July 2017-Summertime continues...

Willow doing some serious coloring!

In Florida

Beautiful Mother & Daughter

Summer time at Steel City Pops with Granny

Starting to lose "baby teeth"

Early Birthday gift from American Girl Doll Store

Sweet "get well" message from Lyla

Grocery Shopping

Another trip to Steel City Pops w/ Granny!

July 2017-The “heart” of summer time! I continued to recover from surgery & The Rotter Family did some traveling. Although I didn't spend a lot of time with Lyla & Willow this month, I felt like I was beginning to get back to normal. My time with the girls is really what makes life worth living! There are times I get tired & frustrated but it is always a joy to be with Lyla & Willow. It seems your parents know exactly how much time I can handle as I'm continuing to recover. And also know how "healing" that occurs as I spend time with you.

1^st-I took Angela to work & she left her car at our house so they could head for Florida directly from UAB Hospital. I took Lyla to Walmart & Johnny Rockets for lunch then took her home & played in the wading pool with Willow. While they were out of town I spent a lot of time watching TV shows & movies including all of Ken Burns’ series on the Civil War & WWII & Netflix “Call the Midwife” & “House of Cards” & miscellaneous WWII shows. I enjoyed the opportunity to catch up on shows but realized I was fortunate to have the more meaningful opportunity to be invested in the lives of Lyla & Willow on a regular basis! 9^th-Wayne & I took Angela’s car back to 1112 Monaghan & I experienced the wonderful feeling of Willow being ecstatic to see me walk into the house! I’m sure Lyla was excited too but probably Willow hadn’t processed her parents telling her I was coming so it was a complete surprise to her. Regardless, it was a delightful feeling! Lyla had adorable “pigtails” and Nitza & Uncle Allen & his girlfriend were there as well as Angela & Brock. 12^th-I met Angela & Lyla at Johnny Rockets for lunch then kept Lyla while Angela did errands. While at my house Lyla lost her 2^nd tooth! She lost her first one at Nitza’s house. Lyla spent the night with me for the first time since April 28. It was a good feeling to have her in the house! The next day she I took her to play at Maddie’s; then I took her to get cupcakes at Edgar’s Bakery before taking her to piano lesson close by. I stayed to play with both girls at her house before going home, somewhat tired! 16^th-picked up Angela early am to take her to work because Brock & the girls would pick her up after work and start their vacation trip. One of their stops was the “American Girl Doll” store to buy her birthday present from me, Josefina. 22^nd-My mother, Great-grandmother to Lyla & Willow, had to move out of her apartment at Crowne in Mobile due to mold! Quite an ordeal for her & my sister to deal with. 23^rd-The Rotter family returned from vacation. 24^th-took Annie the dog back to Angela’s and played with the girls and took Lyla to get yogurt & shop at Hobby Lobby. We got an adorable bus for Willow that played “The Wheels on the Bus go Round & Round” but unfortunately the battery didn’t last very long! 26^th-to Angela’s & kept the girls until noon. Then Lyla went home with me to spend the night. En route we stopped at Steel City Pops. Brock was en route to Colorado to hike & camp & Lyla texted & talked with him as long as he was in range of cell phone service! 27^th-early morning I took Lyla to tennis lesson at Overton Park. It was very hot! We returned to my house to play until going back to Angela’s where Ms. Mary from HMS was keeping Willow. (Angela has been very considerate to not have me keep both girls for very long. I am getting stronger but still not 100%.) Mary took the girls to the park while I rested. Willow went to bed & Lyla stayed up until Angela got home to sleep with her. 28^th-Teresa, a teacher from HMS, kept Willow while I took Lyla to Maddie’s house (note: I’m not sure how to spell her name but “Madi”, “Maddie”, Maddi” are all the same person!). Then picked her up in time for Edgar’s Bakery-Piano Lesson trip. When we got home Mary Michael & Thomas were keeping Willow. We all went to eat at Area 41 Pizza. After Angela got home from work, I went home too. 31^st-Angela & Willow visited at our house after taking Lyla to Gymnastics “summer camp” at MBHS. I picked up Lyla after gymnastics & we ate with Angela & Willow at Area 41 Pizza then I went home. And the month of July ended.