Darlene's Blog 2011: Now 2014 is over and it's 2015!

In December both of your parents had a birthday and I kept you while they went to a movie the night of December 4, your Mother's 35th birthday. It was the first night I spent the night at your new house and bathed you and put you to bed. The other nights I spent at your house were while your mother was working and your Dad had the honor of putting you to bed. Your bed has continued to get more crowded. I think there are now 17 stuffed animals who sleep with you! December 11 was the second time I went to your class and listened to students read aloud. (I think you will be reading soon!) While I was there I got to go with you to a holiday musical performance by the older students. One song they sang was an original composition by the HMS music teacher titled "Maria Montesori" about the Italian physician and educator who developed the wonderful method of teaching at your school. It was quite a catchy tune! It was fun to sit with you among all of your classmates and listen to the program. You have a great school! On Monday, December 15 I got to go to your school again for "Muffins with Mom". Your mom was on call and able to attend as well. After I took you home, both of the dogs had been sick and vomited on the rug. Yuck! On Thursday, December 18 I kept you while your parents went to an appointment. You were really coughing and didn't seem to feel well. The next morning you had a fever and didn't go to school. I was very sorry you didn't get to go to the Holiday party & Pajama Day, but you really weren't feeling well. You were very sweet and we, and your 17 animals, took a long nap together! After your Dad got home I took the dogs home with me because you were heading to the beach the next day. Unfortunately you & your parents were all sick and didn't have as much fun at the beach as you deserved! By Tuesday, December 23 when you returned, I wasn't feeling good either. I brought your dogs home to you after I went to the doctor & started antibiotics. The next time I saw you was Christmas morning and I stayed with you until I went home again to stay after your Dad returned home the morning of January 2 from a camping trip in New Mexico, and a long drive through Texas in snow and ice and cold. It was great to have your family back together again! Although you really hated taking the yucky white medicine (you had both strep throat and the flu!), you eventually began to feel better and we got to do some fun things. Your mother and I put together the trampoline Great Grandmother Hastie gave you for Christmas and you really enjoyed jumping in it! Your gymnastics classes have helped you develop your jumping skills! You got a Candyland game which is a longtime traditional children's game & we played quite a few rounds of it. Your mother wasn't feeling well and on Friday I took you to the Hoover Library and then met Nitza at Galleria Mall where you rode the carousel with her. And then we ate at your favorite place--Chace Lake Taziki's! On Saturday your former neighbors Dustyn and her almost 2 year old son Camdyn came to visit from Florida. You walked to the Mt. Laurel pizza place & had lunch with your mom & Dustyn while I kept Camdyn. You were quite grown up! That night I sat with you and your mom while your mom put you to bed. You have added a sweet part to your bedtime routine when you & your mom "talk a little bit". You want to have your new Barbie Doll with you while you read a book about Barbie the Gymnist and you want to hold Olivia while you read a book about her pretending to be in the circus. Although you finally go to sleep well you really like to drag it out as much as possible! On Sunday we went to celebrate the holidays with Sabba Raffi and Granna in Jasper. You were very sweet and got lots of presents and had fun. There are a lot of people who love you a lot! On Monday you and I went to see the new version of the musical Annie. We went to the 10:30 am show and there were very few people there. It was the most fun I can remember having at a movie! You enjoyed it so much and sang along with some of the songs and really paid attention to it. We stayed through all of the credits and I would have stayed and watched it again with you if we could have! On Tuesday you joyfully took the last dose of your antibiotic. We met your mom for lunch at Zoe's in Homewood then I met you at TCBY in Homewood after I had a doctor's appointment and took you home while your mom had a hair appointment! On the way home was another sweet time while you sang along with your "old favorites" on the Toddler Tunes CD we listened to a lot when you were younger. After we got home your new neighbors (one house down) came over to play for awhile. Carlie is 4 years old and maybe she'll be a long term play mate. Tata & Sabba Koplan kept you while I went to the Greystone Y. Wednesday, December 31 your mom had to work. Nitza came over and played with you while I walked the dogs & grocery shopped. After she left we enjoyed watching Frozen together and I tried unsuccessfully to get you to nap in the bed with me. You were very sweet at bedtime until fireworks started going off in the neighborhood! It was hard for you to go to sleep. But you finally did and 2014 quietly ended and 2015 began! On New Year's Day your mom had to work again and we learned your Dad's return was going to be delayed due to bad weather. You visited at Nitza's for a few hours on New Year's Day and went to Starlight Lake and had a great time with her. Both Auburn and Alabama lost their Bowl games! Because you took a nap and your mom was able to leave work a little early you were very happy to have your mom put you to bed Friday night! You have a wonderful mother! On Friday I took Sunday to the local dog groomer for a bath and your mom & I took you to buy some "twirly skirts" at the local children's clothes shop where you also bought some mittens you loved! Then we went to Chuck E Cheese for lunch & play time. You like to play & eat there, but you don't like Chuck E! You missed a nap but went to bed early. During the night your father came home so even though your mom had to go to work Saturday morning you were very happy to see your Dad after you woke up. I packed up and headed home to stay until the next time I get to come to your house. Although the "non-routine" of holidays was a good change-of-pace for you, it will be good to have you back in your routine of school and regular wake up & bed times. You have a wonderful school and wonderful friends and wonderful parents & a wonderful house...and a Granny who loves you and is so grateful to be a part of your wonderful life! Looking forward to many good times with you in 2015!