Brynn's Graduation Dinner

I should start this story with a little background.  One of many "issues" is that I am a little "type A" about what my kids wear and how they look when we go out in public.  I don't mean that in a snobby way...I'm fine with them rocking the Garanaimals but they must match, have their hair combed/done,  be clean, and be color coordinated.  I'm not afraid to admit that when we are home my kids are generally rocking undies/diaper and nothing else. They are happiest that way and to be truthful it just makes less laundry for me.  However, once we go out of the house it's a different story.  Even a trip to walmart or middle of the night emergency room visits (don't judge me...I warned you) require a clean/matching outfit.  I also carry extra outfits with me because it seriously makes me cringe when they have to walk around in a dirty shirt once they spill something on themselves (which the inevitably do).  Now that you know I'm a bit psycho...

On Friday, I decided to take Brynn and Colton to dinner at Dairy Queen to celebrate Brynn's pre-k graduation.  Dan was wrapping up a golf tournament so it was just me and the kids.  I dressed the kids in clean outfits and sent Brynn upstairs to put on shoes.  She comes downstairs like this...

Brynn is completely obsessed with these red cowgirl boots so I really should have anticipated this happening.  Normally I probably would have been okay with the boots...I mean she is a Sussex County Girl. Cowgirl boots and shorts are completly acceptable in our neck of the woods. However, the boots, stripes, and make-up were all a bit much for me to take in.  I suggested that maybe she would like to take off her very beautiful makeup for dinner but that immediately caused tears.  "Fine," I thought to myself.  "This is her big day and this is not a battle worth choosing."  I was feeling a little stressed at this point (I told you I was psycho) but decided to just go with it.

Once we got to Dairy Queen, we are starting to get out of the car and Brynn says to me, "Mama can you help me with my cap please?".  I froze.  We then have the following conversation.

Me:  Uhhh...what?!

Brynn:  I need help getting my cap and gown on.

Me:  Oh Brynnie, we don't need to wear the cap and gown to dinner.

Brynn:  But, Mama I want everyone to know that I am the graduation girl.

Me:  Well everyone will already be able to see your beautiful make-up and boots and we really don't want to get your cap  and gown to get dirty do we? (I'm literally starting to sweat).

Brynn:  (with tears in her eyes)  Please Mama, I REALLY want to wear it.

At this point there is an entire internal battle that goes on in my head.  It's her day.  It's not a big deal.  It's just dairy queen.  All kids do this right?  (really sweating at this point). 

I give in and let her wear the cap and gown.  In we go and as we walk in the door everyone turns to stare.   First they look at Brynn and then their eyes turn to me (I hesitate to guess at what they were thinking).  Brynn is quite pleased with herself.  The manager of the restaurant sees Brynn and tells her that she is the cutest thing he has ever seen.  He later delivers a free ice cream cake to our table.

As we walk out the door, with our cake in hand Brynn turns to me and says..."It's a good thing I look so cute in this outfit Mama or we would have had to pay for our cake."  Well there is that, and besides...she was pretty cute:)

This picture is SO going into her senior yearbook someday:)