Lacey-Mommy Time

Last week, Lacey & I shared a significant amount of time alone. I know that I mentioned in a previous post how I cherish those times when I can be with a child one-on-one because they are so different when not distracted by siblings. This time was no exception. Anyway - the circumstances that brought us this time alone were not the best, but it was nice, nonetheless. Our family was supposed to leave the Thursday after Christmas to visit Kimmy's family in their new Fairview home and then head to Woodland to visit with grandma & granddad, and then finally end up at the cabin to celebrate New Year's. Our bags were all packed in anticipation of the trip. Lacey, sadly, came down with a really rotten tummy bug on Christmas night, but we were optimistic that she would be well enough to travel by Thursday morning. Unfortunately, Thursday morning came & Lacey was still sick. (If you ask her, she can tell you exactly how many times she threw up!) Now we were faced with a dilemma. Lacey's sisters were anxious to visit the Petersons & grandma and granddad, but there was no way I was going to make Lacey travel in the car for 6 or 7 hours in the state she was in. Brad & I really struggled with what to do, but finally decided that he, Madi, Katie, & Ben would head North while Lacey recuperated at home with me. Then - Lacey & I would go to the cabin with my parents later in the week to meet back together with the rest of our family for New Year's.

So Brad loaded everyone in the car & set off for Utah, while Lacey laid around & slept, and I found myself in a clean (my friend Esther was visiting) & silent house, with no little toddler needing me. What is a mama to do when she finds herself in these circumstances? So many choices . . . . I could have blogged - I should have blogged - but I did what any crazy mother with too many toys after Christmas would do - I started organizing & purging in the playroom. This little project took me a good part of the day & night. By Thursday night, Lacey was improving and helped me organize the art supplies, but she was disappointed that we were not with the rest of our family in Utah. I was disappointed too, but was quite enjoying the quiet house & time alone with Lacey. It was fabulous to see Lacey smiling and laughing instead of laying around looking pathetic. She was so hungry that night that she ate a whole can of Dora chicken noodle soup.

Since it was just the 2 of us and Lacey was feeling better, I really wanted to take her out to breakfast on Friday morning, but she wasn't interested. Her wishes were simple - just to stay home & be with me. I finally convinced her to go to lunch & a movie with me because I really wanted to see Enchanted (which I loved). We even managed to stop in a cool new store at Town Center, H&M, and pick out a new outfit for Lacey. Then Saturday morning, we went to the cabin with mammy & poppy (aka my mom & dad) as planned and played in the snow together on Sunday afternoon. I know Lacey enjoyed being the only kid around until her sisters & cousins arrived on Sunday evening. Yes, I am thankful for those times when I can be with just one of my children. After this time with Lacey and my trip with Madi, I think it's Katie's turn!


Lacey-Mommy Time Part II - Let me tell you about another day in December that Lacey & I shared . . .

The day was Friday, December 14, Lacey's 6th birthday, and began with her birthday celebration at school. First Miss Rosie read "On the Day You Were Born". Next, Lacey holds a replica of the earth and circles the sun for each year of her life. As she goes around the sun, I share Lacey facts and pictures from each of those years of her life. (This is always a time that makes mommies a bit sentimental & reflective. Where has the baby gone?)

That afternoon I picked Lacey up at lunchtime (armed with my camera, naturally) and she got to miss school for the afternoon. First, we went to the mall and had lunch at Red Robin.

Next, we checked out the Christmas decorations - though Lacey was not interested in sitting on Santa's lap.

While trying to decide where to shop in the mall, we happened upon a store that a friend told me about. The store is Libby Lu, and if you know a little girl, grab her & go! It was the perfect way to spend a birthday & Lacey was completely satisfied doing this rather than having a party. First we shopped & found a new shirt, and then Lacey got to be pampered at six. The toughest decision was picking out which hairstyle she wanted.

Every six-year-old girl needs a little eye & lip color, accompanied by some nail color, right?

Lacey was very serious the entire time her hair was being done. She barely cracked a smile. I am not sure why, maybe she was trying to decide if she liked it or not. When it was all done, she definitely LIKED it! Oh I wish I knew how to do this.

My favorite part of the hairdo was the sparkly, glittery dust that Lacey's Libby Lu friend sprinkled all over her hair once it was styled. It magically turned her into a perfect, angelic, glistening princess for the day!

The side view of princess Lacey's hair (the hairdo came w/ the sparly, red headband)

And for the grand finale - before we had to pick up her sisters at school - Lacey got to do something she has been waiting a year to do. She got to get her ears pierced! She asked me a year ago if she could pierce her ears & I told her that if she still wanted to, she could do it on her sixth birthday. Well, she never forgot that conversation all year long, and her 6th birthday, that is just what she did. She could have had her ears pierced at Libby Lu, but Lacey wanted to have hers done at Clair's - probably because that is where Katie had ears pierced. So, we went to Clair's and . . .

That night, after our ward Christmas party, Lacey opened her gifts at mammy's house. Here's the birthday princes with her biggest, pretty princess smile.

and here is the princess in her new royal birthday pajamas, escorted by her royal cousin, Ryan

It was a superb day!