Camera Crew Tuesday: Fro-Yo Date

Dear Chloe,

We had a frozen yogurt date today after school, and I have to say, I never anticipated we'd end up having such a blast. I went into our trip thinking -- this will just be a fun, quick stop -- and then we'll head home and to the park. Little did I know, I would leave there feeling like someone had handed me one of our old "like Christmas moments", all re-wrapped and pretty, and told me I could re-experience the joy of that moment again, as if it were the very first time.

Today was such a good day.

While at Yogurtland -- we laughed, we played, and we shared our frozen treats of choice with each other. I chose strawberry {a first for me!} and you chose your favorite, peanut butter with m&m's and sprinkles.

And of course, like always and in true Camera Crew fashion -- we documented the moment.

While there, I noticed another mom across the room watching us, as she sat with her daughter who was about your same age. In the beginning of their yogurt date, the little girl's mom was sitting across from her at the table and busy on her phone, and a few times, I caught her glancing up and in our direction.

Thinking nothing of it, I continued on with our playing -- stealing bites of your peanut butter yogurt {my favorite!} and pressing my cheeks against yours to snap another photo.

After all, today was the first day you ever looked into the camera and let me do that. I got a serious rush over turning that camera lens around on my iPhone, watching you light up when you saw yourself on the screen, and smiling on cue.

It was a new first; a "like Christmas moment" happening before my eyes and I wasn't going to miss one single moment of it!

Who's to say why that mom was looking at us. Maybe it was because she was wondering if you had down syndrome and she wanted to see how we interacted. Maybe she was watching because we look like the two fun people we are, and she found it entertaining. Or perhaps she thought it was cute the way we played and laughed together and she was intrigued. Who knows -- maybe she was sitting there wishing she was close with her own daughter the way we are.

All I know is, by the time our yogurt date ended -- that mommy had moved across the table and sat next to her daughter. I saw her start to engage and talk and smile. And for a moment -- I saw her look up again at us afterwards and smile at me.

It was one of those "thank you" smiles that I can't quite explain to you unless you were there. But the way I read it? It looked like -- thank you...thank you for reminding me to be present with my daughter and show her love.

And as we walked out of the yogurt place, hand in hand, smiling and laughing -- I had a little thought:


I think we're joy spreaders.

We're the people who walk into a room, always smiling.
We're the people who have fun whether someone is watching or not.
We're the people who maybe -- just maybe -- convince you to let loose and have a little fun too.


{Thank you Daddy, for being my teacher!}

We spread goodness. And I promise you this...we always will.

We're always going to spread that goodness, that positivity, those smiles, and just be ourselves -- like no one is watching.

And if someone is? Well, we can only hope they take our lead and do the same. :)

Thank you, Little C, for such a fun day! I missed this. And with tears in my eyes, I can say from a place deep in my heart -- today is a day I will never forget.

I love you, little one, so very very much.