Glitter

When I picked Turner up on Friday afternoon, I received a lovely craft for Mother's Day, along with a Mother's Day questionnaire on which Turner had provided answers to various questions about me.  It may be my very favorite thing she's ever brought home from Rhonda's house. Her responses are in bold.

1.  My name is Turner.

2.  I am 3 years old.

3. What kind of work do mothers do? school work, teaching kids, write letters

4. What would you like to buy your mother? glitter

5.  What makes your mother pretty? dresses and high heel shoes

6.  How tall is your mother? she's medium tall

7.  How much does she weigh? i don't know (Thankfully, she didn't respond like she did when she saw me step on the scale one morning, "WHOA Mommy - that's a LOT! :)  She'd never seen three numbers on the scale before!  I am also thankful that she didn't remember the numbers and respond with those!)

8.  What size shoes does your mother wear? big shoes

9.  What is your favorite thing to do with your mother? play hungry hippos

10.  What does your mother cook you the most? desserts (I think she gave the answer for what she helps me cook the most...she's her Daddy's girl and doesn't really like desserts much!)

11.  What can your mom do the best? bake things that are good for me

12.  What makes your mom smile? me doing things that she asks me to do

13.  Name one reason why you love your mom.  because she loves me (My very favorite response.)


When I arrived home from church today I was greeted with a very excited little girl ready to give me some Mother's Day treats.  Mark was smart enough to go shopping alone and not even tell her about the gifts until they got home from church - she cannot keep a secret, especially if it revolves around a surprise gift for someone special!  (Last night he said something to her about Mother's Day when he was telling her goodnight and when she came to see me in the back of the house she said with the biggest grin on her face, "We weren't talking about anything up there....we were just talking about church up there.") 

And though Mark picked out some treats that I really loved, the most special present was saved for last.
A container of purple glitter.  :)

As I have mentioned before, it is my great privilege to be Turner's Mommy (or "Mother" as she's taken to calling me lately).  She makes being a Mom more fun and rewarding than I ever dreamed it could be.  Mark makes being a Mom easier because he is an amazing husband and Dad.

I started thinking about the glitter answer and it just totally cracks me up - we do lots of crafts around here and if you know me at all you know I have an affinity for all things sparkly.  So I guess Turner knows her Mom pretty well! 

But as I thought on it more, the purpose of glitter is to highlight something, to make it special, sparkly, more fun, better than it was without the glitter.  And that's just what Turner does to my life - she makes it more fun, more special, and better than it was before she came into my life.  She highlights my day with hilarious statements, an unforgettable personality, and lots of hugs.  

Thank you sweet Turner for the sparkle you bring to my life every single day. 
Thank you God for giving her to us as your wonderfully created gift.

I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you to my own Mom, who in my opinion is superwoman.  She is my confidant, friend, encourager, example, and prayer warrior.  And amazingly, she is also all of these things to countless people who aren't her biological children.  She has a gift of touching people's lives when she meets them, and I just know that I want to grow to be more like her.  Thank you Tootsie and Granny for the examples of Godly motherhood that you show to us every day.  We love you - Happy Mother's Day!

Turner's first dance recital!

It was a whirlwind of a weekend and I have so many pictures and moments to share, but the biggest event of the weekend was Turner's first dance recital! Both sets of grandparents were in town to join us for this special occasion which made it extra special for sweet Turner.

Now, it's important for me to be honest and tell you that my own excitement level surrounding the dance recital was off the charts.  I couldn't wait for costumes to come in, for picture day, and for us to get a sneak peak of the show at dress rehearsal.  On Friday we did a trial run of "stage makeup" and I realized that I was in need of recital supplies - blue eyeshadow, bobby pins, and some bright red lipstick (red 720 if you grew up in Andalusia). I started dancing when I was 3...and for the next 15 years of my life dance classes were a part of my weekly routine.  It was something I enjoyed immensely and I know that through dance I gained lifetime skills such as confidence, stage presence, poise, and self-discipline.

We had a tough start to dance classes in the fall with some separation anxieties and emotional moments when Turner had to attend her first dance classes without me present. She was still two when she started in the fall, and most of the girls in her class were already three, some of them four - so she was the youngest by a good bit.  I honestly had to do some soul searching and ask myself if this was something I wanted her to do, or something I thought she wanted to do.  Thankfully her dance teacher encouraged me to stick it out for a few weeks and gradually Turner really began to look forward to her weekly tap and ballet class at Nix Dance Studio.  But, even as late as Sunday afternoon, just before the recital, I still had some worries about how she'd do for her first time on a stage with lights and an audience.  When we entered the auditorium Turner said, "Oooh look at that stage!  I want to go up there!"  Definitely a good sign, but I still wasn't sure and could think of a million things that could go wrong.

See what you think...

Yes, she did have a little issue midway through with one of her gloves...do you think she might have some obsessive tendencies like her parents?  It might have just been the slightest bit uncomfortable and it just HAD to be adjusted at that moment.  I am just glad she didn't start pulling them off!



Y'all, I know there were lots of proud family members in that audience, but can I just tell you I was about to bust out of my skin with excitement and pride to see my little girl up there doing that??!!  But the even greater treat for me was her reaction after the show and when we got home last night.  After each number I went to meet her backstage and Turner was always jumping up and down saying, "That was so fun Mommy!  That was SO exciting!"  Last night as I was snuggling with her in our nightly routine I asked her if she wanted to take dance class again next year and she said, "Yes!   Mommy, at my recital, I LOVED IT!"

I just couldn't be prouder of this sweet girl!

It was also fun to see her with her dance friends backstage.  When we went back the first time she grabbed two of them around the neck and said, "Mommy these are my friends - take our picture!"  And of course, not knowing what to expect with timing, backstage needs, etc. all the moms back there at that moment had left our cameras in the audience with family!  I did snap this picture before her tap number with a few of her dance buddies.

Check out the hair whipping going on here - she's shaking her head "NO!" and that pony tail is just flying around!

And of course, she loves her flowers from her Daddy.  Who, by the way, if you haven't figured out yet is the most awesome Daddy in the whole wide world.  I had a field trip last Thursday and didn't get back in town until about 6pm.  Dress rehearsal started at 5:30 and it was our opportunity to get instructions on how to fix Turner's hair for the recital, where to go, when to be backstage, etc.  And I couldn't be there.  So my sweet husband, (who mind you had never been to a dance recital in his LIFE until Sunday), got Turner in and out of two dance costumes for dress rehearsal, took meticulous notes for me regarding the specifics of recital day, and shot video of both of the dance numbers during the rehearsal in case I didn't make it back in time.  Turner and I both know, we are LUCKY GIRLS.  Thank you Mark, you are the best.

Not my lollipop in the picture above.  Just in case you were wondering.  And yes, if you look really closely you can see the bobby pin clipped to the front of my dress.  Not trying to make a fashion statement, just in case you were wondering.

We ran into Francie and her family after the recital and got a quick shot of the girls together.  Francie's mom and I danced at the same dance studio for the majority of our childhood - I think we both felt the same way about Sunday and were flooded with special memories from our dance recital days.

Turner was so excited about the recital that she didn't take a nap on Sunday (and she naps every day for about 2 hours), and immediately after the recital we headed home for a quick change and back to the church picnic for a few hours.  So you can imagine the exhaustion that set in on Sunday evening for all of us!  But, it was an AWESOME day of memories and fun for our family!  We are so proud of you Turner!