how did i let this happen...

coming this thursday: awana awards night.

the year is wrapping up (no tears in anthony's eyes. aka "mr. super cubbie daddy helper").

it is scheduled for THIS thursday. as in like 5 more nights.

five. MORE. nights.

just saying.

not that awards ceremonies are all that high on my list of fun things to do.

that is, unless i'm anticipating my little perfect first born getting recognized for all of her hard work completing 4 books in a 6 month time period.FOUR books. pretty big deal. even if i am just a proud mom.

so i pictured myself sitting there, proud (possibly smug), maybe teary eyed, cheering, photographing... while they announced to the shocked and completely impressed audience how amazing my daughter is.

there would probably be a standing ovation. maybe autograph requests. bible college recruiters.

so this past thursday (yes, this PAST thursday) imagine my shock when ella comes home with a trophy.

ummm... what did you get a trophy for? is this just preparation for next week when they give you a pure gold medal and rename the city in your honor?

i was so confused. everyone knows awards night is NEXT thursday.

so i interrogate her.

me: so why did you get a trophy?
ella: because i did the first book. then i reviewed it. then i did another book. then i did another book. then i did another book.
me: but... umm... so... did they give this to you in front of everyone?
ella (big smile): yeah.
me: like... was it a big deal?
ella: well, i kinda don't think the other kids cared, but everyone clapped real hard. and everyone else seemed excited.
me ("everyone else"????): um... but... i thought awards night was next week. i'm so confused. why did they give it to you this week?
ella: i don't know. but you could have come and taken pictures like all the other moms.
me: WHAT?!? all the other moms? who told them but didn't tell me?
ella shrugs, and really doesn't seem to care.
me: did anyone else get a trophy?
ella: just one girl. she's in second grade.
me: but... was her mother there?
so i'm so upset with myself and i apologize to ella over and over again. how could i miss this? she keeps telling me its really no big deal. how do i explain its a big deal to ME and my motherly pride!?!

please tell me, why on earth a trophy is not passed out on awards night? anthony tells me its because awards night is more to honor the entire awana group and pass out awards to high schoolers and kids who have memorized like the whole bible or something. they don't have time on a night like that to recognize all the individual kids.

please. like a i need a practical explanation when we are talking about my daughter.

anyhow, all my capitalizing might indicate to you how upset i still am about this.

usually, anthony would have been there. cubbies is over by that time and he and bennett hang in the back of the room for the bible story and flannel graph fun.

but not this week.

and let me tell you why.

bennett got recognized for his birthday. they sang to him, gave him a fun birthday hat, and an awesome bag stuffed full of goodies... with his NAME on it.

and some evil little child who may or may not end up in prison some day, stole it.

sure, it could have been an accident. he (or she) could have accidentally moved bennett's cubbie bag and craft and mistakenly thought the birthday bag was for them... even though it wasn't their birthday and their name isn't spelled B.E.N.N.E.T.T.

but i doubt it.

so anthony and the other leaders scoured the place searching for bennett's bag while he desperately fought back his tears.

and this all took place during ella's trophy reception. where everyone else was there to cheer her on because not only did she accomplish a pretty significant fete by memorizing so many verses, she was apparently able to do it with absolutely no parental involvement whatsoever.

and to think, i was at home putting mason to bed early and watching season 3 of gilmore girls.

i'm such a failure.