So back to Prom prep....mmmm delicious having teenage daughters!

Last week I called dozens of shops trying to describe Kate's chosen hairstyle and getting various degrees of "We don't do updos," "Takes too much time," "We don't braid...maybe you should try a black shop...they do that better." Yep, no kidding.

I finally found someone willing to do the dry run so we set out Saturday at 0900. She was able to do the updo "rough draft" (without shampoo/set) in an hour so an hour and a half will do fine. Basically, they gel and pull her hair into a midheight ponytail and separate that into many braids that are then woven into an open work basketry instead of a bun. Kind of involved but beautiful. Another hour for manicure and pedicure and we will be fine with a 1230 appointment on prom day.

The stylist then recommended we buy a "bag of hair" for some additional braids as Katie has plentiful hair but it is not quiet long enough to do all the weaving she would like. So off we are to find a complimentary lighter color of blonde hair. Easier to accomplish than finding the stylist whose name is Bella and who is as tiny as Katie. She really hit it off with her so that felt right too.

Off to find jewelry which was not too difficult with the hair up so she could make the best choices. Rhinestone dangles for her ears and thin rhinestone bracelets for the nonflower wrist.

Then to Lancome for makeup. She needed new foundation and mascara and I am a believer in using good products...no we do not wear makeup very often but when we do...it is the goods stuff! I asked the Lancome rep to make some recommendations so he did her makeup...and even volunteered to do it on prom day. (He was extremely talented and nice but likely the large purchase did not hurt either). He hates that she uses Proactiv but when I told him the dermatologist finally settled on that cause it works for her that ended that! His suggestion was highlight lips or eyes...at 16, I could not see it being lips so he devised a look that centered on her big blue eyes with smokey mauves and then neutral but golden glossed lips.

It was wonderful and hard to see the woman she is becoming bloom right before my eyes. As we drove I found myself glancing at her. When she felt my stare she would turn to me and smile that great smile of mixed excitement and awareness of her beauty. It would draw me back to her again and again.

So we went home and showed her dad and sister who were appropriately impressed with her beauty. This time Christie was more prepped and perhaps a bit older so she did not cry. Les responded with the safe and well known wit and sparring that they share as their own special communication. We then buzzed across town to see Gpa and borrow one of Gma's evening clutches. Yep, she had a drawer and a rubbermaid full to choose from so Kate selected a tiny hand size silver beaded clutch. Oh, how I missed her being there.

Gpa was appropriately stricken by how beautiful Kate looked when she tried on the whole look for him and came downstairs. He remarked to me about how different this was from when he first met her (with Les at Pennsic, he actually saw her first as they let him in the OR as a professional courtesy).

Shortly thereafter Kate took the "evening" makeup off and we deconstructed the updo into a ponytail of braids and off we all went for pizza. She was back to the Kate we knew.

All we have left to do now is finalize plans at the hotel for afterprom and get her dress hemmed a bit.

As a mom, it is days like this that make all the crazy and hard times fade away.

Wonderful.