Summertime Grandma Days

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Getting dirty with friends and family

The Fair with Grandma Kris

Chloe got to go have a fun day with Grandma Kris!  They are so funny when they always play that they are going to other planets.  They have extensive conversations about what planet they originated from and who among the people we know come from different planets.  They are known for including Papa John, Abby and I into the conversations.  They have "special" shoes, and space ships that bring them everywhere.  Grandma Kris is all knowing about different alien species, their customs and their languages. 

This time they went to Mars, it was very much like the county fair!  They had a great time!

Veggie Patrol

 
Chloe has had a good time going to Veggie Patrol this summer.  Near the end of the summer she decided she didn't want to go anymore - but we did have some good saturday mornings while it lasted.  In this class they learned how to make flip books of a flower growing.  Chloe was very precice while copying what the instructor was doing on her example in front of the group.  Then they played "flower-flower-bee" to the rules of "duck-duck-goose".  Chloe played and had a good time.  It was a very warm day that day, and she went to change her clothes before joining the group.  We always have a better time when Chloe is not over-heated!

Pony Rides

 She got to ride a pony for the first time with her dad this summer.  She told me the story of it about 5 times.  I guess it left an impression. :)

Barbara

Chloe's had  a lot of big things to deal with in her short life.  Plenty of moving, death of family members, seeing real grief first hand, new family dynamics, new schools, new homes, new parents - and on. She has some parts of her beautiful personality that we all see as strengths - some of which are very cumbersome and confusing for a 5-6 year old to carry around.   We all help her as much as we can. 
She also has so so much love in her life, and many people looking out for the best for her.  One of the many things we all agree on is Barbara.  Barbara is Chloe's counselor.  She's seen her at times once a week, and at other times as little as once a month.  It is a relationship we decided to provide for Chloe, and an important one.  So far, all of our experiences with Barbara have been great!  Chloe loves her, and we've seen her visits with Barbara as one of the pieces of the puzzle that has ensured Chloe as the well adjusted child she is.  As Chloe gets older, she will have yet another trusted adult on her side as she (presumably) has hurdles to jump in the future. 
Occasionally, she does projects in her sessions with Barbara.  This on was a self portrait.



Detail shot to show her pet gecko



Fairy Houses

Chloe and I headed out in the afternoon and went for a walk with a basket.  We went all around the yard and on the trail closeby the house.  We gathered leaves and flowers and pinecones and sticks and rocks...We picked up anything pretty or interesting.  Then we found a few places around the yard that would be good fairy homes and built some pretty little abodes.  We got really into it.  We made beds and kitchens and doorways with welcome signs.  We made trails and firepits and stools.  For a couple weeks after that she was talking about making fairy houses.  She and Kylee would go out with their baskets and gather supplies for them.  I hope to make fairy houses a regular part of our summers.  We had a fun time connecting and being creative together.  It was so fun to get caught up in the whimsey and chatting about what the fairies would do if they came upon such a perfect little home.   

Swimming Lessons

 Chloe continued swimming lessons for a bit into June.  She began to do VERY well!  She told me all about how she was learning to "bob" in the water without plugging her nose.  A couple times I took her swimming at the apartment complex.  She could go into the pool on her own.  Jump in and come out again.  She was practicing trying to float on her back and front.  She told me how she was learning to "torpedo" or glide through the water.  She was told by someone at the pool that she was the best in her class.  That seemed to light a spark in her that she would try every time to be the best in her class.  She was a real student of the water for a couple months or so.  I loved watching her confidence grow in the water.  Eventually, she decided that she wanted to take some gymnastics lessons instead of swimming for a while.  I hope one day she goes back to swimming, even just enough to keep her confidence growing. 
Since her lessons were during the times I was at work, I was sad to miss all of the summertime lessons.  But I did send a sucker with my mom one day for her to have a treat from mommy when she was done swimming.  I sent with it the message that I was proud of her for trying so so hard. 

Eat Anything You Want Day!!

It's a recurring holiday in our house!  It's one of the ways we reward Chloe and ourselves for eating healthy on a regular basis.  It feels good to let loose some of our most strict rules from time to time.  We'd planned a Eat Anything You Want Day and I had to go to work for the morning.  By the time I was there for an hour or so, I got this awesome picture from Abby!!  Looks like a fun shopping trip of your dreams for a kid!!  Abby and I secretly love it, too! 

Of course I immediately spot the red vines and ghiradelli chocolates!  Abby was thinking of me!  One of the only rules for Eat Anything You Want Day is that you have to eat a good hearty breakfast to kick it off. As with anything else, it CAN be ruined by a bad attitude. So far, we haven't had any Eat Anything You Want Days taken away.