Geez they grow up fast...Photos finally!!

[Camperroo]

*You'll have to go down to my last post for the links to photos!!

Well gang, I first started on this board I believe it's been 4 yrs. now but anyway my DD was just a little sprite then all excited about our popup and our first camping trips, setting up the camper, making smores around the campfire...great little kid stuff...now our little camper is going to be out on her first official "date" (of sorts) tomorrow night.  She is now in high school and going to her first semi-formal.  She's picked out a beautiful gown, we're going out tonight to find that "perfect" necklace, then she's coming home to paint her nails and we're still working on that perfect hairstyle!!  I ordered a boutonaire for her date and found out he has a lovely wrist corsage of roses waiting for her (the mom spilled the beans when we met at school today!).  DH is very melancholy watching the excitement in her face as she talks about her big night tomorrow night.  He said he feels as though he's watching mini movies of her growing up and they flash before his eyes as she's excitedly talking about the dance, what her date willl be wearing and asking if we think he will walk her to the door when she comes home tomorrow night!!  (A. He better and B. We're sure he will!)DH is driving them to the semi-formal because DD asked him too.  So he will bring his little camper to this boys house and there he'll be in his nice suit and waiting with a lovely rose corsage...the enemy as DH calls him....in reality he's a handsome 15 yr. old boy who is a nice as can be...but to DH....he's now the enemy!!  stealing away his little camper...and then DH will be driving them off to the first of many wonderful and magical moments for our DD, our dear camper...who we look back at through all her stages from adorable baby, to sweet toddler, to great kid, to now a lovely young woman...

I'm smiling now just thinking of how lovely she will be tomorrow night and remembering the sheer excitement of that special event and boy.  Tomorrow I'll be a blubbering mom taking photos of the moment!

We can't wait to watch her transform back to our little camper this summer when we head up to the site...but we know ahead of us are many more wonderful moments for her and for poor DH it's just the beginning of dealing with the "enemy"       He's not dealing with it so well at this point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Do all dads talk about putting up bars outside DD's windows and something about shotguns waiting on the porch!!!!!!!!  

[2manytoyz]

A couple of lines come to mind.

1.  "Boy, she cries, you cry, understand?"

2.  "Boy, she's my only daughter, precious to me.  If you do something to upset her, I have no problem going back to prison".  

We don't have any daughters yet, but I'm ready for the talk.  If you need a stand in, let me know.  

[mowalker]

Application for dating my daughter

http://home.att.net/~scorh3/Date.html

[jpreiser]

Application for dating my daughter

http://home.att.net/~scorh3/Date.html

Great web site.. My son turns 10 tomorrow!They sure do grow up fast!!

[gr8grandpa]

You do not know what growing up fast is until your grandkids start having babies.

[Camperroo]

Mowalker that was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time!!!  We are printing out the application to torture our DD with!! You made my DH's night!!

[tlhdoc]

Application for dating my daughter

http://home.att.net/~scorh3/Date.html

I will have to warn DS to be ready for the rules.  Good one Brenda.

[Camperroo]

Yikes...morning of the dance panic!!  We tried on the dress again last night and I forgot all about getting her dress hem shortened!! She'd been so sick two weeks ago that I just forgot about all the things on my to do list!!  And the weather here is so sloppy out that her beautiful dress would be ruined plus she wouldn't be able to dance it in without trying to hold it up off the ground....I'm a baaaaaaaaaaaddddddd mommy!!!!  But DH, the one who is dreading the whole thing has saved our day!  He got up bright and early this morning with DD and they parked themselves out in front of the tailor's shop, and when they opened he went in and pleaded our case of big first dance and wanting everything to be perfect for her...and the tailor graciously smiled at DD talking about remembering "those days" and of course he would do it!!   Phewwww!!  It is a Saturday and he is busy!! Not an easy dress to hem either as you ladies know these fancy dresses....layer of smooth satin sheath and then a pretty layer of tulle covering the satin and it has some decorative beading on it...so not easy to play with!!  However the tailor has saved our day!!!!!!!  (except it almost costs half of what we paid for the dress!!  But hey what price can you put on beauty!!!  LOL)  

DH is out shoveling up every bit of slush and muck so DD has an absolutely clear path to her chariot for tonight!!!  He's so sweet.  For such a reluctant daddy he sure is making sure everything falls into place for his DD.

[SkipP]

Camperroo, we're exactly where you are too! DD is going to the JROTC Ball tonight....... I swear she was just learning to walk last week! Oh well. I haven't felt the need to sit around and clean the shotgun ~ yet...LOL. Mom has taken her to get her hair done, the dress and shoes are ready.... I don't know who is more nervous. Amanda or mom. It ain't easy seeing them grow up like this but I'm (okay, we) are really proud of her. Thanks for the thread and the chuckle!

[julecav]

I'm not quite there yet but I already know how you feel.  My baby is reading now and adding and subtracting.  She is already getting so independent I'm so proud of her but it's kind of sad knowing that she's growing up.  Even my littlest one will be a year old next month.  Sheesh time goes so fast.

[NightOwl]

Camperoo and SkipP--TELL!!!  We are anxiously waiting to hear how these MIleStone Events turned out!  Where are the digital pics of your darlings?

You think THIS is tough--just wait a little while (it will seem like about 10 minutes) until you are about to face Walking Her Down The Aisle.

And now for a very funny story about the lengths a Daddy will go to for his little girl.  Our oldest  had  never really been smitten by the love bug, and then a year or so after college graduation   began to talk about someone named David.  Soon of course, David was appearing at our house frequently and it was obvious that this  friendship had become VERY SERIOUS!  He was VERY SWEET,  financially secure, and loved  cars and Bluegrass music and Chinese cooking,  AND OUR DAUGHTER, so I was very taken with him, and DH "seemed" to accept him and  be fond of him also.  (Note the word "seemed" here.)

Things progressed smoothly  to an engagement, and 10 months later, a wedding.  All went wonderfully  well I thought until the rehearsal dinner.  And then my dear spouse, stood up and proposed a toast to the  happy couple.  And then--and THEN--

After the toast (and perhaps under the influence of too much bubbly) The Father Of  The Bride  proceeded to make a pretty shocking confession to this room full of people (many of whom we had just met.) .He   proudly informed  all  our guests that when it became   obvious that  DD was becoming very taken with David,  he had had David 'INVESTIGATED!"  (And never told me!)  I almost fainted when he--with no warning at all--admitted to this!  Very fortunately, the groom's family understood (David has 2 sisters) and it helped that  the investigation revealed  David to be a man universally liked and respected by everyone interviewd  about him.

So  mothers--when your little girl falls in love, WATCH OUT--your usually sensible husband may suffer from a bad case of craziness at least briefly,  as he prepares to hand over his darling daughter to someone else's care.

PS--the wedding was 18 years ago and the marriage has been a very happy and successful one.  They still  adore each other.  And I still think my motherly  instincts were just as accurate as the findings of the "investigation."  because  I knew from the moment I first laid eyes on him that this dear man would make a wonderful son-in-law!

[B-flat]

Cars, $$$$$$,  Bluegrass Music, Chinese food.......sounds like someone I need to be married to.   Well, whatever with the "investigation," and that moment of "announcement" which nearly melted the wedding cake icing have gone down in the history of the SIL becoming initiated into the family.  I doubt that moment was taken by anything other than jest by the other wedding party guests.  There have been two weddings which went down in "history" in my area.  The first was when the groom was pushed into a swimming pool by the bride's mother and the other attendants wound up in the swimming pool too.  The bride was considering jumping in when I intervened and said no way would she ever ruin that dress and risk drowning on her wedding day in the likely event the whole skirt went over her head.  The other was when a couple invited folks to what was to be an engagement party and cookout.....then proceeded to get married right then and there.....kind of like tricking the guests.  They later apologized.

[Acts 2:38 girl]

As we only have one daughter, I feel no shock at your husbands investigation, Nightowl!     And we've had the "Application to date my daughter" printed and posted on a clipboard by the garage door now for 4 months.  Just think - this month, she'll be 6 months old!    Yesterday we put her in a walker for the 1st time.  They grow up so fast!!

[angelsmom10]

Yes, watch out as they do grow up fast....
 
We are facing our youngest getting ready to go down the aisle... the wedding looks like it is being moved up to sometime around Christmas of this year.  The wait is for her fiance' to get his orders and for him to get settled at his new location.
 
Enjoy the younger years don't wish for them to get out of different ages no matter how trying they seem to be.

[Starcraft Dad]

I agree that they do grow up to fast. My oldest DS graduates high school June first. The tears are already flowing. Then he will be off to college where he is going to learn more of the violin. Hopefully one day to become a world class violininst. I just don't know if I can go through all this without a breakdown. But, I am so proud of him for accomplishing so much.