Life in the fast lane.

Surely makes you lose your mind.

One day Emily is turning three.

The next day, we're celebrating 14 years together.

Well, kind of.

Emily's birthday  was celebrated almost a month late. I had some mommy-guilt about it, because Annie's Princess Party was such a big deal. But the weeks got away, and all I could pull off was a cake and some toys for Emily. I know it's not exactly scarring. But you know we moms find all kinds of reasons to beat ourselves up.

This shot above, is us on the way to dinner. The sitter had waited for a half an hour while I tried not to get mascara in my bangs, and pretended my Spanx wasn't cutting off circulation to my toes. It's not ideal. But I guess it's better than our past "celebrations", which consisted of "let's save money and just buy each other cards." Then we'd forget and pull them out of a drawer a week later, "oh yeah, I meant to tell you I still like you, and I'm glad you're here."

Then there was the first day of school on Monday...complete with "I hate your camera" second grader; and "cheeeeeeese" KINDERGARTENER.

Made me feel like crying to type out that big huge kindergarten word. And I'm not sure if it's because my baby is growing up. Or if it's because THEY ALMOST SHIPPED HER OFF TO A RANDOM DAY CARE YESTERDAY. I know everyone gets overwhelmed on the first day. And God knows I don't want to be "that bitch mom" that the they talk about in the break room. But it's scary when your 5 year old almost gets shipped across town without your knowledge. When I asked her how that happened, she said that since I "hadn't turned in my paper, she didn't know where Annie was supposed to go". PHONE CALL WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE.

And as if writing that paragraph hasn't gotten me wound up enough, I'm now going to make MORE COFFEE, and say a prayer that my daughter makes it through another brave day in this crazy, way too fast-paced world we live in.

Comments

[Shannon Gurney]

I swear Maile, everytime I see your your oldest little girl I think of HOPE FLOATS and that cute little girl in it,"Birdie". She is so adorable and SO is yours!

[Misha Pisha]

If it makes you feel better, the new teacher and the assistant were "arguing" ask Caleb put it on what time to dismiss the bus kids. By the time they took him to the bus line his bus had already left. It was alarming to be at the bus stop and see all these kids getting off but not mine. He made it home yesterday...Yeah!!!

[Nana]

PS - When Annie does "cheese" I see she's borrowed my chin from the DNA pool!

How I wish I could have been there to celebrate the day. Kisses to all.

[Rachel Brooke]

Congrats to you two! Love your Spanx comment haha.
Hope your sweet kids had a great 1st day!

[Jana]

Ok, your kiddos are just TOO cute for words and that birthday cake is precious. That is SO scary about the bus thing too!

[Sandee]

Wrong daycare and bus stories still haunt me. My worst one: I told my kids NOT to take the bus home and I would pick them up, so they wouldn't be late for baseball practice....then I FORGOT to pick them up, and it was 45 minutes before the school called. There they were, two little orphans sitting in the school office, abandoned, with the secretary probably wondering if their lazy-ass mom was out scoring some crack or sleeping off a hangover. Guilt-racked moms come up with the worst scenarios...

[Jen smith]

I can't believe it has been 14 years, CONGRATS, hope you had a nice date:) You have an award to pick up at http://roseylittlethings.com
XOXO jen

[Shii]

Mine starts K on Tuesday...I am already TOTALLY stressing about him being gone every day. They grow up too fast.

[Maya]

You guys have had a ton going on! Whew! Congrats on 14 years!!!