Month: November 2012

Savanna has beautiful, thick hair, but doesn’t like to brush it.  (“It hurts Mom!”)  Like most parents, I want to see my girl’s face.  Like most kids, she’s fine with her hair hanging in her face.  Her hair has been a source of conflict for years – and she’s only nine.

I told her I would take her to Bill at Hair Friends, who cuts my hair. She wasn’t interested at first but then she asked me to make an appointment.  I called right away – before she had a chance to change her mind.She was looking forward to having her hair washed.After some discussion, Bill started cutting.And cutting.Then it was time for a little styling.And done! She loves it.  So do I.

On a Technical Note: I used auto ISO for these. In low light situations like this and last weekend’s dance competition, I found it works well. 

My dear friend, Zane, lives 150 miles from Grand Rapids, where we were for Savanna’s dance competition. I couldn’t stand the thought of being so close and not seeing her. I also couldn’t make sense of adding three hundred miles to an already challenging trip.

I was thrilled when Zane said they would come to Grand Rapids and the dance competition to see us. I know traveling with kids isn’t easy. Zane and her husband, Jeffrey, not only made the trip on Thanksgiving weekend but also watched and supported Savanna (and me) during her competition.

Zane lived in Pittsburgh when we met. She was pregnant with her first baby and I was getting ready to welcome my second. They moved to Michigan when our babies were a year old.  After her family moved, they came back a few times to visit. We write letters, email and talk on the phone.  

You know what it’s like when you see a great friend after time apart – we picked up as if no time had passed.  I was reminded that it had been years since we’d seen each other when I looked at her second daughter who I’d only seen in pictures before.

I appreciate how much time and energy Zane and her family spent to come see us in Grand Rapids.  It made an enormous difference to me to have the chance to see them and to have their humor and support while Savanna danced.

This last photo was taken by Zane’s husband, Jeffrey. (We thought about taking Augusta’s granola bar from her, but realized a wrapper was less distracting than a furious child.)

Checking out the view one last time before we check out.

She recalled! (That means she placed in the top half of her competition.). This was her goal coming here and she’s thrilled. We all are. Later this evening we will find out what place she got overall. Yahoo!

A quick look at the dress before bed. She dances in the morning.
And then some evidence of an exhausting day.

(I haven’t posted away from home before but I didn’t want to miss a day. I took these photos with my iPad and edited them with Snapseed.)

I have mentioned in the past few months that Savanna has been practicing and practicing for a big dance competition.  This Sunday is the big day in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  We’re all packed up and ready to hit the road.  Wish her luck!

The way our Thanksgiving afternoon unfolded, I had a nap and a some time alone with my little girl.  The two of us went out for a walk in the sunshine.  There were many families out enjoying the holiday sunshine together.  Augusta would say, “Hi!” to everyone she passed.  Then she saw our neighbors.  They got more than just a “Hi.”

Happy Thankgiving!

This afternoon, we went on a walk in the park with cousins and aunts who had just arrived for Thanksgiving.  The kids ran in all directions but my niece, Jillian, sat with my baby girl and gave her some quiet attention.