January 2018--A New Year Begins...

Sleeping with Granny

Making Music in HMS Gym



Gummies After School

Taking Care of Sissy!

Visit with My Mother in Mobile

Winter Beach Trip!

Jimbo's Ice Cream after School

Face Painting!



Playing game with Granny

Beautiful Girl!

January was a cold month! After staying in Mobile with Mother on her last night in the hospital and her first night in Rehab, I returned to Birmingham and went to Angela’s early Thursday January 4^th and spent the night. It was cold! 19 degrees early am on Friday! After school the girls played in the gym after Lyla’s Girl Scouts meeting. After Brock got Willow I stayed with Lyla until the last child left the gym and she went home with me to spend the night,,,and helped me undecorate. She slept late and played with her Barbie Dream house. The next Monday, fortunately, I was dismissed from Jury Duty so I was able to be with the girls to take them to school and to the park then ballet class after school on Tuesday. On Friday since school was out at 2 pm we were able to go to Jimbo’s for ice cream before they closed at 3 pm. I took Annie the dog home because the Rotters were going to the beach for MLK weekend. Angela reported the beach trip was a wonderful family time. While Annie was with me she got her teeth stuck in the metal part of door to her doggie bed. It was terrible! Wayne and I finally got her free. We had a “snow day” and the next day I took Annie home. The snow was gone but HMS had a late start. Friday after the girls played in HMS gym, Lyla went home with me to spend the night and go to a birthday party at Let’s Play. She seems to be getting a little old for Let’s Play but she had a good time. The cold weather made less “park time” and more “TV and game time” this month. I'll be glad when Spring comes!

January is the beginning of a new year, and a continuation of Angela’s work towards her MSN and becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Fortunately so far all of her school work has been on-line so she doesn’t have to travel to UAB for classes. But she does have a lot of work to do on-line…and tests to take and papers to write. As I’m writing this I have had time to start cleaning out the boxes and files from my days working on a Masters Degree in Nursing and working 15 years at Samford University School of Nursing and earning a Doctorate of Science (later converted to a PHD) in Nursing. And working for 25 years plus at UAB Hospital. I’m so pleased Angela is working towards a MSN and becoming a Nurse Practitioner. I’m hopeful her last year of school (which will begin in September 2018) goes well. I’m very proud of her and glad I can help her to get through school by helping with the girls. I look forward to her completing her education!
 Lyla and Willow are growing up quickly. Willow had her first visit to the dentist! Lyla is half way through first grade and Willow is staying at school each day from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. In January I read a whole book for the first time in a long time. It was “The Last Chance for Justice” which was the story of Sen. Doug Jones and former Lt. Gov Bill Baxley’s prosecution of Bombers of the 16^th Street Baptist Church in 1963. The case was reopened in 1995.I heard them speak in January at Temple Emanuel. As I’m writing this in July 2018, I’ve continued to read books. I also spend a lot of time watching shows on Netflix and HBO etc. I have the best of both worlds…time with precious grandchildren and time to read and do projects etc. and visit with my mother as well.

But the time with Willow and Lyla is the most precious of all to me. “Children grow up when we’re not looking”. And they are so funny and sweet!

December 2017-Birthdays and Holidays

December 2017—Sunrise and Sunset (Reprise)

Although I’ve used the theme of the song “Sunrise, Sunset” from The Fiddler on the Roof previously in my blog (see February 2016) the words, the sentiment and the source remain meaningful to me. Recently I’ve participated in a book club at the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center where we studied “Night” by Elie Wiesel last year and “Why? Explaining the Holocaust” by Peter Hayes this year. Decisions made by your Great-Grandparents played a big part in your existence. And the decision by your Grandparents to come to Alabama from Israel when your Dad was 4 years old eventually led your father to your mother. As I see people currently trying to immigrate to America I’m grateful President Regan made it possible for your Father to become a US citizen. I will avoid politics for now and focus on the sunrises and sunsets I was able to enjoy with both of you in December 2017. The month began with the celebration of your parents’ birthdays. I stayed with you while they went to a hotel to celebrate. We went outside to see the Big Moon (or “super” moon), the first of 3 in succession. A super Moon happens when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to the Earth in its orbit. After the December 2-3 event there was a Super Blue Blood Moon eclipse January 31, 2018 (another one is coming January 31, 2019!) A Blue Moon also occurred January 1, 2018. A blue moon isn’t actually blue, it’s just the somewhat rare the occurrence of 2 full moons in the same month. Because your parents are very thoughtful they hired Brittany (she is sort of the nanny for two children at HMS) to help me keep you two. She took Lyla to play at Madi’s and I brought Willow home to nap after a breakfast trip to Jimbo’s. After I went home that evening I returned because I had kept Willow’s pacifier (which currently was the only one she had!). You were outside looking at the big moon with a telescope with your Dad. I had a routine day on January 7^th--taking girls to school, to park after school, Lyla to piano lesson & spent the night with Lyla sleeping with me. But the 8^th was not routine! There was lots of snow! Angela was stuck at work & Brock was stuck at home since school was cancelled. I stayed at your house until late afternoon Saturday the 9^th when Angela finally got home. Willow didn’t like the cold! The snow was sort of messy. I played a lot of inside games with Lyla! 12^th-Special election for senate seat vacated when Jeff Sessions became Attorney General. Amazingly Doug Jones (Dem) defeated Republican Roy Moore. I met the Rotters at Lyla’s ballet open house and spent the night and the next day at their house. It was very cold at the park. On the 15^th I went to the “Peace Ceremony” at HMS then Lyla went to Girl Scouts. I got to hold Willow in the gym until she perked up and played (after some snacks). Lyla and I picked up Angela at work and went to the “Mutt Cracker”. Her friend Madi was in the ballet. It was sweet. I went home after it was over. 16^th-kept the girls overnight while Angela and Brock went to a Holiday Party.18^th-Early am to Angela’s and took girls to school. Nice weather at the park. 20^th-Stay with Willow while Ang took Lyla to a surgeon appointment re: scheduling repair of an inguinal hernia. 22^nd-Kristina changed plans for the day and Angela got a speeding ticket en route to our house for a family Christmas. We ate at La Paz then met Shari, Jackson and Abigail at the zoo (they were en route to Mobile). I spent the night at Angela’s and kept Willow while Angela worked and Brock took Lyla to Florida. Willow was sweet but hard to get to sleep. 24^th-I left for Mobile from Angela’s house. I took Mother to meet Garvers at Springhill Baptist Church and then ate at Garvers and returned on Christmas Day to open gifts and eat again. The next day I mother went to eat at Atlanta Bread which would be her last outing until Easter!  28^th!  Mother fell in her bathroom went to Providence Hospital via ambulance. I stayed at the hospital with her until her discharge in January. 29^th-Mother had surgical repair of her hip fracture. 30^th-31^st-at hospital. 2017 came to an end at Providence Hospital in Mobile. 2016 I spent Christmas Eve at a hospital and 2017 New Years Eve in another one!

Granny odd smile; Willow Precious



Looking at Super Moon



Snow at 1112 Monaghan; Shelby County, AL

Ballet Open House

At Mutt Cracker ballet

Dreamhouse stayed at my house for months!

Sweeet Mother and Daughter

Whole family at Zoo!

Dinner at La Paz, Mt. Brook

November 2017-Many things to be Thankful for!

Daddy pick up at Park



Birthday party

B'day party Leeds Park



Highpoint with Maddie



Popular t-shirt at Let's Play

Pre-school Breakfast



Chic Fil A school holiday



Overnight at Granny's



Jimbo's with Granny

The Club Thanksgiving

Cousins

Keeping an eye on things at the park
Daylight savings time ends and the shorter cooler days begin. November included a birthday party at a park in Leeds where Lyla and I stayed long after the party ended. As always, it was fun to watch Lyla play so well with kids she didn’t know. It was a great party and park! Monday the 6^th-Willow got wet at the park and took off her clothes. One of the mother’s took a picture of me chasing down a naked Willow…but I don’t have a copy! Willow does not like wet clothes! Saturday 11^th-we met Maddie and her mother at Highpoint Climbing place. Lyla did great. I needed Maddie’s mother to help me get the ropes etc. ready. I realize I’m not back to 100% of pre-surgery strength. Not sure I ever will be! For several days Brock was sick and I took Willow to Children’s Urgent Care for antibiotics then I got sick with strep! When Willow was on antibiotics couldn’t go to school we went to the pet store and Let’s Play and Chic Fil A and then home for nap. I can’t remember if Angela and Lyla got sick or not. Lyla spent the night at my house and we had a sweet night of watching TV late and a day of playing games etc with no birthday parties to attend! Lyla’s preferred TV shows have changed over the years as she is growing up. I kept Willow Monday and Tuesday Nov 20-21 and we went to Jimbo’s! I also got to hold her a lot! Lyla had an overnight visit with Ms. Mary and her granddaughter. The Greens and Browns came to our house and we had Chinese food take-out T’giving Eve then T’day went to dinner at The Club with the Stuedeman families and then to Roseanne’s. Kris and Frank and the kids and Lyla spent the night at our house while Greens returned to Nashville. Wednesday and Thursday 29-30 I took the girls to school and had two afternoons of good weather at the park after school. I took Lyla to piano lesson and another month ended. I’m writing this in July 2018. It’s always special to remember the times I’ve had with our families and how precious and special it is to watch them all grow up. I’m lucky my only child lives in Birmingham which gives me such a gift of spending time watching Lyla and Willow grow up. My mornings and after-school times with the girls are so meaningful. And because of their work schedules and many nuclear family activities and travels, I have a perfect mixture of child-care time and time to rest and do other things, including visiting my now 98-year old Mother in Mobile and catching up with my blog and picture albums and TV (and Netflix) shows and treasuring my time with Lyla and Willow. I’ve avoided political commentary but suffice it to say as the first full year of President Donald Trump is coming to an end, it has not been the best of times for our country. It’s been great to have the girls as such a fulfilling part of my life. I know I’m not perfect, but there are times the girls make me feel like I’m a good grandmother. And I have no doubt that Lyla and Willow (as well as Brock and Angela) are VERY close to perfect!  

October 2017-Willow turns 2 years old!

Oliver-friend from school and Jimbo's

Beautiful girl at park

Lyla is "a pro" now...

2 years old!

Birthday at school

Beach Birthday

Willow Allergy test results

Lyla Halloween

Lyla and Friend and Granny-Halloween

October 2017-Willow turned 2 years old. I’m writing this July 2018 so it won’t be long before another school year begins. I’m relieved I haven’t had to have any more surgery, although I did have an overnight in the emergency room followed by discussion of surgery by one surgeon, Dr. Porterfield, which was overridden by another, Dr. Kennedy. So “routine” is a good thing which I’m grateful to have. On school days when Angela works I have time after I take the girls to school to relax, do errands for Angela and spend several hours in Mt. Laurel area where I often eat at Pannera Bread as well as wash clothes etc. at their house. Lyla is in 1^st grade and Willow is in all day Toddler Class with the same teacher (Ms. C) Lyla had at her age at Hilltop Montessori School. Since Lyla has Girl Scouts, ballet, jazz, piano lessons and hockey practice and games, I have the opportunity to drive Lyla places or stay with Willow while her parents go to events. And of course, many after school hours at the park! It is a good life I enjoy. And I realize it is a precious and fleeting thing. Willow’s second birthday was celebrated at the beach which Angela described as a special family time together. Despite being in school and working full time, Angela makes time for her family a priority. Most of the time when I’m at their house it's because Angela is at work. So I don’t spend much time with Angela. But I do have the opportunity to watch “the Amazing Brock" fix meals, pack lunches for the girls and get Lyla ready for school etc. before he heads to Mountain Brook High School for the day. And at the end of the day he plays with the girls and gets dinner ready and gives baths and puts Willow to bed. When I spend the night Lyla sometimes sleeps with me and sometimes with her parents. In the mornings after Brock and Angela have gone to work I get to wake up Willow (she is such a good sleeper!) and hold her before getting her ready for school. She always knows what she wants to wear to school. And she's so sweet to hold! After breakfast and vitamins and “yummy tummy” and Miralax, I get to walk the girls into school. Lyla goes with me to sign in Willow and I watch Willow bravely walk into her classroom to begin the day. In the afternoon the best part of the day is seeing Willow sitting on the bench outside her classroom. I see her “light up” when she sees me! But she obeys her teacher and does not get off the bench until I can grab her and hug her. Usually she asks if we’re going to the park and if she can have some gummies and the answer is usually "yes". No one came to “Trick or Treat” while I stayed at their house and The Rotters went “trick or treating”. I took Willow to be tested for allergies which turned out to all be non-reactive! As I’m writing this I realize School year 2018-19 will probably start with dropping the girls off in the carpool line rather than watching Willow go into her class room to meet her friends. She is a part of a group of 4 children who spend all day 5 days a week at HMS. She calls them “My Johann,”My Clara” and “My Milley”. I will miss walking her into school! It’s been almost three years since I packed my many boxes on 14^th floor (actually 13^th but that number is officially skipped) of Jefferson Towers (original hospital building) of UAB hospital (after 25+ years) and left for the last time. I’ve never regretted leaving. Children grow up when we’re not looking!