A conspiracy
My girls planned a little plot that made me glow, and I have to tell y’all about it.
This year they had far more money than usual for Christmas shopping so their gifts to each other were not the usual Dollar Tree (where everything’s a dollar!) variety. About 2 weeks before Christmas, 3 of the older girls confided to me that they had pooled enough money to buy Kaitlyn a sewing machine. She has been begging, wishing, and heavily hinting for one for a long time, so I knew this was a great idea. Anyway, my own sewing machine broke months ago, and I knew she wouldn’t mind sharing. 
Over the next week, hubby and I spent a lot of time helping them choose the right model. We whispered and plotted, checked the internet for reviews, and furtively haunted the sewing sections of 3 or 4 different stores while Deanna and Kaitlyn were off shopping in another part of the store.
We had a few scares: Kaitlyn really wanted a sewing machine and kept gravitating toward the same areas, or peeking over my shoulder while I was reading reviews online. I coolly explained that I was really hoping hubby might get me one for Christmas or my birthday, and was dropping him hints by looking. It was true. Even if Kait was getting a sewing machine, I thought it would be nice to have 2 in the house; after all, I didn’t want to presume too much upon her Christmas gift.
Another time, while I was sitting and talking with Kaitlyn, one of the younger girls asked, “I forgot. Who were we putting our money together for? Who is getting a sewing machine for Christmas?” gulp. Kait looked very interested, but I stayed calm, and told her that she had heard us talking a lot about sewing machines because I was hoping to get one soon. After all, it was true. I was hoping. 7yo Natalie was satisfied with the answer, and dropped the subject without blowing the secret.
Finally, late Saturday night, hubby found a great buy on good machine. He called me to look up the model to check prices and reviews, and we agreed that this was the one. He brought it home and stowed it under the house. Later that night, he almost blew the surprise - he was talking to me about the sewing machine in a loud whisper, with Kaitlyn right next to us. “That’s too loud!” I hissed at him. He obediently shushed. Maybe that should have been a clue, but I never saw the surprise coming. Would you have been less surprised than I was?
My birthday was Monday, and guess what the girls (including Kaitlyn) gave me?
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Filed under: little bellas
That is so sweet. I hope my girls are as thoughtful when they are older!
Merry (belated) Christmas!
Hugs,
Carmen
Brilliant! How sweet of them, too - I’ve pulled of similar things with my mum!
This year, though, she pulled on on me. We went ebaying together for tea cups, as my sisters ‘really wanted’ a nice set of teacups. Well, after I got into it, looking over auctions and finding the historical patterns I wanted, she bought a gorgeous set of antique cups in a rare pattern . . . I thought they were for my sisters, and she gave them to me. So special. And my dad managed to get me a dutch oven without me knowing, either.
Merry Christmas from a long time lurker,
Elisabeth
Oh wow! That is an amazing little plot! Your girls are brilliant!
Lois,
They were even sneaky enough to realize that the “bait” had to be Kaitlyn. She’s the only one who has been truly longing for a sewing machine. They knew that I would believe and approve a plan to get one for her, and they knew she was the best actor - the only one who could convincingly pretend to be innocent of the whole plot.
How wonderful! I absolutely love that story. What better way to get an idea of what you really want than to have you help pick it! What great girls!
It is settled: I am sending my oldest two girls to your place (how long can they stay in the States without a visa) in order to learn something, anything, from your girls…
Just let me know when you can pick them up at what airport… I will send them!
Happy Birthday, Kim!
Oh, tears SPRUNG to my eyes at the end there. I totally did NOT see that coming!
And that’s the same sewing machine we got our girls a little over year ago - we actually bought two of them, and they faithfully got us through some serious sewing in preparation for one of the girls’ historical-costume-event 13th birthday.
Happy birthday to you! Mine is coming up on Saturday. I don’t think that there are any little secret wonderful surprises going on around here, but I have a special day planned for them, instead!
Blessings,
Karen
Oh, that made me cry. How sweet and sneaky of them!!! My birthday was the 9th. I am glad you have such thoughtful daughters.
That’s great!
I have the same machine and I love mine! My parents got mine for me for my birthday! I have made many tutus, dresses, blankets, and curtains, as well as napkins! Enjoy!
Happy Birthday Kim. I like plots like that. I’ve pulled a couple off in the past like this.
Smart girls you have there.
Kimberly
http://kaeakingskid.blogspot.com/
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Enjoy that sewing machine! I know you have wanted one for quite some time!
Yeah, another December birthday! Mine is the 20th. I have always felt kinship with all those who have birthdays in December. Especially those who are very close to Christmas. Congrats on the sewing machine. But more kudos to raising such wonderful kids.
What a sweet and generous family you have! I bet you’ll enjoy the sewilng machine even more than if you bought it yourself, knowing how much love was behind it.
My family shocked me, too, with a new HP Pavilion laptop computer. I had been talking about saving up for one, and never directly asked for it. My husband is great about listening–and keeping secrets! He got together with my four kids, and my daughter’s boyfriend, and gave me the most amazing Christmas present I ever got.
Happy Birthday and Happy New Year!
How wonderful! I love your girls!
Hello!! I am so glad I found you (again). I lost you for about three months. That is what I get for relying upon my mind instead of my favorites list.
Merry Christmas.
Mrs. Klause
Psalm 100
[...] number of new Barbies have taken up residence in our house, so I have a project to help break in my new sewing machine. Those poor women need some clothes. I am convinced that at least one inadvertently left the [...]
Such thoughtfulness of your girls! I have the same machine by the way and absolutely love it!