You're Now A 3rd Grader!

 Dear Alex,

You've had quite a summer!  Mommy's been home, you were a flower girl in Uncle Kyle and Aunt Jeanna's wedding, and you were taught the basics of bouncing on a trampoline at cousin Phoenix's 2nd birthday party:)

School has started, and your teacher is Miss Eck, whom you know from the playground last year.

Grandma is still working nearly full-time at Lowe's, and am getting ready to home school Uncle Will.  Uncle Kyle and Aunt Jeanna are in the process of moving into their new house in Freelandville, and Mommy is making plans to return to work by the end of the month.

Grandma and Papa are heading to Las Vegas in a few days, to see Papa's friends Randy and Shantel.  We're leaving on the 14th and returning sometime after the 23rd.

Grandma Sally is still confined to the retirement facility, but she loves to chat with you on the phone whenever she calls or I call her.  She loves you very much and wishes you could be allowed to see her.  When this Covid-19 nightmare is over and we get back to normal, you'll be able to hug and kiss her again.

The Watermelon Festival was this past weekend, and you enjoyed hanging out in Grandma's booth and eating watermelon, corn dogs, ice cream, and drinking lemonade.  You were also thrilled to see a few friends dance on stage, and to buy a mermaid tail from one of the vendors.

I'll try to write again next month, sweetie!

Lots of love,

Grandma

The New 'Normal'

Dear Alex,
You just finished 2nd grade, and in a strange way.  The country has been sidelined with the Corona/Covid-19 virus which closed schools in March, and shortened the school year by a week.  You and Mommy have been working on your weekly assignment packets, and you seemed to enjoy working on your research paper on Tigers.

I know it's been tough on you, because you can't see your friends from school, but you've made friends with the girls across the street and around the corner, and have been over to play with them on a semi-regular basis.

You mastered riding your two-wheeled bicycle last month, and enjoy going over to the George Rogers Clark Memorial parking lot to ride around, without having the fear of traffic:)

With Mommy at home, due to the shut down, you've had her all to yourself, and have been shopping, getting fast-food delivered or picked up, and playing with the dogs.

Grandma has been working 30-40 a week, so you haven't seen me a great deal, but I'm thrilled you're not shunning hugs or kisses anymore.  Your birthday is coming up and I'm hoping we'll be able to take you to Brown County again, to ride the horses.

Uncle Kyle's wedding is coming up at the end of June (postponed from May 16th due to the Shelter In Place directive), and you're looking forward to being the Flower Girl.

I forgot to write this past winter, and I'm sorry.  We were all devastated by the loss of Papa Mike November 20th, 2019.  You were his joy, and the two of you had a special relationship.  Within four months, we had Grandma Sally moved into Cumberland Point Assisted Living, and put the house up for sale.  As of this date, we're still waiting for repairs to be made, so it can pass the new buyers' inspection, and close on the sale.

I brought home several marble tables and the low coffee table, which you have enjoyed playing with, and placing your Leggos on.  You also love Grandma's desk, with the various cubby holes and extra drawers, and have claimed 'your' drawers on the right.

You miss Grandma Sally, but as soon as the lock down is lifted, we will go to Lafayette and take her to a steak restaurant, because she's getting tired of chicken. and more importantly, she misses you too!

Til next time....
Love,
Grandma

Merry Christmas!

Dear Alex,

Merry Christmas!

We took you to see Santa earlier this month, and you were so excited to go see him!  But when it was your turn, you stood beside him with your hands covering your mouth, and whispered in his ear that you wanted some 'LOL Surprise Dolls'.  Later, you worked up the courage to tell him, 'Mommy's on the Naughty  List', which he was very surprised to hear!  The photographer did her best, and sent Mommy the best shot of you and Santa.

Then we went to see the Christmas lights at Oubache Trails park, which you were excited about all the new ones.  You thanked the volunteer who gave you a candy cane and wished him a Merry Christmas, and ate it while we drove to see the lights down at south 15th st.

Christmas Eve, Uncle Kyle and Aunt Jeanna came over to spend the afternoon, and you were thrilled with your presents:  A toy Jeep and toy horses.  Later, you ate dinner with them while Grandma was singing at the 6pm Christmas Eve service.  After dinner, you watched as we played Cards Against Humanity until Mommy put you to bed.

Christmas morning, you excitedly tore the wrapping off all your gifts:  Books, a Fingerling, candy in your stocking, and of course, your beloved LOL Surprise Dolls!

I forgot to mention, you are now an older sister to Alyanna, who arrived the day before Thanksgiving to your daddy and Crystal, who were married (briefly) on the Monday before.  However, as I write this, they have separated, and I do not know if you'll ever see Alyanna again.  Things are just too unstable over there.  Update:  2/9/19:  I don't know if I should even put this here, sweetie.....but we found out Baby Aly isn't even your sister.  C's ex-boyfriend had a DNA test run, and she's his child.  You probably won't even ever see her again.

Your daddy's mom, whom you call 'MeeMaw', has been in and out of the hospital this past month, in poor health.  We don't know all the details, but you were able to visit her.

Some rather unpleasant things have happened as well, and though I'm hesitant to write it, I can always go back in and edit this before I give you the website.

CPS visited you at school, and I'm told you informed her 'Daddy and MeeMaw had a fight b/c she wasn't picking the seeds out of the weed'.  The social worker seemed happy with the fact our kitchen is stocked with plenty of food; none of us smoke or do drugs; you have a safe place to live with plenty of people who love you.

She was first at Daddy's, who, I am told, was instructed to get a drug test.

We also informed her of your Aunt Hannah, who's twelve, and is making some questionable choices, in her quest for a Daddy figure.

Good news for your Uncle Brent; he seems to be turning his life around.  Time will tell.

Your daddy said he checked himself into the psych ward for a few days, however, your mother doubts this.  Some texts were sent, claiming he was going to end his life, then a few days later, Crystal claimed SHE tried to do the same, which earned her a trip to the psych ward the following week.

The only thing this caused is for Mommy to decide you were no longer allowed to spend the weekends at Daddy's.  He has come to see you; however the 1st time, he failed to show up; the 2nd, he spent more time on his phone than with you; he didn't even show up for Christmas.

As I type this, I have no idea if you'll even see him before you return to school

You WERE able to spend time with your Grandma Sally and Papa Mike on Dec 16th, when Grandma Sally was moved to Columbian Point Rehab facility.  Grandma Sally was taken to the hospital on the 9th, then moved on the 14th.  Grandma went up for a week to help take care of them.

You've had a few bouts of illness this Christmas vacation:  Fever, cold, tummy flu.  Breathing treatments in the mornings help your cough.

Love you bunches!
Grandma

1st Day of 1st Grade!

Dearest Alex,
You began school on Aug 9th, and since Vigo Elementary is under renovation, your class is at Washington Christian Center over by Gregg Park. 

Mommy is trying to instill the same homework ethic she and Uncle Kyle had, to do homework right after school, and you've been a little resistant.  But it has paid off:  You scored 100% on your 1st spelling test last week!  Accellerated Reading (AR) has begun, so you and Mommy read together.

Grandma has been gone nearly all summer, helping take care of Great-Grandma Sally, who fell June 1st.  She's getting better, but still having issues walking.  You had a wonderful weekend with her during the Watermelon Festival, and playing in the pool at the hotel

Mommy has been suspended from Perdue, and she's trying to get a Peer Review scheduled.

Daddy and Crystal have moved to Autumn Ridge; your cat Angel fathered kittens; and Daddy now works for another company.

That's all for now sweetheart:)

Love and kisses,
Grandma

You're Now Six Years Old!

My darling Alex,
It's been another amazing year, watching you grow and develop!  You turned six years old yesterday, and wore your beautiful blue and white Easter dress all day, with the exception of when Papa made chili for lunch (per your request, ha ha!).

Mommy took the day off so she could spend it with you, and helped with your dinner celebration.  Papa grilled pork chops; Mommy and Uncle Kyle fixed the vegetables.  Jeanna and Kyle gave you $6; Papa and I gave you $6 plus two books, The Monster At The End Of This Book and Another Monster At The End Of This Book.  You were happier with the cash, ha ha!  Mommy gave you a Baby Alive, which cries real tears; her nose lights up when she 'sneezes'; she talks about her heartbeat.  You also got new black tennis shoes.

We sang you Happy Birthday, then you blew out the candles on your green and blue Trolls ice cream cake from DQ, which you picked out.

You can somewhat do the splits, and you're trying desperately to learn how to do a cartwheel:)  You've almost mastered a round-off, but your legs are still bent.  I'm thinking we maybe need to get you into gymnastics; however, we've been 'thinking' this since you were two!  We have a joke that Cirq Du Solei could use you when you get older, you're so limber!

Next year, you will be at Washington Christian Center, since Vigo will be undergoing renovations.  You had a wonderful year in kindergarten, and soon you will be in 1st grade:)

You're growing taller; Mommy took you over to the Memorial last night and you can no longer pass under the, gate w/o hitting your head.  Your favorite pink PJ pants are now above your knees, and you weigh 49 pounds.  Daddy came over to see you yesterday, and you enjoyed seeing him.

Last weekend, we took you to Brown County State park to ride the horses, and were thrilled to learn that NEXT year, you'll be able to ride the trail horses with Mommy, Uncle Kyle, and Uncle Will:)  While Mommy, Kyle, Will, and Jeanna were on the trail, you and your friend Izzy played on the dirt pile near the pony corral, and dug up worms.  Afterward, we all went back to Bloomington and ate at Cracker Barrel before heading home.

Grandma Sally and Papa Mike weren't able to come this year, since Grandma Sally fell last week, and is having trouble walking.  She's getting stronger, and enjoyed talking to you on the phone yesterday.

Forgot to update some things:
-Ariel ended up spending only one week of school here before returning home.  One day when you're older, we'll tell you about it.  In the meantime, she's expecting a baby July 16th, a boy named Phoenix.

-Daddy is now working at Wendy's.

-Mommy is now in a Lead position at Perdue Turkey plant in Washington, and works 2-10pm.

Love you bunches, sweetheart:)  I'll try to write again soon.

Love,
Grandma

1st Month of Kindergarten!

Dearest Alex,
So far, you enjoy school!  Mommy gets you up in the morning and drops you off, then picks you up.  So far, you've done well, with only a slight amount of trouble talking when you're supposed to be listening.  Mommy had a chat with you, and this past week, you've stayed on green:)  Good girl!

Your mommy had the opposite problem; she wanted to be the class Monitor, and would report to her teacher who wasn't doing their work, or who was trying to talk.

You also had a boy try to kiss you.  When your mommy was your age, she punched the boy in the chest and was sent to the principal's office.  I'm told you smacked his arm, but no one reported it to the teacher.

Your daddy is enjoying his job at the Farbest Turkey Plant:)

I don't think I reported Grandpa Rick was hospitalized with a heart attack earlier.  He's doing well now.

In other family news, we had our family pictures taken for church, and while you were a little shy at first, you soon warmed up to the photographer and were a little ham!  I love the picture taken of you snuggled against Mommy:)

We've also begun work again on cleaning out the Green House, and have cleared the room that's caving in.  Papa and I hauled 900 lbs of scrap, including 2 stoves and 8 electric motors to the scrapyard.  Hopefully the next time I write, we'll have cleared out another room.

Hugs and kisses!
Love,
Grandma

Your 1st Voice Mail Message:)

Dearest Alex,
I know I said I would post again at Christmas, but so much has happened, this blog got away from me again.

At Christmas, you were thrilled with your Peppa Pig play sets and redecorated Grandma's shelves with them, along with your Leggos.

We battled lice again, and finally in April, Mommy had had enough and cut not only your hair, but hers as well.  Our lice problem disappeared, and once again you had perfect attendance at school.  You scored at the top of your class, so Mommy made plans to enroll you in Vigo Elementary in the fall.  This way, Papa could drop off Uncle Will at the middle school, then circle back to drop you off.  No one would have to travel out of their way.

This summer, you have enjoyed the company of Ariel and Jaevon again, and you and Ariel have spent many wonderful hours together, watching The Troll Movie and putting on make up.  We celebrated your birthday at Brown County State Park and you went horseback riding for the 1st time.  You weren't old enough to ride with Mommy, Uncle Kyle, Uncle Will, Ariel, or Jaevon on the trail ride, but Papa put you on a pony and you and your friend Zeke were able to ride three laps around the ring.  Afterward, we had dinner at The Nashville House.

Mommy even took a new summer job, taking care of seven horses, since her hours were 10am-2pm, which left plenty of time for her to spend with you.

Ariel is going to live with us for the next six months on a trial basis, and go to school at Lincoln.  If her grades don't improve, then she'll go back home to her mom.  You were thrilled at that news over the 4th of July:)

I've been up in Lafayette most of July, helping Grandma Sally and Papa Mike with their vacation to Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada to see Great-Aunt Wendy, Great-Uncle Chris, and your cousins David and Rachel.  I had to go to Chicago  to put Grandma Sally on the plane and then again a week later to help her get home.  You missed me so much, you left the sweetest voice mail message:

My name is Alex.  I want to call my grandma, please.

It's still saved on my phone, so I can play it for you when I get home in a few days.

Love,
Grandma