I so appreciate your understanding about my need to take the day off yesterday. Well, at least nine of you understood. The rest of you may have been all TO HECK WITH THIS I’M NEVER COMING BACK TO THIS LAME BLOG AGAIN. In which case you’re not reading this anyway.
It was such a fun weekend, but it was non-stop action and the introvert who lives inside me was all talked out. I just needed about three hours on my couch to sit and listen to the sound of nothing. That’s what I did yesterday after I dropped Caroline off at school. And then I cleaned our toilets. I bet somewhere Gwenyth Paltrow was doing the exact same thing.
I spent most of Friday recovering from my trip to Minneapolis because apparently it is very grueling for me to sit on an airplane and read InStyle. And then Friday night we went out to dinner with some friends and their daughter, Sadie, came home with us to spend the night with Caroline.
Naturally, the girls needed a pedicure. Second grade is rough. Sometimes a girl just needs a little downtime.
The sleepover was big fun until sometime after midnight when all of our personalities took a turn for the worse. Specifically, mine.
Thankfully, the girls seemed to realize I was minutes away from putting them out in the backyard for the night and went to sleep. But they were up bright and early the next morning, ready for homemade cinnamon rolls. If you consider cinnamon rolls that make a POP sound when you open the can to be homemade. And I do because those things don’t ice themselves.
Mimi and Bops picked up Caroline to take her to watch my niece, Sarah, play soccer while I dropped off Sadie and went to a baby shower for my sweet friend, Mary Emma, who was one of our high school students once upon a time when P worked for Campus Life. But now she is all grown up and expecting her first baby. And so I spent the morning catching up with some dear friends and passing around swaddling blankets and burp cloths and baby monitors.
The rest of the day was spent trying to not anger Caroline who was going on about six hours of sleep, which is about six less than she really needs to function as a delightful human being. When I went to pick her up from Mimi and Bops’s house, she got frustrated with me because I didn’t understand what she was trying to tell me and finally said, “I AM TRYING SO HARD NOT TO LOSE MY TEMPER RIGHT NOW”. And then I think she may have spit some pea soup out of her mouth.
But she did hand me the sweetest thing ever late Saturday afternoon.
In case you can’t tell, it says “A spa for mother’s day after taco grosh 1:00 pm” which translates to “A spa for mother’s day after Taco Garage at 1:00 p.m.” As for the illustrations on the invitation, I’m not entirely sure. Originally I thought maybe she was planning to serve pepperoni pizza at her spa, but in hindsight I think it was a picture of a bowl full of water and bubbles.
After she handed me the invitation to her spa, she escorted me in her room to give me the tour.
First, she had provided a selection of jewelry for me to choose from.
Then she showed me the mani/pedi station.
I thought the overturned laundry hamper as a table was a nice touch, although I wondered what she’d done with all the dirty clothes that had been in there moments earlier.
Also, please note she’d already prepared various spa treatments in advance.
That would be a bowl of soap snowflakes that dissolve in water, some lotion and some green crystals that I wasn’t entirely sure about until she explained she just thought she’d use the green sugar we use to decorate Christmas cookies to do that “scrubbing thing” on my hands.
I hugged her and told her I was so excited about my big day at the spa for Mother’s Day and, honestly, I couldn’t believe the effort she’d put forth. I mean, there were a lot of dirty clothes for her to dump out of that hamper.
So after church on Sunday morning and lunch at Taco Grosh, we headed home to begin my day at the spa. She filled all her various bowls with warm water and then dumped in the sugar cookie crystals for maximum effect.
I was able to choose my jewelry, but the nail technician was a little bit of a color nazi and rejected my choice of nail color. She had something else in mind.
It’s a little bit brighter and more flamboyant than my normal style. Of course it may also be a little brighter and more flamboyant than Lady Gaga’s style.
I tried to take advantage of a teachable moment and told her, “Nail polish really works best when you wipe the excess polish off the brush and do a few light coats”. However, I’m not sure she really listened based on the way she let the polish drip from the brush onto my nails and then smeared it around while she announced, “It’s so much easier to just put a bunch on at once”.
After my nails were finished, she moved on to my pedicure.
It is every bit as colorful as my manicure, but with the addition of several flower stickers on each of my big toes. I’m sure to either be a hit or labeled as “a little off” at the upcoming PTO meeting.
This is the final product. I think my nine-year-old U.S. Olympics t-shirt really adds a nice touch.
Finally, my time at the spa was over. Largely because she wanted me to take her swimming at the neighborhood pool. I have that same problem at my local nail salon all the time.
But before the spa day was over, she told me there would be a special Mother’s Day performance. An innovative production called THE WATER CYCLE. Complete with paper stick figures.
I always like to blend my relaxation in with some scientific knowledge so this was perfect.
After a brief lecture on the water table, the show quickly deteriorated into the sun attacking the clouds for reasons that are unclear. Then I was told it was my job to clean up the spa while she put on her bathing suit. And that’s why I didn’t leave her a very big tip.
Not to mention that when I tucked her into bed Sunday night, I said, “Baby, you made my Mother’s Day so special. Thank you for everything that you did. It was the best one ever.”
And she replied, “Well, it was more work than I thought. How about you pay me five dollars?”
Hallmark would be so proud to know that capitalism is still alive and well on Mother’s Day.
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Best. Post. Ever.
I kid. But you really had me cracking up – your daughter is all sorts of awesome 
Way to make up for yesterday!
Has she gone to school to get so funny? She really did go all-out. What a sweet surprise.
Also? You made the cinnamon rolls in your home, therefore they are homemade. Clearly.
This may be the most precious and hilarious thing I have read in a long time. I was wondering how long you would keep your multi-colored mani/pedi look? Nobody can wear it like you. What a great Mother’s Day!
That is really sweet. Capitalist and all;)
What a wonderful day!! Wear those nails loud and proud!!
And “THAT” was why I didn’t leave a tip… hahaha. love it!
Too presh! I am very impressed by her efforts and her attention to detail. I think Caroline’s spa could take off as long as “the customer cleaning up after the service thing” doesn’t come along for the expansion.
As a mother of two girls I have a big soft spot for mother/daughter stuff. This blog does NOT dissapoint. So glad you had a great Mother’s day!
The best spa day ever… This choked me all up happy
Almost spit my mocha out at the mention of the green sugar. Too funny!! You’re a good sport. I haven’t been to a spa that makes you clean up after the job is done, but perhaps she was looking to stimulate your muscles??
I particularly like Caroline’s exfoliating sprinkles — no spa should be without! :->
BA HA HA! THIS POST MADE ME TEARY..WHAT A SWEET THING FOR YOUR GIRLIE TO DO FOR YOU..THEN I GOT TO THE END AND STRAIGHT UP GIGGLED….YOU NEED TO PAY ME 5.00 CLASSIC I TELL YA!!
So very sweet!
That is awesome. So glad you were pampered on Mother’s Day!
I might try the scrub myself. Can I lick my fingers?
So sweet! Literally had me cracking up and I laughed all through reading the comments too! Love the “clean up” idea!
That was soooooooooo funny! Bless her sweet heart! What a doll to do all of that for her mommy! Love the sprinkles idea. Very creative. Smart girl!
Love it!! Hilarious and so sweet!
That Caroline. Boy she can give lessons on how to get to a Momma’s heart. Glad your day was special.
Love it!!! Glad you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!!!
So…did you pay her the five dollars? LOL!! That was the icing on the cake of an awesome post!
Caroline is a hoot! I’m glad you had a special mothers day.
So sweet! I love the green sprinkles for exfoliating, perhaps I’ll have to try that.
I had a big weekend too and did a shortcut blog yesterday, posting basically a picture of my pile of laundry and references to my exhaustion from a big out of town wedding weekend. I think you taking the day off sounds perfect! Needed and entirely reasonable!
Well this was downright delightful! You are so much fun, and your sweet Caroline is just precious. I was feeling somewhat moody this morning & you were just what the doctor ordered
Thanks so much sharing your weekend with us!
You BLESS me with your words, you make me laugh right out loud, and I’m so glad you share your life with all of us! Lady GaGa has nothing over you, for sure!! You truly are a gifted writer. And your family is delightful!
OH MY STARS! Adorable and funny!
No wonder you needed to recover.
You’ll have to tell us how long those fancy stickers last
That’s adorable! I love how much effort she put into all that (even if she did feel the need to try to capitalize on it later). What a sweetheart
That has to be the best spa day ever! I’m feeling a little jealous that I’m never going to be treated to such luxury since I’m living in a house filled with boys.
This post had me laughing aloud at my desk. My daughter is 3 and I look forward to many years of creative Mother’s Day celebrations with her. Your daughter is precious.
LOVE that girl!!!! This post made me laugh so hard. What a sweet Mother’s Day!!
This makes me want a daughter so badly!
You look gorgeous by the way. Perhaps it’s the green sugar scrub?
What a wonderful Mother’s Day you had…Caroline is a true original!
Precious ….precious….precious
Cherish every minute……my baby girl will be 42 on the 16th
of this month…..thanks for sharing this great day with us
So brilliant!
I totally understand your need to recoup and thought I’d leave you in peace. I was wishing it was a three day weekend to recoup myself. NO such luck.
Hilarious – perfect – …classic and I can hear every word from Caroline’s mouth! I have a 13 y-o girl and she is still just like that! Laughing is what keeps me from strangling her some days!
Heartwarming and delightfully funny. {That’s your big time review.}
After the introduction to the stick puppets, my monitor now wears my 2nd cup of coffee.
Yes, they do not frost themselves. Laughing, as always, at your humor. I get the need to just sit for three hours. Your daughter is so funny and creative!
Caroline is a hoot. Hopefully her beauty career won’t venture into perms and waxing.
So precious! I would have laughed out loud, but the baby is sleeping and I can’t risk waking him up. I need to go post about my Mother’s Day gift before I forget. Thanks for the reminder.
My favorite post so far: it so well relays your wit, humor and turn of phrase. You are such a hoot, as is your youngun’. Thanks for the story.
Hey! My son has NEVER given me a spa day. lol How sweet is she. And that WAS a lot of work mama. You should have tipped her $5 bucks. haha Too funny. Love reading this blog. Always a blessing.
As far as yesturday, you deserved a day off.
Glad you had a wonderful Mothers Day.
Melanie I have never seen you look more beautiful (well in a picture that is since we are just “internet friends”). I think it must be the overwhelming love that is spilling out all over you. You have been blessed with a very special little girl.
I really think Caroline and my Ella (also a second grader) would get along famously. For Mother’s Day this year, Ella pulled her own front tooth. “I’m doing this for you. Because it’s Mother’s Day.” Awww…just what I always wanted…
That. was. hil.ar.ious! Thank you so much for sharing. What a darling child you have! I loved it on Mother’s Day evening when my almost nine year old says, “it’s Mother’s Day, you shouldn’t be doing all of this,” as I took all the chili cheese dog fixins to the porch for dinner. She’s a doll, most days.
That was so sweet! Just knowing she wanted to sit with you and give you a “big girl” treat had to mean so much to you!
Oh, Melanie!! This post was well worth the wait! I am not sure what part was my favorite. The invitation with “grosh” and the ‘pepperoni pizzas’ or your comment about blending relaxation with some scientific knowledge or her telling you it was so much work you could pay her 5 dollars.
For me it was a perfect blend of sweetness and hilarity. It really was super thoughtful of her. You are so blessed to have her.
And you bless me with your sweet stories and delightful humor!! You are loved and appreciated!
Okay, I do believe this my all time favorite of all your posts. You have a way with words and the most precious little “spunky” girl! Loved this!
that Caroline is just about as funny as her mama! I am dying laughing!
Love this entry. I laughed out loud several times. Thanks for bringing humor into the everyday life of a mom. These memories written down will provided priceless retellings down the road.
Oh My! I don’t comment all the time but read your blog faithfully. But little Caroline you deserve a shout out from all of us! you did an awesome job girl and any momma would be so proud to sport your colorful paint job and choice of jewelry.
That was memorable!
Charlotte
ATL
The teacher in me LOVES that there was a demonstration of the water cycle following your day at the spa.
This is a perfect example of why your blog is on my short list of favorites.
Loved it.
Your daughter is awesome. However, should C and my girl ever cross paths, there could be trouble.
She is hysterical but so sweet. I remember when my girls would “do my hair”. Very special moments and you look beautiful.
She is just TOO cute!
I loved this post! It was just what I needed to read at the end of a long day!
How very sweet of Caroline! And Melanie, you are an absolute joy…I love your sense of humor! God bless…
Seriously….you are all but Lady Gaga!!! Rock it Big Mama!!!!
I love it! Caroline is so sweet and creative. I think the green sugar for exfoliating is a great idea (although if she wants to do it again in the future, I would suggest mixing it into lotion or oil and applying, then rinsing it off, that way it won’t dissolve into the water). It looks like you had a wonderful mother’s day!
Dang, she’s good!
Just wait….you’ll be treating her to the spa stuff sooner than you think!
Well.. I too was the recipicant of a pedi/mani… and as my daughter diligentaly and patiently tended to my toes (while hearing slight comments under her breathe something about .. mammoth toes… alien nails and the need for garden tools)….I felt so special. The night before.. she did my hair and insisted on taking several pictures just us.. before the sun went down. She made the most beautiful card with a picture of the 2 of us i just about cried!!!!! Hope you can now relax that the weekend is over!! I never would have said that like.. oh… 20 years ago. Ahh… life!! Luv your blog hunnie!!!
Her spa is adorable. She deserves some serious credit for ingenuity (but not $5).
Thank you for the huge laugh. I love Caroline!
Oh my goodness, that girl cracks me up!! Thanks for the laugh!
So stinking funny! How do keep from bursting into laughter every time she talks?