home, safe and sound.
This is the screenshot of her birthday pic--the annoyed look is because her friend tried to blow out the candles. She has a happier looking shot, but not with the time of 11:11.
Yes, that iPhone (3, not 4) was her birthday gift. She better continue to be a really good girl or I'm taking it back!
The girls were fine on their own, but the one they couldn't do was light the hot water heater--and they had the good sense not to continue to try after it didn't work the first time. The second thing they couldn't do was survive all of Saturday with no hot water, so they decided to come home a day early.
Just to give a mother something to worry about, the end of their drive (the down-off-the-mountain part) was accompanied by heavy rain (at least by SoCal standards--we got an inch-and-a-half on Saturday afternoon). Mr. Fix-it and I decided to forgo a movie because I wouldn't have been able to take my eyes off my cell phone waiting for the "made-it-home-safely" text.
Instead we kicked back with Social Butterfly watching Crazy, Stupid Love and eating the white turkey chili I'd made earlier in the day and the chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting I whipped up for her homecoming. (We gave 3/4 of the cake to the neighbors that have boys--I can't believe I'm at the point where I have to give away baked goods because there's nobody here to eat them.)
I'm glad I let her go and I'm doubly-glad she's home. Also? When she has a daughter who wants to go on a girls' trip I'm totally going to say "Don't you remember we let you go by yourself when you were 16?" What's that they say about payback?!
Love her look and that she made it home safe and sound! I wish I was your neighbor... that cake sounds wonderful!
Posted by: Denise | November 14, 2011 at 12:36 AM
Whew! I was worrying, too--so glad there was no hydroplaning on the way down the mountain.
We're at the same place with baked goods right now; I made a ginger pound cake, and while we'll handle a big chunk of it, the kids don't like it ("too spicy"), so we're looking to wrap up a hunk and toss it at some random neighbor.
Posted by: Jocelyn | November 14, 2011 at 05:49 AM
So glad they had a good time and made it home safely. I loved Crazy, Stupid Love and I loathe it when people try to blow out MY candles!!!
Posted by: Busy Bee Suz | November 14, 2011 at 08:56 AM
Every time I read a blog where a mother worries about their kids traveling or being safe, I'm glad I never wanted kids.
I have plenty of stuff to worry about without them.
Posted by: Suzy | November 14, 2011 at 09:14 AM
What a fun shot though! at exactly 11:11! bummer about the hot water heater, but probably good for you since it brought them home early.
Posted by: green girl in wisconsin | November 14, 2011 at 09:56 AM
I don't think mothers ever stop worrying about their children.
Posted by: Smalltown Me | November 14, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Happy it all worked out and hope she gets her birthday wish!
Posted by: Brightside-Susan | November 14, 2011 at 11:32 AM
That's a funny shot, it looks like her friend was teasing her.
My daughter turns 11 tomorrow, and got her birthday present a couple days early, this weekend. It's an iPod Touch, and she was so incredibly excited. Mom and Dad are jealous --ours are old, and don't have cameras :-)
Posted by: Cassi Renee | November 14, 2011 at 01:19 PM
I think you should treat teenagers as if they are trustworthy, until they prove otherwise. Seems she would pass that test with flying colors!
I still don't have an iphone! I'm jealous.
Posted by: Jenrantsraves | November 14, 2011 at 03:50 PM
i love that picture!
glad she's home okay.
Posted by: magpie | November 14, 2011 at 03:51 PM
So glad everything worked out ok!
P.S. I love photos that show the other side of our personalities [read: not the bright, beaming smile that most of us show]!
Posted by: lanes | November 14, 2011 at 04:25 PM
My boys & I want to be your neighbor....
Glad she is home safely -- and that they were smart enough to not push their luck with the water heater!
Posted by: Karen (formerly kcinnova) | November 14, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Great kid :) Congrats to the mom who produced her!
Posted by: gary rith | November 14, 2011 at 06:40 PM
Such a brave mom! My mom let me go camping with my friend by ourselves when I was 16 or 17. Probably 17. I don't know if I'd let my daughter do that. Probably not!
Posted by: mom taxi julie | November 14, 2011 at 11:30 PM
That's what we're giving Amelia for her birthday this Wednesday, too!
Glad she made it safe. Glad she deserves an iphone!
Posted by: Jason | November 14, 2011 at 11:43 PM
Happy that she both got to go and had a good time, happy that they are all back home safe and sound.
Posted by: Aunt Snow | November 15, 2011 at 01:33 PM