To My Darling Chloe

Dear Precious Granddaughter, Even though it has been a very long time since I have seen you, you are always in my heart! I think of you often and always with smiles! I think about how sweet and loving you are. I think about what a wonderful big sister you are to baby Halle. Do you bug your big sister Amanda? I can only guess that you sometimes do. Little sisters have a way of doing that!

I can imagine that you are a great help to your mom and that you are source of fun and joy to your father. Do you know that your dad played with his sister, your Auntie 'Lyss, the same way that he plays with you? I seem to remember that she too would hide in plain sight thinking that she was invisible! I remember the time your dad chased her around the house and she started shrieking "You're a priest, you're a priest," to him! He stopped in puzzlement and asked her what she meant. Alyss replied, "You know, you hurt animals!" Travis probably scratched his head for a moment before the "light bulb" came on and said, "Oh, you mean a 'poacher?' " Who knows what was going through her head!

I think about how cute you are and the cute things that three-year-almost-four year olds say. I wrote down almost every cute thing Alyssa ever said in something I called "Alyssa-isms". I know at the time, we thought EVERY new stage of her development was the "best". Still, it seems to me that the 3s and 4s were pretty memorable....

I'm very excited that you are going to spend some time with your big Uncle Shane, Aunt Angie and your cousin Landon this summer. As my grandchild, I'm quite sure you not only have a little Latin flavor in your blood but you have salt water in your veins! By that, I'm of course referring to the love of the beach and the ocean that runs in this family's blood! I just got through putting the pictures of our time at Siesta Key Beach in my album. I believe it was your first beach trip. As I recall, you loved it--sand, water and all! I know you will have a very special time with your family....

Even though, some of the things I've written probably will be above your head, at least you will know that I love you, miss you, and look forward to seeing you again, whenever that might be. Don't forget us, Chloe.....

Love always and forever,
Grandma