The Jungbauer Family Website

The Queen of Thirteen

Although this is how Rachel began her 13th birthday (with the traditional birthday cinnamon roll and always at least one small package to open), she actually began her celebration weeks ago when Tracy & Nate were here.

Tracy primed her well:

I had also done a little priming four years ago when Sarah turned 13, so the expectations had been building for four years that Rachel would also get to skip school for a mother-daughter shopping spree. (Fortunately, Rachel has LOTS of shoes to help deal with the stress of anticipation.)

So............when I delivered lunch to the girls on Thursday like I usually do, BOTH were stunned, surprised and speechless when I told Rachel to pack up her things to leave. The expected still came unexpected!

We made it to Chicago in time to do a little shopping before Rachel's birthday dinner of coconut shrimp and lobster followed by "Wicked."

After a good night's sleep and a Carmel Macchiato from Starbuck's, Rachel shopped 'til she dropped while I got shopper's elbow from carrying packages and swooshing my credit card all day long.

Bubby, you better start getting ready for Sweet 16 . . . you have a lot to live up to!

Posted by Erin at September 30, 2008 9:04 PM EST