End of Summer 2015

School starts Monday & Baby Willow is due to arrive in about 10 weeks! The summer has gone so quickly. I've enjoyed the time I have been able to share with you this summer. On July 8, I picked you up after gymnastics "Camp" and you were very happy to see me but when we got in the car you refused to get in the car seat which was very unusual. You got very upset. After I talked with your mother on the phone I realized it must have been because the car hadn't cooled down enough. I need to remember you are only 3 years old and although you can easily express displeasure, I don't think it is easy for you to clearly articulate exactly what is specifically bothering you when you are upset. I will be more sensitive to that in the future! There are times I feel like I do a good job being a grandmother, but there are many times I wish I could do better. Saturday, July 11-You spent the night at my house. We slept in the basement together & Sunday the dog slept on the floor. You woke up the next morning saying it was "the best night ever" and that you wanted to spend 10 more nights with me. You spent all day Sunday with me. It was too hot to play outside so we made a tent in the basement. Sunday the dog snapped at you when you tried to put her into the tent with you. Sunday is a sweet dog but she is a "snapper" which is a little scary at times! I took Annie home with me after I took you home because you & your parents are going camping in the Smokey Mountains. Friday, July 17-you spent the night with us again & this time Annie the dog came too! We watched the movie 101 Dalmatians (real dogs, not cartoon version) several times & you really liked it. However there were some scary parts you always asked me to fast-forward through! You slept very well & you spent all of Saturday in your beloved footy pajamas! We played cards in the basement & built a tent. We sort of played "Chutes & Ladders" and "Crazy Eights" but we had to alter the rules some. You were very sweet & we had a good day. When I took you home we saw how well your Dad had painted the baby's room. July 23-I picked you up after camp at school which was 2 weeks of 9 am-1 pm where you learned about food. You really liked your teacher & were so sweet giving her a good bye hug & kiss. It was raining so we watched cartoons at home until you could play outside with your bike & scooter & soccer ball. You were very sweet & loving to me as I was leaving. That always makes me feel good! The next day I went to Mobile to my 45th High School reunion. I have memories of being just a little older than you & going to pre-school where I was the chubby Eskimo instead of a pretty Hula girl in the program celebrating the addition of the 49th & 50th states. I wonder what memories of your pre-school you will have when you are 63 in 2074? I hope they are good ones! July 28-I picked you up again after camp. I spent the afternoon & night with you at your house while your parents went to Atlanta. It was hot but we played some in Olmstead Park & went to the library too. I thought you would sleep with me in "my room" but after watching a few cartoons you wanted to sleep in your bed & I slept on floor in your room. You slept well and only called out once during the night to be sure I was still there, which I was. The next day we went to Chuck E Cheese after camp. You were a little scared every time Chuck E came out, but we stayed long enough for several hourly visits & you got a little braver each time. You love playing with other children at Chuck E. You are very friendly & out-going & sweet. We had a milkshake at Chic Fil A where you played with little boy & then we went to Olmstead Park & used the beach towel to be able to play on the wet slides. That was fun! Then I took you home. About noon Saturday, August 1 you came to play at our house while your Dad worked at MBHS. We built a tent & watched cartoons then I took you to the school to meet your Dad. Tuesday, August 4 your Mom brought you to our house about 10:30 & you stayed overnight. You told me your baby sister would be named Willow but you were going to call her Lily! We had a good day playing. You took some amazing pictures with my camera phone! You seem to have a "good eye"! We had a great evening but this time you had a difficult time going to sleep & having Annie in our bed in the basement seemed to bother you. It was almost 11 pm before you went to sleep & you slept late the next morning. We played some until Papa drove us home so we could go inside to get a take out at Chipotle for lunch at your house with your mother. Today is Saturday August 8; your parents' 6th Wedding Anniversary! I am going to stay with you tomorrow afternoon while your Mother is at work & your Dad goes to Parent's Orientation at Hilltop. Then your 3rd year at HMS begins on Monday. This year you will have the same teachers in the same room with the same group of students in your age group & the older group (5 year olds). But this time you won't be the youngest! There will be a new group of younger children. It will be good to not have too many new things going on this fall since you will be adjusting to Tata & Sabba Koplan living in Florida & you will be beginning a new role in life...being the big sister. This is something neither your Mother or I have ever done since I was the younger & your Mom was an only child. So you will have to let us know how you like it. I think you will be a great big sister! It's hard to believe you will be 4 years old next month!! You are wonderful & amazing! After our visit tomorrow afternoon I won't see you again or at least a whole week! I'm going to visit my Mother & then Papa & I are going to the beach for a few days. I know I will miss you but I think we may be spending a lot of time together this fall. I'm going to stop working part-time at the end of September so I can be available to help your Mom with Baby Willow some but my primary role will be to be sure you are well taken care & get to your ballet lessons etc. I am looking forward to sharing her life and watching you become an amazing four year old & a wonderful big sister!