Today is Gleek’s birthday. She has been counting down in anticipation ever since Christmas ended. As of today she is now 6 years old. It makes me want to snuggle her close because I’m running out of time for her to be little. Fortunately she was in a snuggly mood this morning so I got some of those extra snuggles. She was very agreeable about getting ready for school today. She wanted to be there on time because they announce birthdays over the loud speaker and she didn’t want to miss hearing her name. While she was at school I took Patches to buy supplies for her birthday party on Saturday. Then Patches and I arrived at the Kindergarten class with a couple dozen donuts to share with all of Gleek’s classmates. I loved getting to watch her feel special and important as she handed out the donuts.
The next item on our birthday agenda was a trip to the shoe store. Gleek is by nature a barefoot child. She will shed her shoes at the slightest provocation. This means that her shoes need to be so comfortable that she doesn’t think about them. If she thinks about her shoes, she’ll kick them off. It seems like we’ve gone through dozens of pairs of hand-me-down tennis shoes and we’ve only found a couple that truly fit her. Part of the problem is that I keep thinking her feet are bigger than they are. We had them measured at the store. She’s size 10 1/2. Most of her shoes are size 11-12. Size 10 1/2 is still in the toddler section which seems wrong for a six year old, but she’s tiny for her age. Anyway she needed shoes for church and shoes for school. I decided to make her birthday the occasion for buying brand new shoes.
Gleek loves the shoe store. Within moments of entering she found the sparkliest, most bead-encrusted set of flip flops that the store had to offer. She declared her undying love for these shoes. The school does not allow flip flops. None of the elementary schools in our area do. Flip flops just aren’t safe footwear for kids who will spend recess playing tag around and on top of a jungle gym. Flip flops have become acceptable dress shoes these days. I see them at church all the time. Only these particular flip flops were absolutely gaudy. I decided not to argue about the flip flops and set about selecting church shoes for her to try on. Then Gleek found big floppy, fuzzy, rainbowed slippers with hair two inches long. Gleek declared her urgent need to own these slippers. The slippers were a women’s size 8, but Gleek kept declaring that they fit perfectly as she shuffled up and down the aisle to keep them on her feet. I didn’t argue about the slippers either. Instead I had her put on various church shoes and run up and down the aisle to see if they would work for her. She liked that part. We picked out shoes that will work for church. Then we repeated the process for tennis shoes.
We had reached the point where it was time to leave the store. I had no intention of taking home the gaudy flip flops or the fuzzy slippers. Fortunately Gleek found a rack full of inexpensive tastefully sparkly flip flops. I consented to let her have a pair of these on the condition that the fuzzy slippers and the gaudy flip flops stay at the store. When I sweetened the deal with some colorful rainbow striped socks, she agreed. She wore her shiny silver flip flops home.
Later tonight we’ll have dinner and family gifts. She’s getting a pair of fairy wings from Howard. I can just picture her now in her pink clothes, rainbow fairy wings, and silver flip flops. That’s my Gleek age six.
Happy Birthday to Gleek!
Happy Birthday to Gleek!
My daughter’s 6 and is also wears 10 1/2 shoe size, but is 47″ tall.
Sounds like Gleek will be having a great birthday!
My daughter’s 6 and is also wears 10 1/2 shoe size, but is 47″ tall.
Sounds like Gleek will be having a great birthday!
Your girl must have small feet for her height. Gleek is 43″ tall.
Your girl must have small feet for her height. Gleek is 43″ tall.
She sounds like me at age 6! How cute ^_^
She sounds like me at age 6! How cute ^_^
I love how you describe Gleek declareing her “undying love” for the sparkly shoes. I was all about beads and sparkles when I was six.
Oh, wait. I still am attracted to the sparkliest, most bead-encrusted objects in the store. Perhaps it’s because I’m part raccoon…
I love how you describe Gleek declareing her “undying love” for the sparkly shoes. I was all about beads and sparkles when I was six.
Oh, wait. I still am attracted to the sparkliest, most bead-encrusted objects in the store. Perhaps it’s because I’m part raccoon…
I was going to say…when you were six? Please. You still declare your undying love for everything sequined and glittery. Lol.
I was going to say…when you were six? Please. You still declare your undying love for everything sequined and glittery. Lol.
I can just picture her now in her pink clothes, rainbow fairy wings, and silver flip flops. That’s my Gleek age six.
How adorable 🙂 I hope you can get a picture of that, and save it with this entry in a memorybook.
tastefully sparkly flip flops
I’m hoping that happens in part because I’d LOVE to see the above oxymoron in real life! 🙂
Happy Birthday to Gleek, and congratulations to Mom & Dad.
I can just picture her now in her pink clothes, rainbow fairy wings, and silver flip flops. That’s my Gleek age six.
How adorable 🙂 I hope you can get a picture of that, and save it with this entry in a memorybook.
tastefully sparkly flip flops
I’m hoping that happens in part because I’d LOVE to see the above oxymoron in real life! 🙂
Happy Birthday to Gleek, and congratulations to Mom & Dad.