Making It Count

**Pony on up, friends, and let the festivities begin.**

On the morning before Tiny's birthday, I laid down next to her in bed. "Today's the last day you're going to be 3," I said, "so let's make it a good day. Let's make it count."

She smiled at me like she understood what I was getting at. She got up and ran downstairs, while I lay there, my breath caught in my throat. 'This is the last day she's going to be 3,' I thought.


**Wanted: The Power to Freeze Time.**

But it wasn't just the nostalgia over the fact that the toddler I so adore is always, always, always evolving into a little girl I love just as much. It was more a remembrance of the concept that 'you won't pass this way again.' That everyday is unique and then it's gone, and I hope I'm appreciating that today is the only day that will ever be just.like.this. Of course there are do-overs and second chances and I've always loved the Anne of Green Gables Quote "tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

But I also want to retain a little bit of awe as I think to myself in the mornings, "Make it good, self. You won't pass this way again."


**Which is why Rockstar and I dressed up as well.**

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Speaking of not passing this way again, it occurred to me while planning Tiny's birthday that this was probably the LAST time we'd ever do a cowgirl party. And a cowgirl party and a pony ride just go together perfectly, right? When I get a bee in my bonnet, well....I just have to follow through. So, while my husband rolled his eyes at my enthusiasm for the idea, I researched and finally found a pony rental from a local farm.

What can I say. Lots of times, I'm saying, "Keep it simple, people!" And then sometimes I'm unexpectedly acting on, 'Go big or go home!' impulses.

There's this part of me that always wished I could be an event planner. So I looked at that part of myself and said, "You're hired. Go crazy." And she had a blast. More importantly, so did those cute little cowgirls and cowboys.


**Our guests let themselves into the ranch.**



**We outfitted the girls with badges and hats upon arrival, then had them color their own Wanted posters (mwahahaha).**


**The birthday girl with her new Jessie Doll.**


**Dollar store cowboy hats have a myriad of uses.**




**The Party Favors. When the cowboot cookies I'd ordered didn't materialize, I made little sherriff star cookies. Thank you ready made dough!**




**Pink Lemonade for the weary riders who needed to wet their whistle.**




**Need a place to spend those tickets? Step on up!**


**Girlfriend took full of advantage of the times the store wasn't manned by this guy...**


**...or this guy.**


**He rocked his 'stache all party long.**


**The locals got a little nervous when the Sheriff came riding into town.**


**But the birthday girl told them there was nothing to fear.


**My MIL manned the Cowgirl Salon, aka face painting central.**


**Even tiny got hired for a brief stint at the salon.**


**Our cowgirls were experts at finding the gold among the rubble. More tickets earned!**


**The Sheriff was less adept at finding gold, and more adept at splashing water.**


**And also skilled at cattle rustling.**


**Good times were had by all. And a little nostalgia as I felt a pang for a life with horses (we had them growing up).**


**A sigh of relief from two happy parents: no one got sick and it didn't rain.**

There's this one cowboy phrase that goes something like this: "Don't stop kickin' until the clock stops tickin'." Whether in celebrating milestones, or in just appreciating each simple day, I reckon that's just what we'll do.