Next Time I'll Just Throw A Party.

I interrupt the intended {Syddall Family Extravaganza Part 2} post for a special announcement.

Today is Mauri's Birthday.

Happy Birthday, girlfriend!

14 years ago today we were here:

Cray-zee.

Oh, I remember that day clearly.
I didn't know at the time that Mar would be the last. The baby of the family.
I had an inkling, but was mentally, spiritually, and physically leaving my options open.
After a rough couple of years with Mar's somewhat challenging disposition and a heavy bout of post-baby hormonal craziness, I knew she was it. The end. At least here in my earthly experience.


Back to the present.

Because I didn't want to throw a party last year, I bribed Mar with a new 'do.

(Reminder here.)

Oh my, did I ever work for that simple idea. All. Year. Long.

The hair year in review:

I think 8th grade is the perfect year for hair experimentation (I did some pretty crazy self-cut-1-inch-spikey-on-top-long-curly-mullet-like-thing-in-the-back when I was in 8th), so I guess if she wanted to do it, she had good timing.

She told me the other day that she kinda wished she had long red hair again.
That will take a good long time.
But now she knows, and she can cross some things off of someone else's bucket list
(a girl from her school had posted a bucket list a while back with these items listed):

• Get a pixie cut
• Dye my hair red

Check, and check.

She's decided to grow it out.
Even though she's probably had more compliments on her hair from complete strangers this year than the rest of her life combined. Just the other day, while we were at the PretzelMaker at the mall waiting in line behind three teenage girls, one of them turned around and said, "You are so pretty." That has to feel good... even better than the random church lady at the Methodist's performance of Handel's Messiah last month... or all those high school girls on Shilo's swim team... or the countless other times strangers have approached her to say that her hair was adorbs.

Happy Birthday, my bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked, fun-loving, talented, beautiful baby!

(Circa 2002)

I love you!