had some pizza and ice cream cake to fete the occasion. Considering she spent Friday night with Roz at the Alberta Ballet's production of Alice in Wonderland (which Roz worked on and thus was able to take Thyra backstage even, after the show), and had a great day with her dad and family on Saturday, Thyra was royally spoiled and I think its safe to say she enjoyed her weekend thoroughly.

My girl

This kid is something else man.

I can't talk about her without sounding like a braggart or one of those parents that are overly proud. But I am proud. And she is something. Sensitive to the leadings of God in her life. Good and kind. Helpful, funny, sweet, obedient and mature. Ridiculously smart and exceptionally beautiful. Much as I would like to claim responsibility, I cannot. Her awesomeness is not a result of really incredible parenting, she is just a freak of nature really. I'm not the only one who sees it either. She blows away everyone who knows her. I am told regularly by family and strangers alike how special my kid is. I'm not complaining. I'm so grateful. And blessed. And terrified.

I wonder, like all good things, if this will come to an end.

10 is a strange age. 5 years ago, she was only 5, just starting school, innocent and adorable in knee socks and pig tails. 5 years from now she will be 15 with all the wonders and perils of teenage ideas and hormones. Yikes. I remember who I was at 15 and that doesn't really give me a lot of comfort. Nor does it feel like that long ago. 10 however is the age from which both sides pull. She is at some moments right on the brink of falling headlong into adolescence, and at other times her girlhood shines through like a blinding light.

I pray that the next few years will sustain her love for God, amazing character, the closeness between us, her interest in doing well at school and being a trusted, dependable member of our household. I expect that there will be new adventures and failings and battles and some slammed doors, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just so scared, as she sits on the edge of childhood, that the trials of becoming a young woman will change her into someone I don't recognize.

But come what may, I'll be here loving this kid fiercely and being thankful for the gift she is and for the opportunity I get to parent such a special soul.