2013

Eve,
Just got back from a Washington DC visit with you and your brother.  Grama stayed with you two while your Mom and Dad took a short vacation to Puerto Rico.  I got to walk you to school and meet your friends.  I was really fun watching you just be you.  You love to talk and laugh with you friends.  You are a definitely a morning person!  You get up sooooo early!  It is around 6:00 am every day!

Right now, you are very into the trapezes school.  You love everything about it!  I have taken you to many of your lessons and you are a star!  No fear and raring to go!  You are stronger than most kids your age!  You are very excited about the camp you get to go to in late July.

Just wanted you to know how proud I am to be your Grama!  Have a fun summer!  Miss you! Love, Grama.

The big Seis!

Eve-
Wow six years old! It is so surprising that you are already that old, but then again you really do act so mature for a six year old! You are so brave and outspoken with such a unique and
driven personality. I admire your laughter and goofiness, but also your independence. I was so happy to be able to spend some quality time with you and your brother when you came to visit Texas. We had such a good time swimming and playing shark, but most of all painting! You really impressed me with your painting skills! I cannot wait to share some more artful experiences with you. The way you explore your surroundings reminds me of me. That is what artists do. You can't help but just admire and be aware of the things that are so intriguing in life. As you grow up, artist or not, you will be thankful that you are this way! I love and miss you. I hope to come and visit you soon!
Love,
Aunt Jill

2011 summer

Eve, you are a fish! All you want to do is swim, swim, swim. I had so much fun with you in Texas! You wanted to see the dolphins and you did! You even fed them! Sea World was great! You loved the big rides and roller coasters. I even rode one with you and Ben. The water park was fun too! You liked seeing Shamu, the killer whale, until his tail splashed water on us 3 times and soaked us with water!!!! Then, in Houston, we went to the Aquarium. You reached in and touched everything you could! We rode the train and saw the sharks swimming over our heads! I think you may think you are a mermaid like Arial! Ha HA. I just know you love the water and things that are in the water! I most loved the nights you stayed with me at the Bed and Breakfast. I love you and can't wait to spend some more time with you and your family. Love, Grama

first big lesson

The day was coming when you were to learn your first big lesson. I'm really glad it came and went without too much drama. We did a little shopping today after school. You and Ben picked out a pair of pants from the consignment store and were happy so we decided to stop into the book store so I could surprise you tonight with a new book before bed.

I bought the books and dealt with a breakdown from Ben. We made it home and you were hiding something inside your shirt. I asked you what it was and I instantly knew it would be a long evening. You showed me the cat stickers, earring stickers, and small train card that you had taken from the store and hidden in your shirt. It was obvious you knew something was not right. You told me that you had taken the items and not paid for them.

It's times like these that you really have no idea what to do, but wing it and hope things turn out like you had imagined.

We rushed back to the store so you could use your own money to buy the items you picked out and apologized to Roberta and said you wouldn't do it again. You bought the items and took home your change. Turns out one of the items you took from the store was a card you were going to give to your brother.

Lesson learned and it was a good learning experience.

blooming artist

You told me the other day that you knew what you were supposed to be when you grow up. An artist since that's what you are really good at and what you like to do. You create a new piece of art almost every day and your latest project has been a book that you are sketching creations in.

Christmas has come and gone and grama came to visit and you were totally happy. You received all the attention you craved and even got to go shopping.

You've been really busy with play dates recently, but you enjoy that. You've also been reading so many books. We have to check out a few from the library a week so you always have new books to challenge you. It's been amazing to see your improvement and Ben is so thrilled when you read to him.

You've really developed your own punk style and I can't help but grin almost every morning when I see what you've chosen to wear for the day. Such a fun girl.

Getting ready for a visit!

I am so excited to come to your house during the holidays this year! It has been so long since I have hugged you! We have been keeping in touch using the computer. We video chat alot and I love to see you and Ben looking at the screen talking to me! We even take turns reading books to each other! I am so proud of you and your reading skills! You read the words then show me the picture. Usually you and your brother have a little argument but I know how much you love each other. Maybe you and I can go and see a movie together when I get there. Until then, I love you and am counting the days! Love, Grama

reading, writing, and all things kindergarten

Well you've hit that age where the drama increases quite a bit. We've been trying to avoid any confrontations with you to avoid the statement, "Why are you so mean to me, you don't love me." Exaggerations seem to be the norm. In school you are doing great. You really like math and enjoy doing math programs on the computer. You are still very quiet and don't jump into group activities. You like to go at your own pace and do your own thing. Reminds me a lot of your dad. You have a Thanksgiving play tomorrow and you will be an Indian girl. You have one line in the play that you wrote yourself that says, "I am an Indian." It takes everything you have to raise the volume above a whisper so we'll see how it goes when there is an audience. You have been doing a great job as a big sister, playing with your brother and also doing everything in your power to make him mad. You make me proud with how hard you work at everything you do.