I picked Rachel, Lori and one of their friends up after band a few weeks ago. When they got in the car Rachel began to excitedly tell me that Andy had asked her to homecoming. Wait!! What?!?! A boy wants to take my daughter to a dance!?!? Be cool, mom, be cool....
I have heard Andy's name many times in conversation over the past year. At the end of the last school year when we still thought we were moving, he had given Rachel a going away gift. It was a bag that had several different objects and a story that related each one to moving or changing or our walk with God. It was really thoughtful. Rachel had also mentioned Andy's youth group several times and we all tried his church one Sunday morning in what seems to be our unending search for a new church home (Guess that is another blog post). He came up to us that morning, introduced himself and welcomed us to his church. Not too shabby for a teenage boy. He also assisted with communion that morning. I liked that he was involved in his church and not just filling a pew because his parents made him get up on a Sunday morning. He is in the band and they are both in Forensics together. When I took Rachel and Lori to celebrate Rachel's birthday, Lori and I teased her about Andy, but the girl claimed they were just really good friends. Whatever. I'm not new.
On the day I had picked the girls up, Rachel had Forensics after school and before band rehearsal. Rachel was working on writing her speech and Andy was practicing his monologue with someone else. Rachel said she wasn't paying attention to him, but when he got to the end of his monologue he stayed in character and said, "I have one more question. Rachel, will you go to homecoming with me?" Awwww. So adorable. I couldn't believe he asked in front of everyone.
Rachel has been going to youth group with Andy at his church for the last several weeks. His dad takes them and his mom is already there, so she brings them home. The first week they picked Rachel up, Andy and his dad came to the door. I wasn't here, but they talked to PK for a while. Again, I thought that was respectful. At least he didn't just text her from a block away and let her know they were almost here and expect her to run out to the car. He still gets out of the car each time they pick her up for youth and walks to the door to get her.
I've never liked being called, "Mrs. Ray." It just makes me feel old. I understand it is out of respect and my kids call adults Mr. or Mrs. So and So. However, when this boy greets me as Mrs. Ray, I feel the respect and hope there is an ounce of fear mixed in and I like it. Mwahahaha (evil laugh)!! I'm thinking about having him address me as Your Royal Highness, Mrs. Ray. I'm kidding....maybe....
So, Rachel was asked to homecoming and accepted. She needed a dress. This meant we were going to have to go dress shopping. I like to shop, but this child out shops me. When she was dress shopping for the eighth grade formal we went to eleven different stores. In the end I didn't care how much we spent on a dress as long as we could just get one and be finished. Rachel and I were reminiscing about that shopping experience in the car while Lori was still with us. Rachel was telling her version and made it sound awful that we had to go to so many different stores and then Lori piped up and said, "Well, I doubt that was your mom's fault." Oh, how I do love that goddaughter of mine!!
We set a day to go shopping and Rachel invited Lori to come along. It was like bringing along a little voice of reason. We tried a couple stores with no luck and ended up at the mall. The mall happens to be one of my least favorite places on the planet, but that's where the dresses were. It was a very successful trip. We found the dress, shoes and jewelry at the mall and paid less for the total package than I thought we would pay for the dress.
The big day arrived and Andy's dad brought him to our house. We took some pictures at the house
Rachel is trying to figure out what to do with the pins on the boutonniere and I am quite certain Andy is wondering how to be a gentleman while at the same time refusing to let her stick him
Love the expression on Rachel's face in this one
and then PK took them to a more scenic location for a photo shoot. My favorite part about the pictures is they are having fun. They weren't afraid to be silly and enjoy themselves.
This is the thinking pose. They are thinking of ways they would like to pose for pictures.
An action shot of their handshake
I like this one because it looks like they are performing in a musical
This one is my favorite. I think because they are just having fun.
After the photo shoot, PK dropped them off at the restaurant where they met up with another couple for dinner. Andy's dad picked them up from the restaurant and dropped them at the dance. I find the fact that neither of them can drive which requires parent involvement to be reassuring. Andy's dad brought Rachel home after the dance. PK, Hannah and I waited up for her to get home. She had a wonderful evening.
My favorite part of the entire night was after she was home and changed. Rachel, PK, Hannah and I all piled in Rachel's bed and looked at the pictures and listened to the details of her night. I'm glad she had such a nice time.......even if it did have to involve a boy.
