Amaryllis Wars

Every Christmas, my mother-in-law gives her daughter, her two daughters-in-law, and herself

an amaryllis bulb. 

January 3, 2012

 The Official Family Rule is to plant it on New Year's Day.

January 11, 2012

 Whoever has a blooming amaryllis first WINS!

January 12, 2012

 Well, you don't actually win anything. 

It's all about the honor of being first.

Obviously.

January 14, 2012

 Some of us, and I won't mention any names (TERRI),

are Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters

who plant their bulbs the day after Christmas.

January 15, 2012

But those of us who cheat -

no names mentioned, of course (TERRI) -

earn their just rewards.

And they end up with a dud bulb that doesn't bloom.

January 16, 2012

And then sometimes, your dear mother-in-law,

who I sometimes refer to as MILLIE,

the Bearer of the Amaryllis,

a NON-cheater, if you will,

also gets a dud bulb that only produces leaves and no blooms. 

January 16, 2012

 Which left it up to my sister-in-law, Shannon, and myself

to finish the race. 

January 17, 2012

 It was quite a heated race.

Mad (as in frantic, not angry) texts were sent every morning with picture updates.

We were neck and neck the whole way through.

January 18, 2012

 But don't you worry. 

My baby managed to pull ahead in a slight lead as mid-January approached.

January 18, 2012

 She pulled it out, and it was Julie for the win!

First. Time. EV-AHHHHH!

Woo hoo!

January 18, 2012

 And then [insert gasp], what's that?

A little something coming out of the top in the middle?

Why yes, it is another bloom.

And actually Shannon had one of those as well, which bloomed before mine did.

So, technically, I think we're both winners.

January 21, 2012

So, here are the sweet words MILLIE shared after I texted one of my

amaryllis pictures:

Simply lovely. I love how this flower just shows its face with strength and beauty, growing fast,

making a statement.

She totally needs her own blog, doesn't she?