Look At Me~I'm 3!!

Three years ago today, they laid you into my arms, our Sweet, sweet Skyler Leona Short with golden hair and beautiful blue eyes. God whispered into our ears, "I have a special Angel for you both".  

You are such an independent little girl with a giving soul, full of adventure and grace. You're our special Princess and a living reminder of the joys and the tremendous blessings of Parenthood! Thank you Skyler for tickling our hearts and holding it with invisible ties. Happy 3rd Birthday, Miss Precious! It's been an incredible three years and your Daddy & I will never forget the first time we fell in love with you....It was instantaneously and our love for you continues to grow deeper and deeper, every second of every day! 

May 29, 2009 

"I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 1:4

Turning 3....

It's time to round up all of Skyler's friends and celebrate with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the Toy Story Gang. Yeap, you heard it loud and clear. Miss Precious is turning 3 (unbelievable~were does the time fly) and she's chosen to have her birthday party at Explorations V Museum, staring Woody himself!

The BIG celebration kicks off tomorrow at noon and will revolve around her favorite character, Woody. For those of you who are unaware of Disney's movie "Toy Story", Woody is a pull string cowboy sheriff doll who happens to be the leader of a group of toys that belong to a boy named Andy Davis. All the toys come to life when humans are not in site. It's a delightful and irresistible computer animation feature. Just viewing all the bright toys will reawaken the kid in us! Ain't that right, Uncle Dog?

As much as I wanted our Sweet Pea to have a Princess themed or Fairy flowing party, she picked her ultimate favorite, Sheriff Woody Pride, Mr. Sound of Reason where no toy gets left behind! She's definitely got her own voice and isn't afraid to speak her mind! No harm in that. 

Tonight, we relaxed and took one last look at all party favors before the ultimate festivities begin! Skyler is so excited for tomorrow. When we picked up her amazing cake, she got so giddy and sang "Happy Birthday To Skyler" during the entire shopping trip. Every head in Publix turned. She's a charmer and a very happy little girl! Can't wait to share it with you all, so bookmark us! 

A few cards started trickling in before her actual May 29th birthday. Skyler still enjoys getting mail addressed to her! She's so beautiful and our greatest blessing ever.

Above: Cards from Auntie Cheryl, Uncle Charles & the Gang on the Farm 

Above: From Betty Lou & Ron (left) & Auntie Kevie & Uncle "Dog" (right)

Creating Milestones

Witnessing Skyler develop from a infant to a toddler was amazing. We're now watching one of the greatest developments of all. Toddler to Pre-K. Skyler is such lover for school. She is now more graceful, coordinated and such a complex thinker. She can easily follow directions and can focus on a task. Recently, the school administrator told me that Skyler has the skills of kindergartners. As parents, Tom and I work with her daily with a variety of  language art building skills.  

Sky knows her alphabet, knows letter recognition & even knows how to letter match. She can spell her name and can count to 30. Colors and shapes are a thing from the past! She indulges in books and educational games. The following pictures are a few examples of our "one-on-one" academic process. This game serves three purposes: Memory, Discovery of "Letter" Sounds and Matching Upper Case to Lower Case Letters. I find it fascinating that she can point out any letter that you ask for and can also match the Upper Case to the Lower Case. 

Her memory is quite impressive. Daddy will put down nine cards at a time. After she views each one, he then turns the cards over and calls out a letter. Skyler then picks out & turns over the correct card!  

Many have inquired about her fondness for school. She truly soaks up every minute. This week's theme was about Ladybugs and the bible lesson was "Encouraging One Another". (how appropriate on both counts!)  The children made ladybugs hats and Sky kept hers on throughout the entire day. She was proud and couldn't wait to show her Daddy!

Her coloring habits have stayed the same. Still precise and grouped. When I walk into her classroom, artwork from the children, fill the walls. I can stand back, scan the room quickly and always pick out my daughter's "master pieces". Funny, but always! While other children scribbled a variety of colors, leaving no white paper left to be seen, Skyler's creations look like this: 

"What fun things did you do in school today?" is an exciting question that I get to ask at noon and Skyler is always eager to share her day. I've realized there is no magical recipe for successful parenthood, but if we just continue to praise her accomplishments and strengths while providing support and encouragement whenever needed, I'm certain we're heading in a positive direction for a successful relationship along with a great attitude!

Boogie-Woogie!

Cleaning house always comes with assistance from Skyler. We turn on some catchy children's gospel songs and off we go. After cleaning this past Saturday morning, the Princess used her body to express emotion and explore the ways her body can move. I believe she feels music in ways some of us adults have forgotten! It's always a delight to watch and it sure makes me giggle.

We listened to all ten tracks of Cokesbury's, Operation Overboard, Care To Go Deep With God CD. I've signed Sky up for Vacation Bible School at her school, First Steps, the week of June 25th. All parents were encouraged to start playing the audio now so the children can learn the songs that they'll be singing/performing during opening and closing assemblies. We were fortunate to know six out of ten, especially our favorite, "Blessed Be Your Name", a popular praise song!

While the music blared, these moves emerged!

                    Singing the words "Glory To God"....           

Skyler then decided to be apart of the band. Did I mention how loud it got?

She substituted tea cups for Bongos......Talk about an imagination.......And please, do not get any ideas for a future purchase! Mum?!?

I decided to jump in and sing! Here's Skyler's response....lol!

(Still sporting those beautiful blue eyes)

Did your weekend include any dancing? Playing musical instruments? If not, pop on over. You'll find it at the Short Household, daily!

Afternoon Delight

Skyler and her Daddy decided to share in some yummy fun and make brownies for the teachers at her school. They started off with Ghirardelli mix and fresh farm eggs hand snatched from the Princess herself during our recent visit to Auntie Cheryl's.

Perhaps the best part to baking is licking the batter of the beaters, which Skyler did while Daddy was pouring the mixture into the baking dish. Mmm-Mmm-Good!

 Of course she didn't forget the spatula....

The hardest part is waiting while smelling all that goodness!

Success & Smiles for sure!

Ever since our Sweet Pea turned two, Daddy and Skyler have always spent Tuesday's & Thursday's together out on the town. They just happened to spend it at home this past Thursday. It was enjoyable to hear the laughter from the other room and also pop into the kitchen to snap a few pictures. The teachers were delighted and thought it was a great treat to end their week.

Papa's Tree

If you were ever fortunate to spend any quality time with Skyler's Papa then it's correct to make the assumption that he definitely improved your life. Keep America Beautiful is the largest improvement organization in the United States, focusing on beautification. So how fitting it became when the local Cleveland chapter dedicated a tree in my Father's honor. 



I briefly include a small story regarding the tree dedication in my last post. You may recall that Auntie Cheryl, Gammy, Skyler and myself met with five board members of Keep America Beautiful, a county commissioner and Auntie Cheryl's Pastor, Brother Green for the memorial. Here's a sweet picture of Skyler and Brother Green sharing time together at Papa's tree.

Auntie Cheryl picked a London Poplar Tree and the location was chosen on the Greenway Trail about a quarter of a mile from her office. Perfect for daily visits! We were interviewed by Lucie Wilson and the story was featured on the front page of the Cleveland Daily Banner that Sunday. I thought it made Mother's Day extra special.

I've often shared with many of my friends and family members about Skyler's conversations with her Papa. They truly are unbelievable and we feel blessed that she tells us these remarkable encounters. Lucie, the newspaper journalist, interviewed Sky and asked her if her Papa had expressed his feeling about the dedication. The Princess smiled and said, "Yes, Papa is here and he's very happy. He wants a purple tree"! We chuckled regarding the purple tree part but minutes after arriving to the tree, the tag that was blowing from the trunk read, "London Poplar-Color Rouge. How close is that to purple! *Amazing* If interested, you can read all about the story here:
 http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/18576987/article-Tree-fitting-dedication--to-a-beloved-dad or just browse the attached article.

Although many tears were shed, the day couldn't have been any prettier. In fact the only way that ceremony could have been any better was if Auntie Nicola was there in person instead of spirit. She was greatly missed.

Papa's legacy lives and every tree is a living legacy.  What a unique tribute that will grow stronger and stronger each year. The blessings that Papa brought us were as numerous as the leaves on his tree. I look forward to visiting Papa's tree with Skyler and the rest of my family. Long may it stand, reaching ever upward, to embrace the light & warmth of Heaven above.

May 29, 2009.......Love at first sight.

Rocky Mountain Tennessee Take III

Tennessee...a state so beautiful we always visit twice a year! One of the joys of our annual Girl's Trip is the amazing hospitality from my sister Cheryl. I also need to add "relaxation" on the farm amongst all the beautiful animals.

Gammey, Skyler, Laney and I arrived shortly after 3 Wednesday afternoon. After our delightful greetings, Sky received an Easter bag filled with many goodies, including her favorite accessory....pretties from Auntie Cheryl! 

The Princess expressed her love and appreciation with kisses and hugs for Auntie Cheryl.

Skyler wasted no time in putting on her pink cowgirl boots so she could collect fresh eggs with her new basket and also greet her furry friends. All smiles ahead.......

There were two new additions to the farm. Thelma & Louise, the sweetest & most friendliest baby goats you'll ever pet!

Mousse, the Donkey, is a huge Skyler fan. Each year we visit, this Donkey has always been quite fond of Sky, constantly following her around the property. I'm not sure if it's Skyler's sweet scent or if he just enjoys the camera!

After greeting all her four legged pals, she was on a mission to find George, the cat. He's 17 years old, moving slower, but still affectionate.

Uncle Charles got home from work and after a brief chat, they both decided to go for a quick dip in the pool. I wasn't brave enough for the high 70's water temps! Sky got a visit from her pal, Bob-Cat, before and after her pool excursion. It was a relaxing Wednesday evening and we all went to bed early to get ready for our Downtown adventure on Thursday!

THURSDAY:

We spent the entire day in downtown Cleveland. It was full of shopping, meeting up with friends and enjoying God's sunshine as we attended Papa's tree ceremony later that afternoon.

Lunch at Olive Garden was delicious and it was extra special to spend it with Brother Green & his wife, Miss Anita. Brother Green is Auntie Cheryl's Pastor. During Papa's illness, he traveled to Florida a few times just to pray with my Dad & Mum. He also gave a lovely eulogy at my father's funeral.

Gammey presented Brother Green with Papa's coveted Harley Davidson watch for his birthday. My Dad loved riding and cherished that watch, so we couldn't have thought of a better person to wear while biking through the mountains!

Brother Green was quite emotional, but loved the gift. He truly loved my Dad.

After lunch, we were off to Auntie Cheryl's office to meet up with members of the local Keep America Beautiful organization and some city councilmen. Sky always enjoys an  elevator ride. This one was extremely fun for the Princess because it has glass windows that overlooked the scenic property.

Skyler made herself at home as we spent some time in Auntie Cheryl's office including the computer keyboard. Perhaps she was working on Auntie Cheryl's next landfill contract!

We headed downstairs to the parking lot and then made our way down the beautiful Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway Path. The trail is almost 4 miles that weaves it's way through the northern part of Cleveland. There are many trees dedicated along the path and now one includes a remembrance for Peter L. Green, a devoted husband, amazing Dad and loving Grandfather. Here are some pictures of our emotional ceremony. I will be doing a separate post about the Tree Dedication in my next blog. I also tend to share many pictures with a wonderful newspaper article.

Our family certainly had a beautiful day. We arrived back to the farm in the evening and relaxed. Because of George's age, he now sleeps inside. Skyler found George and cuddled up with him after dinner. She has such a passion for animals....big or small!

FRIDAY:

One adventure that we always look forward to is spending a full day in Chattanooga. Of course this includes dining at Big River Grille & Brewing Works for lunch. We first took Skyler to the Children's Creative Discovery Museum (pictured above) and it was a smashing good time! Sky is a member of our local Children's Museum and was eager to explore this facility, just like she does back home!

And explore she did....

The Princess is a music enthusiast so we were not surprised by the amount of time she devoted to the Music exhibit! See for yourself....

There was even a craft area. I'm certain Skyler felt as if she was back at Preschool.

Skyler even became a young Paleontologist. She dug in the simulated field site and uncovered dinosaur bones!

Here are more shots taken through out the Museum...

Once we arrived back to the farm, Skyler was ready to greet all the animals, especially Mousse!

They were not in the barn, so we roamed the 10 acre property. I just can't get over how the horses and donkeys gravitate to her. So sweet! Anyway, Gorgeous photos below.

Later that evening, Uncle Charles joined Skyler in coloring and then cozied up with Auntie Cheryl and Cody, the newest dog addition o the household.

SATURDAY:

On Saturday we were off to Dayton to spend the day at the Strawberry Festive. Did lots of walking around all the booths and then ventured back to downtown Cleveland for some more shopping. Thank goodness our Sweet Pea likes to shop. True girl indeed! We had a late lunch at Gardner's Market, a fresh delicatessen restaurant featuring a bake shop and imported foods, mostly from the England, stocked on their shelves for purchasing. Brought back some fond British memories. While we waited for our food, Sky enjoyed the over sized rocking chair and then enjoyed a fun hand game with Gammey after eating.

It was our usual trip to the barn for fresh eggs. A daily excursion for Farmer Skyler.

Check out all her eggs in the basket and also Thelma & Louise...

Another evening visit with George..

SUNDAY:

I woke up to my favorite day, Mother's Day! How wonderful to spend it with my own Mum and share it with my daughter plus sister. Although it was our last day on the farm, we still had a busy day planned. We enjoyed a uplifting service at Auntie Cheryl's church and then gathered at Cafe Roma (another favorite) for a fantastic lunch. Here's our Princess just before church...

I'm a lover for now & then photos, so you just had to know I was going to include a batch in this post. We've now made three Annual Girl Trips and I also take a picture of Skyler in front of Auntie Cheryl's refrigerator, so we can compare the changes, especially in height. My-oh-my how she's grown. I think she just gets prettier and prettier by the day. See for yourself!

2012 (above)

2011 (above)

2010 (above)

Ta-Da! Now-2012! (above)

Here's a quick photo taken during our delicious lunch with Uncle Charles, Auntie Cheryl, Gammey and Sky.

All smiles after a fabulous day!

The dreaded clock neared 3:30 and we knew it was time to travel home to Florida. Although we split the drive up into two days, we wanted to make it to our hotel before dark and get comfortable. It's always sad saying goodbye, but I try to reflect upon the many new memories we've just made, so it will bring a big smile to my face! Cheese!

Skyler made her rounds of saying goodbye...

Huge thanks to Auntie Cheryl for providing an abundance amount of love and fun! It certainly was S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R! Here's to next year's Trip #4 and counting!  

Before closing, I just want to share my Mother's Day cards. I am truly blessed. I got cards from my Mum, my sister's Cheryl & Nicola, my loving Husband Tom, my Sister-in-Law Kevie and my friend, Brian.

I had to save the best for last......