Birthday Daddy

Today is Norm's birthday. Nothing gives me greater pleasure every year than helping Lauren plan a special gift for him. She gets sooo stinkin' excited to bestow gifts on people. It is exhilarating to watch how filled with euphoria she gets about every little simple thing, from picking the gift, to decorating the card. It is simply, as they say, priceless.

This year, I was inspired to try something new in terms of his gift from her. We kept one of our old traditions she adores ("Color Me Mine's complete rip-off $30 figurine but we don't care because it's made with complete and utter love"). However, I tried out an idea from yet another blog which I knew would be absolutely perfect for our imaginative sprite (swear I don't spend as much time trolling blogs as it may seem).

I took her to a local 99-cent Store and told her she could pick out absolutely anything her heart desired to give to her daddy. And I meant it. My only condition was that I tried to limit it to no more than approximately 10 items. I did not give her any coaching or suggestions, just answered a few questions she had about certain potential gifts to throw in the shopping cart. Honestly, I don't know who had more fun, her or me.

Of course she couldn't wait until his actual birthday to reveal the presents, so they were ceremoniously unveiled last night.



First up was the fairy figurine from Color Me Mine. Not a complete surprise for him since she had previously shown it to him but tried to "trick" him by telling him it was a gift for Nanny Kristen. Sneaky girl.



The 99-cent store bag was next in order, which, as was the case with everything else purchased there, included a card picked 100% by Lauren (addressed to "My Granddaughter", although Lauren did cross that out and substitute the word "Dada").





Some of the other 99-cent goodies:

A Toy Story sandwich container (Daddy does like PB&Js, after all).



Pom-poms (so she can cheer him on - her exact words).



A&W freezer pops and a butterfly wind chime.



Not to mention a big smoocheroo.



A view of the entire spread (also includes a chess set, jump rope, baseball piggy bank, glow sticks, coffee mug, flying disc, fake flowers, and a water game).



So for a total of approximately $15 (which included all the gifts, the card, gift bag and tissue paper), Norm's heart was completely touched, Lauren had a ball selecting and giving everything, and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the whole experience. Definitely think we'll get another couple of years of mileage out of 99-cent Store birthday gifts.

Dinner tonight was low-key - Ruby's turkey burgers and a big ol' birthday sundae. Norm said it was perfect. Mama and daughter couldn't have agreed more.