Sunday, November 16, 2008

Happy Birthday...part 2

It's the place she has talked about since she was 4 years old.

It's the place she said "All my friends have been there, and they say it's AWESOME, Mom"

It's the place she has begged to visit, but because it's in the middle of Disney and all it has to offer, we never have. Disney won every time.

It's the place she looked at longingly years ago, from her Marriott hotel window across the street...disappointed that we weren't staying...there.

It's the place she wouldn't stop talking about, and we didn't know why.

It's the place that, frankly, we got sick of hearing about.

It's the place about which she wistfully said to her Mom and Dad, at nine and a half years of age, "It's always been, like, my dream-come-true-place".

Sigh.

Well, Happy 10th Birthday, Kaitlin Taylor. Your dream is about to come true.

We took her out to dinner, and after opening her presents, she was quite content. Smiling. Happy with the little gifts she had been given, and all around really enjoying being the star of the night.

Then she opened her last gift. It was a Spongbob pillow. She hugged it, and kind of looked at it funny, as Spongebob is not on her "Top 10 List of Cool Things In My Ever Changing Cool World".

But Spongebob was holding a note...

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Oh and one more thing...you can bring a friend. And Lexi's Mom already said "yes".

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We had more fun than can adequately be documented with pictures...but here's a slice of the memories we made, as our baby girl turned ten...

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Jordan was a contestant on a game show by the pool...my typically mild mannered boy was out for blood, trying to fill up this bucket with his sponge soaked shorts:

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Dance, Dance Revolution...You GO girls!!
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Optical illusion?? Or just two girls giggling as they switched shoes?? You decide.
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The following two pictures were taken from 6 floors up (thank you family, for my zoom lens)
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Then...the topper of all toppers...our family was chosen for the nightly game show. It was strange how it happened, as the talent scout just came up to us in the lobby and asked us to apply. Turns out our kids are just the right age...not too young, where they would freak out on stage, and not too old where they wouldn't "get into it".

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A live audience. Big stage. Game show music. Lights. Music. Microphones.

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It was RED(them) against BLUE(us).


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The prize for the winning team, you ask?

The team captain gets slimed.

Happy Birthday, Katie...

Your dream has come true.

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How does it feel?", they asked. Her reply: sticky
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Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Squarepants. Many memories made.
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6 comments:

Kelly Hutcheson said...

HOLY SHIV! This is the post of the year!! So many pictures and stories!! Immediate tears when you said "Happy Birthday Katie - your dream has come true"

I love you for being such a great mom!

And sister.

And friend.

This post rocks my....


world. :) (keeping it clean for the kids)

Kelle said...

You failed to mention Katie's twelve now and it took two years to post this. Just kidding. You know I love you. And you know how long I waited for this....and it was so worth it. Those are pics of a lifetime...they captured every corner of fun they had. xoxo Thank you for continually being an example of a selfless and passionate mom.

Grandpa said...

Talk about Katie & Lexi & Jordan having a good time . . . I had a great time just looking at the "fun on their faces!"

Many parents lose so much in life by not realizing until it's too late . . . that when their children are smiling . . . they're also smiling!

You and Jamie are creating the environment for Katie and Jordan where they really "feel loved" . . . and that makes me happy too!

Love ya!

Dad & Grandpa
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Heidi said...

HOLY awesome POST!!! i, too, have been waiting patiently for this post and it was sooooo worth the wait.

chills as i read the surprise message on the pillow...goosebumps while imagining katie's realization of what was going on.

LOVE the slime shot...first one...you were working fast for that one i bet.

you are such a wonderful mom and i learn so much from you-you rock my mommy world!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Julie Frizzi said...

Hi Jen...........I haven't checked any blogs for so long and this is my weekend to do it!!!!!!!!!The pics here are unbelievable.....as always, you inspire me.........I just bought a new camera......gotta get busy here.......love the colors.

Carin said...

JEN!!!

this made me cry...

she'll never ever forget this in a million years.

ever.

oh, you never cease to inspire me.

love you.