Chicklet's 12th Birthday!

Okay, peeps.

It was a doozy of a weekend. 

Chicklet's 12th birthday weekend, to be exact!

We had ups, downs, and so much running around! Beyond regularly-scheduled events for Little Man and Chica, we catered to the Queen Bee's Birthday demands, including, but not limited to:

Decorations...

Presents...

A mini Yes Day...

A friend sleeping over...

And...a ZOO excursion!

So on brand, for our animal-loving middle born.

Also on brand?

A sign I noticed at the reptile house that read: 

Covered with sharp, pointy horns and tough armor-like scales, this little lizard is very well protected from its enemies.

And I thought: how applicable to both lizards--and twelve-year-old girls.

(If you know, you know.)

This age is no picnic, and this weekend wasn't either. In fact, our girl was so in her feels (high, low and everywhere in between) that I risked very few pictures.

(Again, if you know, you know.)

Instead, I rejoiced in this overpriced, official Zoo Pic, taken by staff who incurred the wrath (not me!)--and wept with joy when it captured our mercurial tween actually smiling. :)

Chicklet was particularly excited to visit the zoo--our first excursion there since last May--to check out a new gorilla exhibit that's been in the works for some time.

And I gotta say: I thought it was pretty freaking awesome. It's also ginormous, which makes me super happy for said gorillas. They've got lots of room to run and play. :)

I'm grateful for the temperate weather, the calm safe-space, like-minded, longtime buddy who tagged along as Chicklet's plus one, and the ability to end the weekend on a high, after so many roller-coaster vibes.

Twelve is such a tough age--for so many reasons. But mostly, it's an age that's renowned for being one foot in, one foot out of early childhood. 

And age when kiddos are trying to grow up--often because they feel like they need to--while still clinging to some of those beautiful, playful, imaginative tendencies.

I've actually been overjoyed this past week or two, as Chicklet has randomly pulled out some of her stuffed animal friends that have long been put away.

Don't get me wrong: they've never all been put away, but her room has certainly become more streamlined and tween-y in the past year.

So imagine my surprise when I walked into her bedroom last week, to find about a dozen put-away friends back out and placed in playful positions throughout her room.

Honestly...it felt right. And homey. Safe and cozy.

It also seemed right that Chicklet ended her zoo excursion with the purchase of a giant hippo (that she named Jelly Bean), and her friend and siblings all purchase stuffed animals, too. 

It's been wonderful to see that lingering sign that the kid inside is still hanging in there--even when the world tells her to grow up and cast aside such playful things.

I really hope we can keep some of that levity and joy in the tough months and years ahead. We're certainly in the throws of it and Forest Gump-ing our way through (like that immortal box of chocolates; we never know what mood we're going to get).

But we'll keep loving and supporting and celebrating as Chicklet will tolerate--until the days level back out, again. 

Okay, a few more of the few pics I managed. I love how Chicklet is so familiar with this buddy of hers that she never even bothered to get dressed for the afternoon/evening before the sleepover, ha. 

Onward and upward, my girl! It levels out, I promise!

More soon, peeps.

Until then...over and out. 

Pollen & Periwinkle Pops!

Holy.

Moly.

MOLY.

Is it getting repetitive for me to marvel at how long I'm coasting between posts on this here blog???

I can't decide if it's LAME that I'm continuously surprised by the stretches and droughts, or if it's just self-actualized and a sign that I MISS THE DAYS of regular posting.

Everything has a season, amiright?

SPEAKING OF SEASONS (you like what I did there?)...

I'm popping in today to share the vibe that it is officially SPRINGTIME, full stop.

Everything is lime green and yellow (hello, pollen, pollen everywhere, and Nasacort out the wazoo!).

I actually love this time of year--for a stretch of no more than two-to-three weeks because everything feels fresh and rejuvenated and possible.

Here in South Texas, that regenerative vibe is like a blip on the radar before we progress to full on, suffocating, inferno-of-heat summer...which will happen in approximately 2.5 days (or, perhaps, it already has, since our temps soared to a record high of 96 last weekend).

Anywho.

My point is: I'm trying to soak up this fleeting beauty, appreciate all that our brief springtime has to offer, and...steel myself for the dramatic downhill slide of the school year and SUMMER.

Again, can I get a:

Holy.

Moly.

MOLY.

I'm hoping to share a little bit of a Spring Break retrospective sometime soon (better late than never, I suppose), but, for now, please enjoy a sighting of my FIRST seasonal shoe purchase that sparked some major joy:

That's right, peeps.

I bought som adult JELLIES.

If you're a child of the eighties or nineties, you're either rejoicing or groaning, because these bad boys elicit strong love/hate vibes--especially when it comes to the smell, ha.

For me, it's nothing but love, love, love!

And I DIE over this blue color that is sooooo up my alley that I inadvertently bought the shoes on a day that I was wearing a matching dress and rocking identical-colored eyewear.

Thriving and vibing, I tell ya.

Truth be told, I've really let my shoe-wear game slide over the past few years. I'm primarily a bold-and-bright athletic shoe type of girl. Sporty enough to be comfortable, but chic enough to throw on with anything--including dresses. 

That said...I'm trying to diversify for spring and summer, this year, and add a few fun footwear options to my repertoire. I've got my eyes on a fun wedge, next, and, of course, I won't be able to resist yet another seasonal athletic shoes, ha.

What can I say?

I'm a girl who knows what I like!

Okay...more, soon, as I'm able, peeps!

Can't believe it's already Wednesday, already the end of March, and already...Chicklet's 12th birthday week!

Happy Hump Day!

Over and out.

Tech Triumph & Rainforest Riverwalk Romp!

(Double post alert!)

Okay, peeps.

SPRING BREAK IS HERE!!!!!!!

We did it! We made it! We crossed the finish line! We survived! And, now, we have a glorious nine days without school and the oppression of a rigorous schedule and my crew is sooooo here for it!

We kicked off our break, with the most fan-freaking-tastic excursion down to...the Riverwalk! Our first jaunt down there in 4.5 years--which just feels incomprehensible, if I'm being honest.

But.

I truly believe this Riverwalk dinner celebration was pre-ordained in honor of my Chicklet because it was truly a night to celebrate--her!

This girl right here has put herself out there, time and time again, throughout her 6th grade year, auditioning for roles in dance and theater--both in the cast and behind the scenes as part of the tech team, and...time and time again, she's not managed to be cast for any kind of role...

Until last night! And this mile-wide smile says it ALL.

I can't even begin to describe the parental pride I've felt as I've watched her audition over and over throughout the year, getting her hopes up every time.

And then the parental pain as I've watched her quietly work through the disappointment and resignation of missing out on each and every opportunity.

:(

Honestly, it was starting to chip away at Chicklet's theater joy, and I couldn't blame the girl.

She'd become aware of a select group of kiddos--particularly upperclassmen--who seemed to be the cream of the crop and continue to be favored in round after round of production, and it was so fascinating to watch her reach a level of acceptance about this particular dynamic...while still putting her heart and her hopes into the idea of participating in any way herself. 

Welp.

For this particular go-'round (a final, very small four-person play that is being presented), Chicklet still auditioned for a role--and didn't get one.

But then, a few days later, she decided to put herself out there one final time and try for a technical role of any sort.

She stayed after school, diligently answered the "audition" questions to the best of her ability, and when her theater teacher asked her if there was any final thing she'd like to share about her suitability for a technical role, she shared the following (which I'm paraphrasing, of course)...

She kindly told her teacher that she was aware that some people were talented and would always manage to get a part. But that others might have heart even more than talent, and that if they'd be given a chance, they'd work even harder than the talented people, because they'd have wanted it so much for so long. She told him that she thought those people should be given a chance because they wouldn't disappoint. They'd put everything they had into it, and...

Holy. Moly. Her wise, heartfelt and honest words paid off because not only did her teacher tell her the answer was "beautiful," but he eventually CAST IN HER A TECHNICAL ROLE!

I mean, the happy-happy-joy-joy our Chicklet displayed last night, when she finally received word that the tech cast had been posted. She logged on to see her name there, under costumes & make-up, and, I mean...I can't even begin to tell what her joy felt like, exploding out of her little body.

She was lit up like the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, and...deservedly so!

Moreover, I love, love that she earned this role by bringing her insightful thoughts to the forefront and advocating for all the underdogs--not even just herself.

I am so beyond proud.

It was the most incredible way to officially launch Spring Break--especially considering it came just after we were home from our special visit to The Riverwalk for an overpriced but delightful family meal at The Rainforest Cafe--something we've not done in years and years.

It was the hubby's idea to "gift" the kiddos this excursion for Spring Break, because Chicklet, in particular, has been asking to go there for a meal again for years--with her request being denied, ha.

We remembered it as terrible food and an expensive gift-shop endeavor, too boot, but...this time, with realistic expectations plus the knowledge that our kiddos have mostly grown out of the atmosphere of the place anyway, it was just a fun, lighthearted way to tell them we hear their requests and we honor their positive memories of this place.

And it was an absolute joy, I tell ya!

I don't know why or how, but...the food was incredible! Truly! We over-ordered and loved it all! And we brought card games to play as a family and passed the time so happily. And Chicklet, in particular, was still delighted by the animatronics, despite her tween age.

The gift shop purchases just felt like a silly bonus instead of a tantrum avoidance like it was when the kiddos were younger, and the whole thing was just...delightful. :)

I'm so, incredibly grateful to have launched our much-needed Spring Break on a very positive note, and I have nothing but high hopes for good vibes moving forward!

HAPPY SPRING BREAK, peeps!

Over and out!

P.S. If you want a trip down memory lane to our last Riverwalk experience, 4.5 years ago, when my crazies were so tiny—and cousin June was even tinnier…here you go!

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