On Friday, the middle school kids didn’t have school. Which worked out great because Mckenna had physical therapy. Mima (Jeff’s mom) was meeting us there and taking Ken home for a special sleepover and trip to see Cinderella the musical.
It was also the first day in over a week that my back wasn’t killing me. I wanted to celebrate. (My back went out two weeks ago.)
Drew, Kenna, and I headed out and took care of her two appointments at the hospital. Mima picked her up and we said our goodbyes.
As Drew and I pulled out of our parking space, I asked him, “If you could go out to lunch A N Y W H E R E , where would you go?”
“Spaghetti Factory!” He grinned at me.
Dang-it. They don’t open for lunch. Try again.
He thought for a bit and then said, “Olive Garden?”
“The Garden it is.” Soup and breadsticks on a rainy day sounded perfect. “So, after lunch, if you could pick one place to go shopping, where would you go?” (I thought he would choose Gamestop.)
But he surprised me with, “Barnes and Noble!”
And so that is how I found myself on a date with my twelve year old son on a Friday afternoon.
We ordered enough Calamari for our entire family, but only the two of us had to share it. Bliss!
I sat and listened to him talk his blonde little head off. With no interruptions.
And then we went shopping and soaked up the bookstore. And splurged, completely splurged, on piles of books for both of us.
I spent a lot of time in art, business motivation, and parenting.
He spent a lot of time in Youth Fantasy and Comics.
As we were walking out, our arms loaded with books, I saw this. precious. little. number.
And my heart fluttered and I fell in love with a book. This beautiful pink book.
Had to share it, as I am sure many of you will fall in love as well.
Notes:
I played and fiddled with these photos after reading this tutorial on the Totally Rad blog.
Have you heard of formspring? I have been answering questions over there for a few weeks. I thought it was a great way to interact with my readers and give back to all of you.
Check it out and ask me anything. I just might answer.
xo
Tara
I saw that they did a ton of the fairy tale books with colored covers and bindings! they look awesome! I want them ALL!
that’s awesome that you had a date with your cute soN!
tara
I just love doing the “individual dates.” :) Yours sounds perfect.
You’re a good mama. Sounds like a great date!
what an awesome day. i’m sure drew is going to look back and remember that simple day as pure happiness.
I.LOVE.THAT.COVER. WOW!!!
Aw, sweetness, spending that great time w/your son! Have always loved the Alice books – great fantasy & stories to read alone or out loud :). Can’t wait to hear about Mckenna’s Cinderella experience :)
I’ve been a stalker for months, but this is my first comment. :) That is a gorgeous book! It looks very much like the one we have of The Chronicles of Narnia. (Silver/gold edges too)
Oh it is so pretty!
I loved dates with my son when he was growing up. I still love dates with my son although they seem to be pretty far apart now that he has a wife and fmilyS!
wow, what a beautiful find! thank you for sharing. I will have to get myself a copy. sounds like you and Drew had a nice date!
http://www.cb-smith.com/index.php?/clothbound/clothbound-series-1/
had to show you these!
super cute huh?! tara pp
I can’t believe it. I was JUST telling a girlfriend this morning that I wanted to read “Alice in Wonderland.” I have never seen it – parents too strict to allow “secular” entertainment. And books are always best. so I will HAVE to make a special trip to buy this. Thanks for posting!
How come when I come over to your blog your posts for that day always make me cry? Why is that? And I can’t blame it on pregnancy hormones because I’m not even pregnant. haha
Great day with your spud!!! You’re so funny on formspring. I asked a question. ha.
Awesome! Love the Cheshire face on the spine. I think Miss Scarlett is going to have a wonderland tea party for her fist birth day…six months down the road. What can I say, I’m a planner!
This is why I love B&N. I did the same thing Friday too, actually, Nancy and I stopped by there to kill some time before a workshop and I came out with 4 books instead of the one I was looking for, including a gorgeous bound copy like yours but of Jane Austen’s works. :) Do you have their membership? Totally worth the $25/year – I saved $15 just in one trip!
I can’t wait to have lunch dates with my son someday when he is in middle school. I hope he still enjoys talking to me then. : )
Love the awesome book!
Lunch dates with the kids are the best!
Thank you so much for posting about that book…I am off to the bookstore in the morning. LOVE!
Love that first image of the book. I would buy this too. How could anyone resist, really? Lol :)
have you seen the previews for this movie ???
I can’t wait to see it….
i know, i got the the blue arabian nights… just beautiful and great pics inside. always wanted to read it. started reading it and who knew it is completely smutty. who knew?
Love how the pink book looks. I specially love the first picture. Don’t love Lewis Carroll. I have issues with him… LOL. I’m gonna be super happy if I ever ask my kids where they want to go shopping and they answer: bookstore! I think it means you’re doing something right!
Sounds like you had an awesome date – and what a cool find!
oh, this post brought tears to my eyes.. my grandfather recently suffered a stroke & is in the hospital, & so I have been remeniscing about my memories with him a lot lately. This was one of my very favorite books as a child, bought & read to me by my grandfather, who is completely responsible for my love of reading.. we spent many special days together at bookstores throughout my childhood. To this day he randomly quotes Lewis Carroll & always asks me, “what’s that from?” just to make sure I remember. :) I will have to pick up this beautiful edition of Alice. Thank you for sharing!
I bet he will always remember your date. You are so lucky that your son talks a lot. Mine is has always been very quiet and I am always wondering what is going on in his head. Love your blog and the beautiful photos that you share with us.
would it seem stalkerish if I told you I just spent over an hour reading all 301 of the answers you gave on formspring? I’m not, I promise…just a huge fan and beginer who is hungry to learn. Thanks so much for posting all that info!
That book is too much! Don’t you love little man dates? Best part of being a mom to boys, you ALWAYS have a date.
I actually have 10-12 versions of this book but not this one. (which means I am heading to B&N when the snow clears.) I am a book fanatic and LOVE books for 11-14 year old boys. (I teach 6th grade as well) If you ever need suggestions from that age group let me know. The Olympian series or the James Patterson books have been the big hits the past three years.
Hi Tara,
Thank you so much for this post. My daughter is having a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for her 8th birthday. As you can imagine, it’s quite the Alice in Wonderland theme. This pink book is a perfect little gift as a reminder of the day. Your post came at the perfect time. Thank you so much. I went online and ordered right away. Thank you!
Goregeous book!
Yes! I stopped my husband in his tracks last week when we spotted that book and this doll: http://twitpic.com/13a1ay And then I picked up this beauty a couple of days ago: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Jane-Austen/Jane-Austen/e/9781435103191/?itm=1&USRI=jane+austin
If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childho