Tag Archives: fashion

November 7, 2016 · 5:00 am

She Turns 12 Today.

I wish I had started doing birthday blogs before her 4th birthday. Because, let’s face it. There are three years worth of hilarious stories that have gone unwritten. But fortunately, there has been enough recorded to keep us reading and enjoying for years to come.

Every single day Anna Takle makes me laugh. And, who would’ve thought years ago that I would be going to her for fashion advice one day? Seriously. The girl who wore fleece in the summer, tanks in the winter, printed tights with ripped shorts, and dressed like she was trying out for the NBA for a solid year. Even yesterday, she questioned my attire for family pictures.

Anna: “Mom, you wear a cream shirt or sweater EVERY TIME WE TAKE FAMILY PICTURES.”

Me: “Well, dang. I guess I do. Maybe I should change?”

Anna: “Why change it up now? It’s kind of your thing.”

Even though I considered throwing on plaid, because, let’s face it….that’s kind of my thing, too….I just said, “Yeah…it’s kind of my thing.” And, we both smiled and went with it.

She is my girl. My best girl. My best friend. My partner in crime. My tough, stubborn beauty who has evolved into a compassionate, gifted soul, FULL of wisdom and goodness.

And, today, she is 12.

She loves the people in her life fiercely. She is protective, sentimental, and one of the most level-headed people I know. She is also one of the most grateful people I know. She thanks her dad and I ALL THE TIME for EVERYTHING. But, SHE is the real gift.

Anna Marie Takle,

I seriously want to cry thinking about how much I love you. How much I love every single thing about you. You make your dad and I the proudest parents on the face of the earth. Everything you do, you do with passion. You give whatever you commit to 100% of who you are. And, in as much as we are proud of your gifts and of your commitment to your education, we are blown away by WHO you are.

I love the way you love and look after Jett. I remember when you were 6 years old, you said, “Jett is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” You take it upon yourself to care for him, to protect him, to teach him, to love on him. I watch you watch him….and, I see you light up when he does something that makes you proud or when he’s just being his cute little self. And, you smile so big. He is probably the reason why you got the nickname, “Little Momma.” (Clearly, “Big Mama” was already taken.)

But, Jett isn’t the only reason we call you Little Momma. You take it upon yourself to parent ALL of us. And, I mean ALL. Sometimes, it’s really cute. Other times, well….well, just be glad, YOU are really cute. And funny.

I love the way you look out for your big brother. Even though he probably doesn’t know it or want you to necessarily. But, you always want to make sure he is okay. And, when he hangs out with you and talks to you, again, you light up. Because, you love him and care for him so very much.

I love the way you love your dad. I love the way you immediately defend him if you hear me complain about something he forgot to do. Because, not only does he deserve your defense, but you are always so good to right my wrong perspective. And, every time he comes home from a trip and walks through that door, you run to him, wrap your arms around him, and say, “Daddy!” And, again, you light up. Because, you are not afraid to show him your love.

I love the way you love me. Anna, I never doubt how much you love me and look up to me. And, I do not take the love and respect you give me for granted. At least, I hope I don’t. You never fail to come up to me, look me in the eyes, and say, “Mom, thank you so much for……” You never fail to climb into my bed and pour your tender heart out. You never fail to make me feel your love for me. And, you never fail to make ME light up.

I love how important giving sentimental gifts are to you.

I love how you love tiny things.

I love how you love all animals and treat them with care.

I love how you appreciate really good food, good coffee, a good book, and good humor.

I love how you start laughing at your jokes or funny stories before you even begin telling them.

I love how you can laugh at yourself.

I love how you will suggest we eat ice-cream and watch back to back to back episodes of Friends.

I love how you think Phoebe is your spirit-animal.

I love how you want to learn to as many foreign languages as you can and assume it wouldn’t take much planning for us to “hop over to Paris” to try out your progression in French.

I love how when I send you downstairs to do a chore, the chore is always postponed, because you walk past your piano. Yet, you don’t pass it. And, before I know it, I hear magic happening on those keys….and it makes it really hard for me to get upset with you. (Well played, Anna Takle.) Get it? Well played? (That’s one of the corny jokes I know you’ll think is hilarious.)

I love how you ooze out wisdom and always have such perspective on life and relationships. Oh, I listen to you. I listen to you and John Henry both. You both continually make me a better person by how you see people and the world.

Anna, I am so proud of the young lady you are. I can’t imagine what the years ahead look like for you. Because, in this present moment, I am simply in awe.

Thank you, God, for giving me the beautiful gift of Anna Marie. And, let’s just not talk about how she’s going to be a teenager in a year. My heart can’t bear it today.

Thank you, Anna, for being YOU. I love you so very much.

Love,

Mom

3 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, life, Motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Tagged as birthday blogs, birthdays, fashion, foreign languages, friends, humor, mothers and daughters, Paris, raising daughters

February 9, 2011 · 5:00 am

Reaching the Heart of My Girl.

Well. I would love to tell you all that I have not complained. And, perhaps, I could tell you exactly that if it weren’t for a six year old who makes Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe choices look ordinary. It’s really not the fact that she wanted to wear her green and blue striped shirt with the hood under her blue and black shirt with a peace sign under her gray and pink shirt she wore the day before. Really, it’s not. Okay, well, the repeat of the day before shirt did get to me a little. But, it was the time it took her to put this envious fashion statement together.

Coupled with the fact that she completely ignored my instruction to brush her hair, her teeth, and put on socks and shoes.

Because, no momma wants her children to be late for school. Otherwise, she will have to park her car, and walk into the school. With her disheveled hair. And, scary, pasty face. And, faded yoga pants that have never seen a day of yoga.

So, can I be really transparent here without judgment? K. Thanks.

I always feel like parenting my boys is easy. While, Anna seems to push every single button on my 5 foot 3 body. I overuse phrases like “she wears me out.” I find it easy to acknowledge how incredibly bright she is, but I find it difficult to appreciate the things that make her different.

And, for this? I’m disappointed in myself as a mother. I’m reminded of that mirror again. So, I ask myself, “What is it in me makes me respond to my daughter the way I do?”

Do I feel that I lose some sort of control when she chooses differently from me?

Do I feel that I will look like a bad mother if she says something that I would never say to another person?

What is it in me? What is keeping me from embracing her whole self?

So, it’s back to the mirror I go.

I only have one daughter. And, I love her with everything inside of me. Does she feel that love? I was wondering this very thing Monday night, so I took advantage of the Five Love Languages assessment for children.

Anna’s primary love language? Quality time with physical touch coming in at a close second. I’m sure Anna loves to hear me tell her how brilliant I think she is. But, it seems, she needs my time and my touch more than anything else. This is how she receives love best.

Dusty Takle needs to simmer down. Look into the mirror. And, then give her daughter what she needs from her.

I need to give her what she needs now, so she will come to me later.

And, look at the sheer fun this girl brings to the table.

Besides, I’ve heard stories of a little girl who also challenged her mother about, well, about everything. She grew up and married a pilot and had three children of her own.

Y’all do me a favor and remind me of this post tomorrow morning when we are getting ready for school. And, my apologies to the neighbors for what they may or may not have heard yesterday morning.

Selah.

13 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Motherhood, parenting

Tagged as daughters, fashion, Five Love Languages, Motherhood, parenting

August 19, 2009 · 6:00 am

The Loudest Shoes Ever Created. Ever.

For those who don’t follow me on the Twitter, I thought you’d appreciate a picture of Anna’s wardrobe choice yesterday.

Anna - fashion wp

She thought a swimsuit cover-up accented with fluffy, pink heels would really make a statement while running errands with Mom and brother. I stood my ground. She changed into something a bit more presentable. With the fluffy, pink heels, of course. And, by the way, the basket of laundry is still strategically positioned right where you see it. Strategic in that I can say, “These clothes are clean, kids. Pick out something to wear.”

I’m gettin’ to it. Mkay? The important lesson here is to next time allow the cover-up and ban the shoes.

That I heard clippity clapping down every store aisle.

Her amusement knows no boundaries. She later requested that I close my eyes while driving, so she could tell me where to go. I didn’t, Dad. We made it safely home with my eyes mostly open. I’m a recoverin’ still, ya know.

I had to stay awake long enough to go to Parent Orientation at the kids’ school. I was beyond thrilled to see that John Henry’s Kindergarten teacher moved up to first grade, and he will have her again. And, I was reluctant in disclosing some of Anna’s more adventurous traits to her pre-school teacher. I felt ignorance was truly bliss in that matter. Don’t you agree?

Let’s just hope she’s never read this blog.

4 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Randomness

Tagged as dress-up shoes, fashion, first grade, Kid Stuff, orientation, pre-school, school, teachers

August 3, 2009 · 10:20 am

Tooth Mishaps & Other Stuff.

Made it back to Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, or something like that. The wind, it sweeps alright. John Henry decided to lose pull his tooth just as we were boarding our flight home. “I’m just trying to make money,” he explained. Tooth Fairy was so completely exhausted by night time, she almost failed to pay up. John Henry is so resolute about making money on his teeth, we fear he won’t have any teeth left very soon. Perhaps, it makes sense to go ahead and introduce him to the workforce. You know, to save him from pulling his permanent teeth, too.

Of course, I am not one to pass judgment on timely tooth matters. I noticed on my flight home that my front tooth felt a bit odd. And sharp in an area. What? I chipped my tooth? How? I had no idea how in the world I could have done this. It’s not like I bite into foods with my front teeth. It wasn’t until I was lying in bed that I remembered.

In an effort to reset my watch back to the central time zone, I used my front teeth to loosen up the little winder thingy. Blast. What was I thinking? I’d make money from the Tooth Fairy? Grrrr.

I have no dentist in Oklahoma. So, I sent out a message on Twitter and Facebook asking for suggestions on a local dentist. And, boy do people love their dentist! How to choose between 50 of THE BEST dentists in the state?

When we finally got home, it was pretty clear that there was nothing we were going to be eating in the Takle house, unless potatoes that turned into a massive tree branch sounded appetizing. This disgusting adventure motivated me to clean out both refrigerator and pantry. How, oh how, we do keep salad dressings from 2005? I, embarrassingly, threw away 4 trash bags full of food. Not the wisest of things to do for a woman still enduring her first trimester.

For.The.Love.

I dismantled our entire refrigerator, scrubbing every nook and cranny. Today, I am proud to say it is beautiful, friends. Just beautiful. Nothing feels quite as therapeutic as opening up your refrigerator door knowing you can eat ANYTHING inside.

Anna decided to change clothes, again, before we trekked to the grocery store to restock our kitchen. This is what she changed into to:

Anna - outfit wp

Nothing says you’re ready to take on Oklahoma’s sweltering temps like jeans and a sweater. And, NOTHING says fashion like ripped floral jeans and dress shoes.

Nothing.

She insisted on keeping her size sticker on her shirt.

Anna - size sticker wp

This way, it would “stay new.”

Makes perfect sense. No chance you’ll see me sporting my size sticker. Just sayin’.

It’s good to be home. But, I do miss those Georgia Peaches.

4 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Randomness

Tagged as cleaning, fashion, Kid Stuff, kitchen, losing teeth, Shopping, tooth fairy, travel

February 5, 2009 · 6:00 am

Wonder who will have the most eventful weekend?

I’m leavin’ on a jet plane. I don’t know when I’ll be back again. I really do know when I’ll be back. Sunday. Today, the little guy and I are headed south for one big wedding celebration. John Henry will be bearing some rings, and I’ll be…Well, I’ll be waving and smiling at him as he walks down that aisle with those baby blues wearing a tux. I really don’t have much of any consequence to write about today, not that this is any different from any other day. But, thank you for indulging me still.

Kris will be holding down the fort here in the great state of Oklahoma. With Anna Takle.

With Anna Takle.

Oh, what fun they are going to have. He has promised to take her out on a date to some fancy schmancy restaurant where she can wear a dress and all the trimmings. Why he seems to think he is going to win the fashion wars is nothing short of amusing, but he appears to be up for the challenge. This fancy schmancy restaurant is Mahogany Prime Steakhouse – our date night of choice. Anna, however, said that she prefers Mexican cuisine. The girl loves chips and queso. Can’t imagine where she gets that from, but it’s a trait I certainly admire.

I did offer to go ahead and make Anna’s lunch for pre-K on Friday, but Kris says he’s got it. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s going to find himself pressed for time on Friday morning after spending most of it in Anna’s closet bribing her. His choice. Have fun, babe. I do love you. And, please take notes.

Okay, that’s all I got. For real.

8 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, parenting, Randomness

Tagged as date nights, fashion, Kid Stuff, Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, travel, weddings

February 3, 2009 · 6:00 am

The Bachelor got me thinkin’.

I haven’t been watching this season’s The Bachelor. I really haven’t watched it in a lot of seasons. But, I thought it necessary to tune in last night since it was sure to be the most dramatic rose ceremony ever.

I heard the poor guy call his son his “favorite person.” I always tell Anna she is my favorite girl. Kris seems to think I should refrain from calling her this due to the ‘what if’ factor.

‘What if’ factor?

What if we have another little girl?

Don’t go tellin’ tales out of school now. I’m not “P.” That’s what Bigmama calls it since saying *GASP* “pregnant” is not very polite of a Southern girl.

We’re kind of at that stage in life where I’m not getting any younger and Anna’s not getting any easier. At least, not in the fashion department. I could easily identify her lack of progress when she picked out these new skids.

annas-sneakers

But, hey. They’re shiny. They sparkle. They’ve got pizzazz. And, what else really matters to a four-year old girl? For real.

I’m really not sure what decision we’re going to make. Although, it could make for some good blog material. Hmm. So, ya got knocked up for blog material.

It sounds like Jason, um, the Bachelor, is open to more kids. Bless his heart. First, he has to make the most emotional decision of his life. Ever.

10 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, parenting, Randomness

Tagged as fashion, kids, pregnancy, The Bachelor

October 24, 2008 · 6:00 am