She's Seventeen

~~~~~~~~~~

I knew it would happen.

In fact I think I may have planned it.

As soon as I announced I wasn't blogging this summer 

my little inner voice woke up.

It sounded a little like this...

Wha? Hey? But but? Whadabout this? and that? and this and that?
Who are you kidding?  Pfft... taking the summer off, my foot.

Thankfully I didn't completely lose my mind
and I've been taking pictures like a crazy woman.

So to be honest I'm feeling a little chatty.

So many wonderful memories are being made this summer.

~~~~~~~~~~


 Seventeen 

We celebrated Eldest's seventeenth birthday a few days ago.

And even as I write this it just about knocks the breath out of me.

I know she is seventeen.

She is definitely seventeen.

But how in the @$## can she be seventeen?
I mean I knew they grew up?
She's been living in our house for heavens sake.
I've been participating in the whole shebang.
I wasn't aware however that I wouldn't be in charge of the speed
in which they were allowed to do it.
Dang.

Wish someone would have warned me.
.... oh yeah they did.
Every mother I passed in the street would wistfully say...
Enjoy it
It goes by so fast.
And now my baby is holding babies.

And I want to stop time.
Not really... but sort of.
Hard to explain really.
I just want to have the moments stamped a little stronger in my memory bank.
So in a frantic try, I'm taking pictures.

So this is my memory page.
My Eldest' turned seventeen memory page.

She is working full time.
She started a running program.
She is learning how to longboard.
She worked really hard at school this year.
She is smart.
She is kind.

She has a boyfriend.
His name is Andrew Garfield.
She has his picture on her wall.
I really like him.
Her dad is OK with it.

She is deciding whether or not to dye her hair lighter or go darker.
For now it's a compromise.
She loves Urban Outfitters.
She listens to vinyl records on her portable record player in her bedroom.

She's a girly girl.
She's a tomboy.

She can shop like the best of them.
And she loves a good deal.
She loves fashion and music.
In that order.

She loves dressing up.
We need to get rid of some of her shoes.
She has to curl her eyelashes so that they don't hit her glasses.

She has toe issues.
She recently diagnosed herself with Misophonia.
I've told her to get over it... quickly.

She's messy.
She's grumpy.
She's happy.

This year she stretched her ears.
This year she also stopped stretching her ears.
One of these things has made me very happy.

Bangs yes?

Bangs no?

Around and around she will forever go.

She texts.

She drinks coffee.
She prefers tea.

She wonders what she should study after high school.

She loves family.

She doesn't yet know what she will do.

She wants to travel.

She wants to study.

She is smart.

She is impatient.

She wants answers.

She passed her drivers.

She wants to buy a car.

Her mom drives her crazy.

She drives her mom crazy.

It's a win win situation.

She knows God has a plan for her.
She's a good listener.
She's a good sister.
She's a good daughter.
She is ours.

She's seventeen.

Love you G.