Let Them Be Little: GRATITUDE DAY 10

HAPPY HAIR DAY!

Not to be confused with a good hair day.

Today I am thankful for a happy hair day and the reasons for that.

Oh, it has been a long time since my hair has looked like this! How I miss this disheveled look!

My hubby asked me out for a little mid-day date. Although I asked several times what we would be doing, I wasn't given any direction.

In fact, I was totally ignored. Which kind of bugged me.

I mean, really. At least let me know if I need to dress a certain way...hiking boots? Tennies? Snow boots? Formal dress? Ha!

He came home for lunch, we only had an hour or so after we ate.

Since he wasn't giving me any direction, I figured he didn't have a plan. So, I thought of many ways we could be of service to some other folks for an hour.

But he wanted to take a drive.

Which I thought was strange since he only had an hour. Where would we go? It wouldn't be anywhere super cool if he had to be back to work soon.

He was moving really fast - which is strange for Jonathan, he grabbed my boots and threw them in Larry; not even giving me time to put them on in the house.

After brushing my teeth, I followed out behind him in my red polka-dot slippers, grabbing a jacket on the way.

He began driving down familiar roads, continuing to more familiar roads and I was really wondering why we were not going with my plan - to help someone - rather than drive to nowhere in particular.

And then...

he turned the corner

and I realized where he was taking me:

Mini of Loveland! Is that not heaven on earth for me?!

We test drove the new Mini Roadster and WOW(!) what a ride! Not certain if I have just forgotten how tight and zippy Carlotta was or if the new roadster is even tighter but I was blown away by the ride!

Of course the first order of (driving) business was to take the top down. Was it chilly? A little. But I learned how to drive with the top down and stay warm a long time ago. Turn on the bun warmers and the heat full blast, keep the windows up even though the top is down and voila! (With those tips plus a coat and scarf, gloves and blanket- if needed, you can keep that top down in the cooler months.)

I was so overcome to be driving a Mini again that I began to cry. It was as sweet of him as it was cruel. ha, ha!

We have a great family vehicle in Larry (Sir Lawrence of London) but leaving Carlotta in TX was one of the hardest things to give up (for me). I loved that little car, she was like a part of our family. As crazy as that sounds, she really was. For instance, when Meg was little, each morning before we got into the car she would give her a hug (across the bonnet) and wish her good morning! We did really LOVE everything about Carlotta.

At the time that we made the vehicle change in the family, it was definitely the right thing to do but I have certainly missed her - almost daily. She is definitely remembered each time we have to gas up!

One day we will probably have another Mini. The roadster was certainly fun and I loved everything about it but it is a two seater, so I don't think that is the one for us. Jonathan said that the reason he really likes it is because it is a two seater! (He likes getting me to himself). But the reality is that we still need at least 4 seats. (And one day we will begin adding to this awesome family and I will definitely want to be able to put car seats in the car again).

But we sure did enjoy the fun little journey and the ride down memory lane together!

Go HERE to see Carlotta after we first got her. (The kids have sure changed since that time! Be sure to click on the photos of the kids and their friends! It is crazy how much things have changed around here.)