a special day with a special girl...

last week was insane. let me say it again. insane.

but i survived.

barely.

but that's not really the point of this post!!!!

i have been wanting to take ella on a "mommy & me" outing for a long time so i decided friday would be the day! she was out of school for conferences, "boo" had school until noon, and my dear sweet husband agreed to work from home so that ava could take her nap...and i could take my precious first born on a "date"!

it's so funny because i truly think i get more excited about these times than my children do. i just love being with them one on one...getting to glimpse into their precious heart just a little bit deeper than i normally would with everyone in tow...it just makes me happier than normal!

so i ran to ella's conference (where she got a great report...YEA!) and came home to "kidnap" her! surprises make her crazy! she loves them but she will pester you to death to give her hints! she has to get that from her daddy because i LOVE surprises!!!! anyway, i gave her n.o.t.h.i.n.g!!!! we pulled up to the strip mall and i purposefully parked in front of a pizza place and she immediately said "we're going to eat pizza?"...in that kinda "i know i should act excited about this because my mom is smiling from ear to ear...but really?!?! i don't really even like pizza!!!!" i, of course, was loving every second of this!

i didn't delay the reveal too long and i finally guided her into the oasis spa...where we were going to enjoy her first pedicure and manicure!!!! i wish i could have bottled up the look on her face to sell it...pure joy!!!!!

things became a bit iffy when she picked out the sparkly aqua polish for me and the little spa lady was like "ooooh yea...pretty"!!!!! i had to think quickly and try to explain that mommy didn't need to wear a color like that...something a bit more subtle might be better!!! ella chose a color called strawberry margarita that was BRIGHT PINK but perfect for her!!!!

the salon had the most adorable spa chairs for children and ella smiled the entire time! she loved the massage, loved the fact that the water changed colors, loved the lotion, the toe spreaders, and the fact that she got polka dots on all TEN of her nails (toes and fingers!)!!!!

she kept saying "i've never been to the spa before"!!!! the lady kept saying "your mommy really love you"...nothing could be more true.

it was such a fun day with my oldest baby. it was a day that i have dreamed about for a long time...as silly as that sounds. all of our days are precious because i just love being their mother...but times like these make those ordinary days extraordinary. knowing that they won't be little forever...

but for that moment...

we froze time for a bit...

and bottled it up as a memory...

just a mother and her daughter. spending precious time together. doing what girls do.

a special day with a special girl.

that's just what it was.