Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Monday about ten, Paulette called to see what time kids can swim at the pool.  1-3pm is the answer.  I'll be there about 1:30, she said.  And sure enough she arrived and we put on our suits and joined, Josie and Mazie from Ohio who were swimming with their grandparents and great-grandmother.  The kids were seven and nine.  As kids will they became instant friends and made up games.  The adults floated around and helped with the jumping in games.  It was a wonderful afternoon.  After Paulette left Shae and I went to Michael's  because they had ten things for ten dollars.   I got my ten things and was looking at some unfinished wood picture frames when Shae picked up  a flat piece of wood and said, "I need this for my project."  "What Project?" I asked.  "My _____ project." she replied.  Hands out in front of her making circular motions and measuring motions.  (I never did understand what the name of the project was.)  It was only one dollar and I was curious so I bought it.  Back home I asked if she needed anything else for her project.  I watched her think and think.  She wasn't coming up with anything so I suggested she use some little foam pieces in a kit she had.  "Yes, of course that's what I want."  With a little glue her project was done.

Late afternoon I needed to run some errands and we were off to the Linen and things sale--nothing there.  And then to the bank to deposit a check.  I intended to stop and the store for dinner items but on the way home decided we would eat out.  The first place we stopped at was closed.  So we went to one of my favorite restaurants,  Bella Bru.  Shae had chosen lasagna when I realized there was a kids menu.  I read the choices or options (her choice of language).

No she wanted the options.  Hint for grandparents: Always check the coloring page they give the kids for the kid's menu.   I knew that but forgot.  Well the lasagna was great.  No we didn't share.  She ate half and we took home the rest for lunch later.  I had a salmon burger.  Then of course it is time for dessert.  Across the parking lot is a Big Spoon Frozen Yogurt store.  You serve yourself from the machines and then add all the toppings you think you can afford.  Shae had Mango Tango  with caramel, whipped cream and cherries.  I had vanilla with caramel, whipped cream and cherries.  IT was very good.  Back home it was bedtime.  

Tuesday, Paulette came about noon and Shae went with her to clean up her classroom.  I met them at the dance studio and Shae and I went to Davis for dinner with my "dinner group".   We had two "guests" Shae and the daughter of Elinore, Kara.  Kara just completed had Phd and has a job in New Mexico.  Elinore has RPA  Rapid Progressing Aphasia.  (one more thing we can worry about that takes our mind.) More about that later.   We had a great dinner and I don't know who was most entertaining, Shae age 4 or Kara age 39.    Kara is so excited about her job, her move.  It was a fun evening.

Wednesday.

We were busy today.  Shae decided on one more bike ride.  She first said no.  I reminded her it would be her last chance because we have plans tomorrow.  Five minutes later she had changed her mind.  We rode to the nearby playground and she had a good time playing alone and with me.  I'm not much for climbing on play structures but I cheered every move she made.  I pushed the swing and watched her "tricks" on the swing.  It was very windy this morning and into the afternoon when we went to the swimming pool.  It was fine as long as I stayed in the water.  Today a grandma had her grandson Bodie.  Again the kids played like best friends.

Less than five minutes after I read her story she is asleep.

And that's life on the Shae Train.  

Saturday and Sunday

The Monarchs lost on Friday--They were leading the first three quarters and then the Shock took over.  We will get them next time.  

Shae has a new jersey with number 4 on it because she is four and Hayne went to Atlanta and the jersey was cheap.  She also got a big foam finger (like Skyler's).  Auntie P bought dinner and at half time we had ice cream.  We all had a good time.

On Saturday morning Paulette arrived at 9am to go to Home Depot.  The project was building a catamaran.  Shae knew exactly what to do and with Paulette's help the project was finished.  for our next errand we were off to REI to get sunglasses for Paulette--really good ones that will protect her eyes since her lasix surgery.  I bought myself some because I had broken my last pair from last summer.  Shae really like one pair so I bought it for her.  REI was having a "garage sale" so we joined the crowd in the parking lot.  Paulette found a second pair of sunglasses--cheap and hiking sneakers.  I found a down sleeping bag for $60.  Shae said "I;m ready to go now." twice.  She was very patient.  Now it was lunch time and we went to the Elephant Bar.  The kids meal (mac and cheese) included a strawberry sundae.  Paulette and I were patient while she talked and ate her way through the sundae.

Paulette and Shae had a short swim and she didn't run this time so today there will be another swim time.   Paulette went to see Sex in the City.  I didn't think it was appropriate for Shae s0 we stayed home to rest.  Shae took a really long nap and when I woke her up she said, "Auntie P didn't come back last night."  She was happy when I told her it was still Saturday and Auntie P would be back to take her to her house at six o'clock. 

When they left I went dancing.  Paulette danced on Friday night.

Sunday morning I got ready to go to the Women's fitness run/walk in a very quiet apartment.  They met me at the end of the race and we visited all of the booths and got some almonds, some magnets and Jamba Juice coupons.  Paulette and Shae walked with me back to my car and set off walking to Old Sacramento and then a Rivercats game.  I bought my Sunday papers, came home, made pesto with goat cheese and tossed it with roasted potatoes and green beans.  It is really good.  I had lunch and read my newspapers.  I went to a West Coast Swing lesson and Paulette brought Shae to come home with me.  I thought she would go to sleep easily after a shower and snack.  Although very quiet she did not sleep until about 9:30.

It's 9:30 Monday now and we have been for a bike ride for her and walk for me to the pond where we saw a daddy duck and a baby duck and three jack rabbits.  Shae is playing dominos and when I finish here I get to play with her.

Friday

We are waiting for Paulette to come get us for the Monarchs game tonight.  I have resorted to a timer and cartoons to avoid answering the "When is Auntie P coming?" question a thousand more times.

Yesterday on the way home I heard a mother of a young child describe her life as:  "Molly gets up and gets on the Molly train and I get on the Molly train and away we go all day long."  I can say I  get on the talking Shae train every morning.  

Thursday we had our final party at my school.   Shae went with the kids to watch Cinderella until it was time to eat. Yes we had watched it two days ago.  The party, a huge success, included the giving of certificates to students for their hours in class.  AND of course a lot of homemade Mexican food.  Shae tried nopales (cactus) salad.  She liked it but didn't ask for seconds.  One of my students pointed out there were some real hot peppers in it.  She didn't get any of them in her mouth.

 We came home and she played with the art supplies Maria Paz had given her.   I finished David's T-shirt quilt.  It is not fancy but it holds his sports, concert and other memories together in one place.  And there are not five boxes of T-shirts in their garage.  Shae helped me take out all of the safety pins I had used while tying and binding the quilt.  An exciting game for about fifteen minutes.  

We went to  the swimming pool for a about thirty minutes.  She broke the no running rule so no swimming today.   When she was talking to her mother this afternoon she said "I didn't go swimming today."  There was a pause and I said tell her why.  Shae covered the mouthpiece of the phone and said, "She didn't ask."  Daddy had already asked why  so it was no secret.

We had a snack and it was time for a little bicycle ride to the duck pond.  We had a nice walk and ride to the pond and she got to take a couple of pictures with her (not digital) camera.  I am amazed at how much she can talk, how many questions she can ask and every answer requires a WHY.  I am saying there is no why.  I get a puzzled look and she says "OK" and goes on to the next question.

We had garlic, chicken and pasta for dinner along with some potato salad I had made.  She likes my potato salad and said she had never had potato salad before.

Bedtime took a while because of phone calls to say goodnight.  Here's how it went:  She called David, not available,  then Robin was unavailable.  As we hung up Denise called from Florida.  Of course she had to talk to her for a few minutes.  While we were talking Robin called back.  Then we called back to Robin.  Then everyone had to say goodnight and she wanted to start over again.  We read two  short books and she went to sleep.

Today we went to Dixon to clear out some stuff and junk.   That done we went to Davis for lunch and bought some post cards for her to send her family.  We shopped at the coop and picked up the box of vegetables.  A trip to midtown Sacramento for my race number for Sunday and we were home.  It was rest time.  Yes, for both of us.  We had a snack, she wrote her postcards and we mailed them when I picked up my mail.  She got a letter from home and was very excited.  We played Animal Rummy for as long as I could.  Now this darn waiting.

GO MONARCHS!

PS

I forgot to tell you all about our two encounters with "wildlife":  Monday morning a ladybug rode all the way to Dixon on the windshield.  It crawled behind the windshield wiper for the freeway drive.  I guess it didn't want a second ride--It was gone when we went home.  Then when I was cutting some fresh apricots, there was a worm inside who seemed to be eating the pit.  Shae corrected me when I said it was eating the seed.  When she looked she  said, "You mean the pit."  My bad.

Tuesday

We left home very early (6AM) to have coffee with my friend Adrienne. Shae, a real trooper, dressed, brushed teeth and hair and buckled into her car seat without protest. Perhaps she was just dazed at the early hour.

At Marketplace she pointed out "the three little pigs" dancing in front of Noah's bagels and Peet's coffee. I asked what kind of bagel she liked. "What are my options?" she asked. She chose sesame seed--not toasted, no cream cheese. From the juice options she chose Mango Tango over Monster C and orange.

Adrienne arrived, we ate, drank Mango Tango and lattes and talked. Shae asked to see Adrienne's bicycle after she found out she had ridden it. She told Adrienne I had bought her a camera and added "It's not digital." (It's single use)

In the computer lab she continued to click away on the English Rosetta Stone program. After our break and snack she stayed with Maria Paz (babysitter) and the Spanish speaking kids. It helped there was a girl in class who spoke English.

We visited the district office to pick up the student certificates. She explored Telly's desk while Telly answered questions about everything. She had half-and-hour nap on the drive home.

After lunch she rode her bicycle (She rides, I walk, jog and run) to the polling place so I could vote. The poll workers, all grandparent age, talked to Shae. One man asked if her bicycle was registered and did she have a license. She said, "No" with a very worried look on her face. I told him she was from Nevada. He said. "That explains it. You're OK" She gave him half a smile. Biking back to the apartment, we change to swim suits and have time for a half-hour swim.

We dry off, dress and have a snack. Then watch Cinderella (I admit I dozed from the losing of the glass slipper to the end of the wedding.)

Auntie P showed up just after Shae started asking "When will Auntie P be here?" Continuing our busy day, we stopped at Michael's to buy soap for Paulette's class to make father's day gifts. Then Paulette went into Home Depot to find out about the first Saturday craft hours. We ate Swedish meatballs, mac and cheese and frozen yogurt at IKEA for dinner. Shae went home with Paulette. I watched two episodes of Ballykissangel (I get this BBC comedy from Netflix.)

Wednesday she will come home with me after my Argentine Tango lesson.

Our first full day together

Tonight Shae is too tired to type her own entry.  Since we read Animals live in Trees she has not asked for anything, no water, no I forgot to tell you something.  I peeked in and she is sound asleep.  WOW.

We went to work this morning.  She followed me around as I opened the classrooms and got ready for class.  I took her to the babysitter, Maria Paz.  (Maria takes care of our students' children.)  After about 45 minutes Maria came to get me.  Shae was afraid and didn't want to stay because all of the kids were speaking Spanish.  So she joined me with my students in the computer lab.  I gave her the English Rosetta Stone disc and showed her how to listen and click and for the next 45 minutes she clicked away.  "I really like that disc." she said as we made our way to break time.  In the classroom she was a hit with the five ladies who were in class.  (You can tell it is the end of school--attendance is very low.  Until the party.)  The ladies practiced their English by asking her questions.  

After class we went to COSTCO.  "Are we in Reno?"  She asked as we walked toward the doors.  "No this is Woodland."  It struck me that children are growing up without being able to tell they have crossed a state line.  And they are seldom more than twenty from a favorite, or at least familiar, fast food store.  We had COSTCO Pizza for lunch.

After a twenty minute rest for both of us we hit the swimming pool for an hour.  Washed the pool water out of our hair and set off for Longs Drugs.  I walked and Shae rode her bicycle.  For me. alone, it is a ten minute walk each way; including our ten minutes inside we were gone about  an hour.

After dinner we started watching ANNIE--too many things to explain so we watched Shrek one.  She is not old enough for ANNIE.  I found I didn't like it very much anyhow.

Shae's visit

Here's Shae with Daddy and Skyler at 5pm on Sunday when Daddy and Skyler left to go back to Reno.

After church in Reno, Daddy and Skyler and Shae drove for three hours to Sacramento.  

We all went swimming and Auntie P came to Grandma's and swam with us.  We had a lot of fun in the water.  Shae's life jacket works very well and she is learning too move herself around in the water.  Skyler brought his water rockets to throw in the pool and dive to get them.

Grandma cooked chicken and rice and made a salad and we had dinner.  We had vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Shae will type her own message:

to mom dad  skyler sterling    I   love   you and   miss you. shae

kykh0jkjkikk8ku9uui,mihnmnmn   vv ,,,kjllfkykn,kty;[]o7oypy-6-6-=--pokpllopk[[;[']'g]'\\

Shae tried her touch typing here and we don't know what it say.