Since this is the last month of school for both Lyla & her father,
there is an awareness our routine is about to change. It has been a wonderful
school year. As a September baby Lyla will not be able to start public school 1st
grade until August 2018, one month before she would turn 7 years old because
the cut-off birthday date is October 1. But because Lyla’s teacher Ms. Shelley
evaluated Lyla as ready to start 5-year old kindergarten this August, she can
also start 1st grade at Hilltop Montessori August 2017 then start 2nd
grade anywhere in 2018. So regardless of where Lyla goes in 2018, plans are to
be at HMS for two more years. It has been a wonderful place for Lyla to grow
& learn since the first time she went in the summer of 2013 for Music Camp!
May 4 was a special day at Mt. Laurel Park-Lyla was able to go across all of
the “monkey bars” by herself! It was inspiring to watch her persistence &
her joy at her success. On the same day Lyla ran with a group of children as
they chased after helped to fly a kite in the field. It is a joy to spend mornings
with Willow and afternoons with Lyla at the park. Both girls are growing up so quickly!
Willow is now eating food with a spoon! I went to Mobile the weekend of Mother’s
Day because cousin Myles graduated with a BA in Music from the University of
South Alabama, 11 years after he graduated from high school! He sang the
national anthem at the ceremony. It was a special visit with my sister’s family
& my mother. On Monday I went to Angela’s early & watched Lyla ride her
bike without training wheels. What a great accomplishment for a four-year-old!
After a trip to Jimbo’s for cheese grits with Willow I got a text from Mike
Garver that they were en route to Birmingham because Micah (the child of my
niece Mary Michael, Angela’s 1st cousin) was critically ill and not
expected to survive. Micah was born late at night on Thanksgiving Day, November
22, 2012 and was not expected to survive the day. I took a taxi to the hospital because my car was blogged by sleeping family. But he did live...until Tuesday
morning May 10 2016. I’ve looked back at my blog at that time & I can’t
find a mention of Micah’s birth. My blog has evolved over time and so I am
mentioning his death. Mary Michael also had a baby girl die at age 12 days in
May 2011, the same year Lyla was born. It has been said the death of a child is
the worst thing that can happen to a person. I believe that is true. It is very
sad Mary Michael has had to experience it twice. Angela & I went to
the hospital on Monday night before Micah died. And Angela returned on
Tuesday morning to be with the family as life support was stopped. On Tuesday Willow had another trip to
Granny’s house while the maids cleaned to get ready for Nitza & Koplan arrival
on Wednesday morning. Angela, Willow & I went to Micah’s funeral on
Thursday and to Mary Michael’s house afterwards where Willow’s presence added a
wonderful reminder that life goes on and everyone enjoyed having a baby to
hold, especially Cheryl (Angela’s & MM’s friend) from Maryland and cousins
Myles & Mallory. I had a few days at home until I met the extended family on Sunday
May 15 at Lyla’s wonderful ballet recital! Lyla was very shy but very beautiful
on the stage! It was a special celebration. The week of May 16 Willow turned 7
months & Lyla turned 4 years & 8 months. When I arrived early Monday
morning the Koplan’s were already gone. I had a great day with Willow & a
beautiful day at the park after picking up Lyla at school. On May 18 I fed
Willow “pouch food” for the first time and watched Willow roll from back to
tummy as well as tummy to back for the first time. We had spent a concentrated
time practicing so it was good to see her progress! Friday, May 20 was a
wonderful day with sweet morning time with Willow while Angela did errands then
fun after school park-time & an early evening at Let’s Play then overnight
at Granny’s. On Saturday Lyla demonstrated her “crossing monkey bars” skill at
Overton Park and enjoyed Saturday evening supper at Taziki’s before going home
to Daddy & Willow. Angela will be changing her work schedule by the end of
summer and no longer working every weekend. I don’t know if that will change
our routine of Friday nights at Granny’s but I have enjoyed our time together
sleeping on the sofa bed in the den & essentially doing whatever Lyla wants
to do on Saturday. The week of May 23 I had the last of a “routine” day with a
wonderful day with Willow until time to pick up Lyla then a wonderful afternoon
at the park until 5 pm with Lyla. Tuesday I just went to their house from 1 pm
until the girls went to bed at 7:30. On Thursday I picked up Lyla after her
last full day at school & stayed at the park until 5 pm. Brock was at MBHS
graduation & I spent the night at Angela’s & stayed until 10:30 am
Friday when I went to meet Lyla at the end of the year beach party at her
school. We had an amazing time at the party where Lyla had her face painted
& helped to clean the classroom after the party which earned an extra hug
from Ms. Mary, her favorite teacher! While at the park after the party we were
invited to go to the Bunga boys’ house for an awesome spontaneous “end of
school party” with a waterslide & pizza and lots of fun with school
friends. It was so fun to watch Lyla have so much fun with her friends! She slept
well at our house that night after such a busy day! Saturday we watched DVDs
all morning & had lunch at Johnny Rockets, shopped at Toys R Us & ended
the day with supper at Panera Bread before home by 8 pm. The last day of May I
went to your house early and spent the day with Willow while your Dad rode his
bike to MBHS (18 miles each way!) and Angela & Lyla had a “spa day”. May
2016 ended. It was a busy month full of special times with two wonderful
granddaughters! I am looking forward to a summer with some time to catch up on
things (including this blog & picture album!) as well as more special times
with Lyla & Willow.
No comments:
Post a Comment