The End of My Youth....

Or more appropriately titled, Happy Birthday Katie!!

I awoke this morning and realized…

I am the mom to an 18 year old. How can that be?

Hard to believe 18 years have already gone by since Katie was born on St. Patrick’s Day of 1991. We spent the day before walking around the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Savannah where I conveniently went into labor. Perfect setting......I just didn’t bother to tell Dave until after we got home.

Hey, I wanted to be sure, okay?? First kid, you know.

Fast forward 18 years…..

We celebrated her birthday last night (the 16th) because she was due to be at Catlan’s baseball game today. Can’t have her miss that. She missed it last year when Cat had an exceptional game because she chose to be home with us for dinner.

So how to make today special? She already got her present from us a few weeks ago. No more presents were in the works. What to do today? After all, 18 is a big deal.

Her day began with these




When I turned 18, my parents sent a clown with a huge red heart balloon to my high school lunch room to surprise me.

Oh my. Could I do that to Katie?

I could but wasn’t sure the school would appreciate it.

The next best thing? Paint her car like she painted mine. Except it couldn’t say Hot Mom (like my car did) or even Hot Katie (uh, no). That wouldn’t do.

But I could add other things. Like a car full of balloons. Yes….I like that idea.

I spent lots of time at school blowing up balloons to place strategically in her car. I’m just too clever, huh?

I left school today at 12:45 while my kids were in Art class to commence my attack. I was worried Katie would suddenly appear although she was supposed to be in class.

I did quick painting (nothing as fancy as she did for me in January). Heck, I was worried she might magically appear. Plus, I was fighting the stinkin' balloons....oh, didn't get there yet. Sorry!





Added garland, pennants and lot of balloons that kept trying to fly out of the car. I'm sure I would have been highly amusing to watch. A 40+ mom trying to stuff fifty or more balloons into a car on a windy day. Yep, that would be me.




Mission complete.

I giggled all the way back to school.

Turns out baseball was cancelled tonight due to the soggy fields so she and Cat headed out for dinner. He got her another Vera Bradley bag to match the one he bought at Christmas, as well as flowers and a shirt he made…




Catlan is pleased to say he is dating an “older woman”, for a few months anyhow!

Happy Birthday baby girl! I can't believe the years have flown by so quickly. Graduation is upon us and you'll soon be leaving for college. Our lives will change dramatically.

You have grown into an amazing, beautiful, and wonderful young woman. I love you....