Early on a January Thursday morning, I got a phone call from Sara. Their long time Nanny had given them 12 hours notice that she was taking a leave of absence. Sara & Kevin, after a full semester of trying virtual kindergarten, decided to sent Claire to face to face (although the kids & all staff are masked all day) & the Nanny was nervous about Covid.
So, I got the call. All along the Covid nightmare-path, I’d always told Sara if she needed me, just call (she knows she can do that anytime, but it seemed like the possibility might happen since the virus). By early Sunday morning I was on the road, driving 1,000 miles to Orlando. I was so excited to see my girls…all three of them!
I made it there by Monday morning, & got a great big hug from Emma as I got out of the car. For the next 7 weeks, my days were filled with hugs, reading, lots of playing, games, reading, crafts, reading, enjoying the outdoors, car pick up line at school, reading, laughing, silly faces, playing in ‘Camper Car’, dressing in costumes & solo nightly walks. I loved loved loved spending so much time with Claire & Emma!!!!
I took about 1,000 photos…here’s just a sample!
Princesses in Black & other costumes…
I’ve been reading The Princess in Black series to the girls over the past three months (I’ve checked them out of the library & read them via FaceTime) & the girls love them. I already had ordered the books for their Valentines gift, but decided to also make them the costumes. So, I went into overdrive to try to get them done in my 2 day window before I left (more of a challenge when you don’t have the girls close for sizing!) & they loved the costumes! Emma would put hers on at least a couple of times a day while I was there & learned (with her fierce face) to say “Don’t eat the goats!"!
Emma turns 3!
Uncle Pete & Uncle Luke sent a pirate balloon & a treasure map. Captain Emma & first Mate Claire were off to find the
treasure!
When Emma found the ‘treasure’, she was super excited!
The Pirate ship her Uncles sent was the hit of all the birthday gifts (the cannon actually fires & the Pirates sing too)!
And there were tons of other gifts, cake & lots of fun!
Claire made Emma this awesome pop up card!
Our precious 3 year old!
We had a blast! So happy to be here to celebrate this wonderful little girl!
Time with Grandpa…
Danny was able to fly down for a week of fun, play & hugs!
We spent a lot of time outside…
Claire is reading on her own now & Emma loves to be read to…
We all love spending time in Camper Car...
And more & more fun…
My kids loved waffle blocks & so do these two!
I named this adorable middle-of-her-forehead curl….the “unicorn curl"
I
Claire is growing up so fast! So grateful she loves school, but I missed her on those days she was gone for so long.
