kellirocha.com

Tag: Charlotte

  • Charlotte at Five

    Charlotte at Five

    It’s hard to believe our little spitfire Charlotte turns five years old this week. She is a bright light in our family and always keeps us smiling. Charlotte lives every minute of her life with an unmatched intentionality. She is focused, determined and confident. All of the traits you hope to see in a granddaughter.

    Charlotte loves school and is at the top of her class academically. During a recent project, Charlotte was asked what she would do with $100. She said she would give it away and keep one dollar for herself.

    She loves making arts and crafts and has mastered the use of scissors. She makes little pictures and gifts for us all the time. The most recent ones were heart-shaped Valentines with jewels and stickers. She recently celebrated 100 days at school by dressing up as a 100-year-old woman. (I love the hunch!)

    Charlotte still loves her baby Tootsie, Princess Tiana and Queen Elsa. She is equally satisfied dressing up in the house or digging for worms outside. She wants to try golfing and thinks watching Jameson’s flag football games is boring.

    Charlotte recently memorized The Lord’s Prayer, but she added another line. Just before “Give us this day our daily bread,” she pauses and says, “This is my favorite part.” (It’s mine, too.)

    We love this girl and are fascinated by how she learns to navigate the world. I have no doubt she will accomplish anything she sets her mind to. I hope she never loses this fire.

  • Grandkids Getaway 2024

    Grandkids Getaway 2024

    We’ve been traveling a lot the last few months, but we still managed to go on our Grandkid Getaway with Jameson and Charlotte. We squeezed in the trip just before they started the new school year, and it was a great way to celebrate the end of summer.

    We returned to Angels Camp once again, and when we told the kids we were going back, I was amazed at what they remembered from the previous year. They were excited to do some of the same things again, like the frog hunt and looking out for deer. Jameson even remembered our room number.

    Sierra brought the kids to us on Friday afternoon, and we headed up the hill. I kept telling the kids we would see some really big trees, and every time Charlotte spotted a tree, she’d ask, “Are those the really big trees, Granny?” We checked in, unpacked, explored the room, went swimming, and ordered a pizza for dinner.

    On Saturday morning, Jameson woke up at about 5:15 a.m. but graciously waited until 6:00 a.m. before entering our room. We ate a quick breakfast and headed to Calaveras Big Trees before it got too hot. Now Charlotte knew what I meant by really big trees. Our first little hike took us on an incline, and Charlotte complained. We decided to stay on the flat trail, and they were much happier. They had a ball following the map and reading about the different trees on the trail. But they really enjoyed greeting the other park visitors along the way.

    After returning from the state park and an afternoon swim, we traveled to San Andreas to attend Mass at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, where our former pastor (and friend) Fr. Bill McDonald was assigned. He spotted us as he processed in and gave us a shocked look. He then welcomed us by name in his opening remarks. The kids loved it. Hearing our names and the greeting really got their attention. We were also thrilled to see our (All Saints Parish) seminarians Josh and Josue serving at Mass with Fr. Bill.

    Sunday kept a slower pace, with two swim sessions, a movie, games and puzzles. As promised, we went on the frog hunt and even got in some golf practice. The kids enjoy swimming, but their favorite part of these trips is spending time in the room.

    These memories are precious. I tell all of my new-grandparent friends to start these trips early. It doesn’t have to be an exotic location to make it a memorable experience. (Our first overnight trip was to the DoubleTree in Modesto.) They are just happy exploring and spending time with us. I know that won’t always be the case, so I am taking advantage of the time they want to be with us now.

  • Best Day Ever

    Best Day Ever

    I’ve written previously about how great it is to be a grandparent. I am making every effort to soak it all in and stay focused and present whenever we are around them. The older they get, the busier they have become. They have parties, field trips, practice, lessons, playdates, and other activities that take up their time. I know their schedules are only going to get busier.

    I’ve learned from these kids that each event, task, or project has the potential to make it the “best day ever.” I’m sure their criteria for the best day ever will change as they age, but right now, it doesn’t take much to make it a great day.

    Recently, Charlotte and Jameson had a whole series of consecutive best days ever. With Jameson out of school for summer break and Charlotte home full-time after her daycare closed, they are always looking for new things to do. One day, they pulled out the Easy Bake Oven Charlotte received for Christmas. They donned their aprons and got to work, baking a strawberry (flavored) cake. When I asked them if they had fun, they told me it was the “best day ever.”

    They enjoyed their first day of swim lessons. Each one felt confident and brave. They didn’t want the lesson to end and declared it the “best day ever.”

    Later that same week, we attended Turlock’s 4th of July Parade right after the kids finished that day’s swim lesson. It was sweltering, and they were exhausted but excited to see their Uncle Jimmy and Cousin Matt driving their tractors in the parade. (This is always the highlight of every local parade.) They patiently waited and watched until they spotted them. Then they jumped up and down with glee, waving their hands and flags. On the way home, they talked about the parade and stated that this was, indeed, the “best day ever.”

    Experiencing these days with the kids has taught me a valuable lesson. It doesn’t take much to make it the best day ever. It’s not the event that matters; it’s the attitude that makes the difference. Each day has the potential to be the best day ever when we live in the moment. We will find it by examining our schedules and planned activities with a positive attitude and looking for joy. The clock resets each night, and we get the chance to do it again the next day.

    So, what will it take for you to experience the “best day ever?”