Dancing with Daddy…

A moment in time…

Although this moment only occurred this past Saturday night, I know it is one that I will remember for years.  I know it so well I feel like I’m standing on the edge of the wooden dance floor watching.  I stood thinking of lines from a Luther Vandross song called Dance with my Father:

“Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around ‘til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved…”

On Saturday night, we attended a wedding.  Another first for Elaine and something Jerry and I knew, without uncertainty, she would love.  Wearing her special polka dot party dress with matching ribbons in her hair, Elaine sat patiently, and quietly, through the ceremoney taking everything in.  We headed to the rececption where she found a few other girls also in attendance.  They began to dance and play and the normal reception things happened around them.  The meal served, first dances danced, cake cut and everyone was preoccupied in other ways.  Then it happened–unscripted, unplanned and unrehearsed.  There was Jerry, Elaine’s hands in his, her feet on his.  There they were, all alone on the dance floor, swaying, smiling, giggling.  She looked up at him knowing she was the single most important thing in his world.  Proudly, he looked down at her with the exact same feelings.  The world stopped around them.  Others stopped to watch and some joined in the dancing.  Then just as quickly as it started, the moment ended.  Elaine’s new found friends came over, she ended the dance, the world moved on.  There was no looking back and no regrets.  And Elaine knew without a doubt she was loved. 

 

Neighborhood Bear…

Almost every day for the past 6 weeks a bear has graced our neighborhood.  This weekend we were finally able to catch a decent picture of it.  These pictures were taken a block away from our house.  According to our neighbors, he was sitting ON our porch eating pears from our tree about an hour after we took the pictures. 

Hey Ma, Look What I Made…

Please notice both the Fruit Loop necklace and the special crown.  Jerry and I most certainly agree, Elaine is special!!!

Weekend Ritual…

Elaine and I go grocery shopping every weekend.  She loves to get in a “car cart” and drive around the store.  She knows we start in the produce section and her patience is strong.  As we leave the produce and head to the meat, she begins to grow restless.  We head over to get bread and she knows the cookies are our next stop.  The pink cookies are her favorite–she loves them!!  This cookie buys me time to get through the rest of the store.  Elaine favorite part of the whole visit is riding the pony ride 2 times.  At the checkout, I give her 2 pennies and she waits as patiently as she can until the items have been paid for and bagged.  She loves the pony rides and I love that Elaine is helping me actually “enjoy” grocery shopping!

  

Smitten Spectator…

Elaine has become an adamant fan of the CMHS soccer team–in all reality she is really a fan of our neighbor “Nick!!”  Whenever we say the word soccer, Elaine replies “Nick!!”  (Keep in mind that Jerry’s fall sport is soccer, so it does come up.)  Occasionally the mere mention of the word soccer has caused a screaming, throw-your-body-on-the-floor tantrum because we didn’t run out the door to a game.  Consequently, we go to the games.  This also means that Jerry and I have also become fans of the CMHS soccer team.  While at the game, Elaine shouts, “Go Nick!”  This is one of her very few two word phrases and she says it with great enthusiasm.  If Nick wasn’t such a great kid and so good to Elaine, we would be very worried!!  The only other thing we can hope for is continued good fall weather!

 

Birthday Fun…

Saturday we attended a neighborhood birthday party.  Elaine loves the neighborhood kids so much and this party was no exception.  All the kids dote on her and she loves spending time with them.  Elaine was in the middle of everything and the birthday boy was certainly sweet to let her share in the festivities of his day.

Elaine got to help Michael open all his gifts…

and blow out the candles!

Elaine kept checking to make sure she was doing things just like the big kids!

Fun Day…

Exploring shadows…

Swinging…

Modeling sunglasses…

Peeking around the corner at Grandma…

Enjoying ice cream…

Bath time fun…

Reading books…

all in a day’s work with Grandma and Papa!

Colorado Living…

There are lots of great things about living in Colorado:  this moon and spending time with grandparents are just a couple of them! 

Elaine’s loves talking about the moon–she excitedly made sure we all saw it!!

Helpers??

We went to my parents’ house for dinner tonight.  Elaine loves to help and my parents’ dog, KC, has a habit of licking the dishes.  Between the 2 of them, no one else could do anything in the kitchen.  Elaine was trying to position herself to accomplish something, all the while demanding dishes from Bob.  Grammy was trying to make sure Elaine put the dishes away in some order while keeping the dog from knocking things out of Elaine’s hand. 

Skating Party…

Tonight we headed to Skate City to attend a PTO fundraiser for Skyway.  There was a great turnout and it was fun, as it always is, to see my students outside of the classroom.  After trying to put skates on Elaine in June, we decided to forego skating and just enjoy the festivities.  Elaine enjoyed all the music and activity.  She sat on the wall and danced, waved and said hi to all the kids.  Lane attended, as well, and she was glad to see him.  We all thoroughly enjoyed watching Lane skate for the first time–Elaine waved each time he went around the rink.  After watching the kids skate, she found the video games and was more than happy to sit and “drive.”  She is totally content sitting at the game so it truly is cheap entertainment.  She also played Skeeball which is her favorite!  Elaine loved seeing the neighborhood kids and my students who dote on her, so she always feels very much a part of everything.  Next time, maybe we’ll try skating!!

Elaine was watching all the skaters

Lane finishing his first lap

Elaine’s happy–is Jerry??

It looks like she knows what she’s doing, huh?

Making sure she’s not cheated out of the proper number of balls

“Look Ma, no hands!!”