It's a girl thing....

I got a whim last week..... I was busy at work, Rich was back into the insanity of coaching football and it was the week of Daily Doubles and yet I decided I was going to make it happen. Me + Emma + a trip to Eugene. A girls weekend to shop for clothes, shoes, etc in preparation for her first year of MANY in the public school system. I coordinated three sitters for Sara in our absence (since Rich was pretty much stuck doing football all day Friday and Saturday). My grandma was more than happy to be our food and lodging Friday night, and I was able to steal Saturday night from an old friend I hadn't been able to sit and just be girls with for over 10 years. I managed planning all of this on Wednesday afternoon at about 3:21 pm.

So, Friday Em and I set off at about 4:30pm. We were on the road, gas tank full, snacks and beverages in tow, Emma's movie player belting out "Barbie and The Pauper". Now, I continually make fun of my in-laws family tradition of stopping at all landmarks, reading the historical markers, etc....but as we neared Sahalie Falls I had this nostalgia set in of remembering stopping there when I was a kid, and how magical the waterfall seemed. So, in the span of about 4.2 minutes I pulled in, walked Emma up to the viewpoint (while I was wearing work trousers and wedge heels) snapped a picture, let her take it in (for maybe one whole minute), and then we were off again!

We got to Grandma's, had my favorite childhood dinner that she makes (chicken and dumplin's) and had a great time visiting and letting Emma explore the treasures in "Nanu's" home. The next morning we took off for a day of shopping and adventures around mom's home town. I took Em to CHS to see where I made my high school memories. I was not so kindly greeted with a giant wall of windows now blocking access to the courtyard and the infamous "Rock" that I had told Emma all about. I'm currently in the process of writing a letter to...well, someone....about how rude Emma thought it was that we could not go in and look. We hit up Goodwill and got some great finds, as well as assisted a flamboyantly gay man find a sequined belt. It made me laugh, made me miss Eugene, and made Emma's eyes about as big as saucers. We drove through Saturday market, went to campus and visited some of Rich's ex students (complete with an apartment warming gift of a bag full of Top Ramen, Mac & Cheese, Capri Sun and Microwave Popcorn...they were totally excited), and then made our way to Autzen to take part in Fan Day where we ran into two more ex-Prinevillians along with Jerry Allen. Emma was amazed by the size of it all....as well as the realization that the Oregon Duck was "real". She did comment that she didn't think he could actually swim though.

We then shopped for the next 5 hours. Emma was the recipient of all $130 made at a garage sale the prior weekend. It managed to help her acquire....one dress, three tops, 5 pair of pants, one jacket, one sweater, one coat, 7 pair of panties, 2 headbands and a stunning pair of bronze leather mary janes purchased from, where else, Burch's - which just happens to be where my parents took me to purchase school shoes. We did lunch at Baja Fresh, we did dinner at the Food Court in Gateway Mall, where she was so excited to choose which table we would sit at. I spotted a photo booth in the distance where I tried to get her to engage in silliness. All I got out of her was "MOM! I don't like that last picture...you made my face look silly and I DON'T LIKE THAT." Get over it dear, welcome to life with me as your mother.

We ended the weekend by heading over to the home of an old girlfriend of mine I hadn't been able to just sit and "girl" talk with in years. Emma played with toys, watched movies and was totally content while the older girls caught up. At midnight, I realized not only was I still awake, but so was Emma. We crawled into bed, and both passed out within minutes. Early the next afternoon we pulled into Prineville with Emma's bounty. A crazy, busy whirlwind of a weekend. As I tucked Emma in last night she left me with these words...."Mom, can we do that every year." Yes, Yes...and YES. Here's to tradition my girl. I loved it as much as you did.