So, here's the Reader's Digest condensed version of November...
A visit to the American Girl Doll Store
Lily and I went with her best friend (Q), her best friend's mother, grandmothers, and sister to the American Girl Doll Store for tea to celebrate Q's birthday.
Lily is not much of a doll kind of girl. In fact, that's putting it mildly. Lily NEVER plays with dolls. Truth be told - Lily only has one doll. Aunt Patti gave Lily an American Girl doll named Ivy for her first Christmas. It's the only doll that has lasted in our house. All the other dolls have found their way into the Goodwill bag!
The first time Q came to our house to play she was shocked and more than a little disappointed that Lily didn't have any baby dolls. Lily told Q she thought dolls were boring and then they went about playing with Lily's race cars and all was well with the world once again.
When Lily's at Q's house they play with dolls, when Q's at our house they play with cars, trucks, and Calico Critters. I think it's what makes their friendship work so well. Q and U have enough in common to enjoy each other's company, but not so much that they get on each other's nerves.
Q brought her American Girl doll to tea and Lily brought Ivy and they had an absolute blast!!
They even had fun on the three and a half hour ride home. Yes, you read that correctly. It took us three and a half hours to get home from the store!!!
Want to know the best part? Q and U never once complained during the entire ride. Not once. They sang and laughed and told really awful knock-knock jokes and were sad to see their time together end. I was just happy to finally be near a bathroom!
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is normally my favorite holiday - this year - not so much. It was just so hard without Dad.
I am so thankful Mary Beth is the matriarch of our family. She makes every event special and does an amazing job at making memories!
Our sweet girl had a great day. She's not crazy about the actual Thanksgiving meal...Lily would prefer spaghetti :^)...thank you very much...but hanging out at Aunt Baba's with her cousins is one of her favorite things to do!
Oh, and eating chocolate dipped cheese curls and chocolate dipped Dorito's for dessert was another highlight. What kind of mother would allow their child to eat such a thing??
We discovered these little "delicacies" at a local candy shop and Tony couldn't wait to bring them to Thanksgiving Dinner. Honestly, the thought of these things makes me want to gag...but they went like hot cakes! As for me, I'll stick with apple pie for dessert!
Nit Picking
Speaking of wanting to gag...during November I also got to experience what it feels like to be a mother chimpanzee. Not sure what I mean??? Well, I'll put it a bit more bluntly. Lily had lice. Yuck, yuck, and triple yuck!!! I shuddered just typing that. Now, go ahead and itch your head. I understand. Trust me.
As anyone who knows me well knows...I have issues - lots and lots of issues. Can I just tell you that picking nits out of my child's hair did very little to help with my issues? Very little. It's true.
Before our experience with those nasty little buggers (literally) I thought there were two childhood maladies that I couldn't handle - loose teeth and ticks. I've added a third item to the list and it's assumed the #1 position!
I'll stop here. So much for the Reader's Digest condensed version, huh?
