All through the eighth grade, Sophie dreamed of the ninth grade: the new friends, the new teachers, the dances and football games, and that awesome feeling of finally arriving. The first day of school came, and she and her friend nervously walked up the long courtyard and into the front entrance, hauling their brand new backpacks and school supplies, probably trying really hard not to smile too broadly and risk looking uncool on their first day as freshman. (It was uncool enough that the moms were all waiting in their cars to see if their babies made it into the building, and didn't get bumped on the way by one of those huge upper classmen.)
In the few weeks since school has started, I've heard no less than 1,072 times these words: "I'm not in the mood for school today."
Ah, so the novelty wore off, and the new beginning was suddenly old routine.
Last weekend, however, the homecoming football game and dance finally made their appearance on the calendar, and all was well again. If Sophie had been dreaming happily of her first day of high school, then she was positively enraptured by her first homecoming dance.
Checking the mirror...
I can never resist a flower-sniffing photo that makes no sense whatsoever, given that these blooms have no fragrance, and I don't know of any 14-year-olds that will stop and smell the zinnias.
This is probably my very favorite picture of Sophie, because she had just gotten a text message from a boy, telling her that the homecoming dress selfie she posted looked pretty.
Her exact words, after reading the text, were "Awww!"
Soon it was time to go to her friend's house to pick her up (the girls were each other's "dates")...
...and then I drove them to the house where they would meet up with some of their other friends...
Oh, to know what those girls were looking at! A text? A cute picture?
When I picked up the girls at precisely 11 pm, they were full of chatter about the evening. I asked if anyone had on the same dresses they did, and Sophie said that two other girls had on her dress, while her friend said "About forty-five girls had on mine!" (I love this age.)
Later on, I asked Sophie if the evening - from getting ready to coming home - was everything she thought it would be, and she said it was. And she was free to smile as broadly as she wanted to.
Sophie looks so beautiful in these pictures! We have watched her grow up into a lovely young woman.
Posted by: Melody | October 13, 2014 at 08:37 AM
It is amazing to me how much she has grown up since I have been reading your blog....I have two girls now 33 and 28 and I loved this time in their lives (except dress shopping for the oldest one - one year we purchased and returned 5 dresses). Sophie is a beautiful young lady.
Posted by: Carol Grierson | October 13, 2014 at 09:00 AM
I love the dress.....it is perfect for her! She is really beautiful! Pure beauty is hard to find and so glad you can share these times with your girls. Just her smile alone would melt anyone. Great job Paulette! And Mike too! Hope he is doing better these days!
Have fun at SB! Wish I was going too.PAM IN Iowa ( with her little black book for stitching notes!)
Posted by: Pam hoerner | October 13, 2014 at 09:25 AM
Sophie loocks very beautiful!
Posted by: heike | October 13, 2014 at 09:51 AM
She's so sweet and pretty - you must be so proud :-)
Posted by: Giovanna | October 13, 2014 at 09:51 AM
She is so beautiful as all of your girls are! Beautiful dress!
Posted by: karen beckwith | October 13, 2014 at 10:23 AM
I love her dress almost needlework like...she has good taste
Posted by: Patricia Lally | October 13, 2014 at 10:26 AM
She looked beautiful. Glad she had a wonderful homecoming.
Posted by: Leslie | October 13, 2014 at 10:35 AM
Sophie looks so grown up and beautiful in her dress. I love it. Sounds like the girls all had fun and it was a good chance to dress up and look sharp!
Posted by: Valerie | October 13, 2014 at 10:43 AM
Awww....wunderschön...
Posted by: Anja | October 13, 2014 at 12:06 PM
Just beautiful you & Mike must be extremely proud! Thanks for sharing..
Posted by: LaNelle | October 13, 2014 at 02:09 PM
What a line-up of beauties! And these photos really tell a story of happiness. Treasure these moments!
Posted by: Annie | October 13, 2014 at 02:29 PM
Hair, make up, dress...perfectly gorgeous!
Sophie and friends looked great! Hope they
Had a grand time!
Posted by: Joann09 | October 13, 2014 at 05:02 PM
Darling child…growing up way too quickly…looking a lot like her sisters…you have a wonderful family…thanks for sharing !!
Posted by: Carolyn | October 13, 2014 at 05:23 PM
I still can't believe how grown up Sophie is. Time passes much too quickly. Hooray for a fun Homecoming!
Posted by: Margaret | October 13, 2014 at 06:13 PM
how fast they grow up
Posted by: Kathy | October 13, 2014 at 06:50 PM
She's grown into such a beautiful young lady! You and dad must be so proud!
Posted by: becca green | October 13, 2014 at 06:54 PM
Sophie is gorgeous!!! She has grown up so much, and that dimple is adorable, she will melt hearts for sure!!!! Your pictures are awesome.....all your daughters are beautiful, must take after Mom, right???? lol
Kim~
Posted by: Kim Capan | October 13, 2014 at 08:35 PM
WOW! Sophie looks so pretty. I just can't believe how transformed she is. TFS all this. :) Cathryn
Posted by: Cathryn | October 14, 2014 at 05:42 AM
Sophie has changed so much in the last few years. She has grown into a beautiful young lady. I loved her dress. It was very appropriate for her and very stylish--not too short, not too tight and her shoes were perfect for her dress.
Posted by: Carol Huffman | October 14, 2014 at 10:38 AM
She's a beauty and her dress is gorgeous :-)!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Katrina | October 14, 2014 at 05:45 PM
What a sweet girl. Love the dress...and the dimples. Adorable! :-). Sounds like she had a wonderful time, even if other girls were wearing the same dress...too cute. Reminds me of my distant past.
Posted by: Olivia | October 14, 2014 at 07:28 PM
We do not have the homecoming tradition in France (nor the proms), hence I enjoy reading about your pretty girls (all 3 of them)' big events.
Posted by: Valérie | October 15, 2014 at 04:28 AM
Precious photos, I loved them.
Posted by: Margaret Foster | October 16, 2014 at 01:38 PM
Hi, your daughter is absolutely beautiful and is looking like she had so much fun at the dance. Oh, to be young again, I guess! My main reason for writing you is that I found your sampler on Pinterest about gingerbread and cranberry tea. Is it still available and, if so, could you let met know how I could buy the kit. Thanks so much..Happy Thursday..Judy
Posted by: Judy | October 16, 2014 at 02:08 PM