Dear Maddie,

Wow.

Every once in a while a child will do something -- take his first steps, say "mama" for the first time, lean in for her first slobbery kiss, make her own bed, or fix his own breakfast -- that serves as a confirmation to the parent: you're doing something right; you're making progress; you are, so far, a success as a parent.

I guess I've been kind of just gliding along lately, not marking any major milestones with my kids, but still confident in my parenting abilities: all four of you walk, make your own breakfast, keep slobber to a minimum, and keep your beds made (with a little persuasion of the chocolate variety). But you woke me from my stupor. You threw me for a loop. You made me look like an A+ parent; I just don't think I can take any credit for it.

Your surprise party the day before (very clever) my birthday was amazing! I am still amazed by it as I sit here writing about it more than a month later.

Wow!

The crepe paper decorations: awesome, and in some of my favorite colors.

Gifts, wrapped and delivered: incredible, and just what I wanted.

The cereal box pinata, decorated and filled with homemade birthday cards: the icing on the cake.

How did you think of that?

It was so fun!

Yeah, Jack had a good time pulling the pinata out of reach, didn't he?

See how what a great time everybody is having?

You did that!

So, how much did I know? Well, I did think it was odd that the big roll of butcher paper and the markers were spread out in the storage room, but I hadn't seen a poster anywhere.

Then your insistence that Daddy take you to Wal-Mart for "birthday supplies" led me to believe you were planning to decorate.

That suspicion was confirmed when I found balloons blown up in your closet the day before the party, but I never suspected a surprise party! (Please note: I was very impressed with your early preparations; you didn't learn that from me.)

Then when I came in from taking Ryan and Justin to basketball and you all yelled from downstairs that I had to stay upstairs for two more minutes, I was completely surprised!

Thanks, Mad. You are everything a mother hopes for in her daughter, and then some.
I love you!

Love,
Mom

P.S. The picture of you and me and Jack and Katie on the stairs as I opened my present is one of my all time favorites. When I opened that box and saw the earings you had chosen for me, I was transported back, for just an instant, to all the times I wrapped up a carefully chosen pair of earings for my mom's Christmas or Birthday present. All the love I put into those packages and the excitement to see her looking so beautiful in the jewelry I had picked out came back to me and made the present that much more meaningful.

P.P.S For future reference, your friend, Alayna was spending the afternoon with us that day. She helped with the cards and decorations. Other kids shown in the pictures are just neighbor kids who seem to always be in our yard. Several of them joined us for the final activity of the night which was a variation of Capture the Flag. It was really fun.