The girls and I went shopping last night. Seemed like the right thing to do since it was just us girls. Dirk was presenting at a conference in Atlanta so we were looking for something to do before bedtime. As much as the man travels you'd think we'd all get used to his absence but the reality is -- there's just no substitute for him. We sure like him around here. Any old way, shopping's not a bad alternate when in a pinch. So off we went, just us three. We headed to a little shop where I'd seen some awfully cute black riding boots on sale that I thought might work for Emie. They were on sale because winter is almost over here in Minnesota (insert hearty guffaw here).
Knowing she'd still have plenty of opportunity to wear them, we popped in to see if her size was still available. Well they were there for us and it probably would have been some sort of consumer sin to leave such a bargain like that in the store - so we took them home straight away. Well, only after we stopped at the Dollar Tree and bought some Valentine treats for Emie's classmates and each little Mattson peep the balloon of their choice. I thought Ainsley's little heart might burst from her exuberance at finding a balloon that was not only the shape of a star but also had stars on it. It was red, white, and blue like the American flag. And wouldn't you know in early February they just happened to have a huge supply of this design. So she was the happiest little love in the place - even above her big sister who was nearly as happy to see her joy-filled heart at this amazing find. "Stars in da sky" she said repeatedly as she stared up at in wonder. Oh, the joys of the Dollar Store purchases. I love that place!
Emie was happy since she did, after all, have the boots just for her and she was bursting with excitement herself to get home and put them on. She proceeded to wear them all evening and up until bedtime, happy as a little jockey-lamb. But today was the big reveal. She wore them for the first time to school. She asked that I take her picture in them before she was picked up by the carpool. I did not (for the record) suggest this pose. She just came up with it and all at once she was sixteen years old in front of me and about to hop on the back of a Harley with some man-beast that shaves ten years off of my life. My heart beat a little faster and I was reminded (again) that these years are flying by before my very eyes. Yes, the days are sometimes long but the years, oh my they just leave me at warp speed.
So here is the lovely one. And you know what? Can't even see the boots in this shot. Well, you can tell she's wearing boots in any case.
I am definitely an "in-the-moment" kind of person, kind of mom. I've never been one to say, "Oh, I can't wait for the next stage..." or "Won't it be great when they're both in school." I live here fully in this moment because I know the moments are so fleeting. Someday she'll be standing in front of me in some other adorable boots and there'll be someone other than precious Julie coming to pick her up. It'll be a boy who doesn't know she's afraid of car-washes and not enamored with peanut butter and that nothing thrills her heart more than making someone else laugh. So I'll just stay right here in this moment for now - enjoying every second of it.
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