I’m planning Chloe’s 11th birthday (yay!) and the theme she chose this year is “sleepover”. So I came up with dreamcatcher as an inspiration to design the invitation and decorate the house.

Flowers: Artificial thistle flowers + silver dollar eucalyptus + seeded eucalyptus + lambs ear leaf.

Chloe made us cards. Love her…

We are all busy making Thanksgiving dinner. (except for Shane who’s been playing video games in the family room.) 

Chloe is determined to perfect her apple pie again with a little help from Andrew. 

Ta da~ Chloe’s apple pie!
She wrote a really cool essay about her apple pie two years ago. Hope she writes about this one too!

Came home after Shane’s soccer game and we baked an apple cake and apple muffins. 

Apple cake made with whole wheat and no sugar. Not very pretty and not popular amongst my family but my mom and I like it. Not-so-guilty pleasure… 😉

We sat outside on the porch to carve pumpkins, enjoying this beautiful fall weather.

Taking a break!

I’ve been sewing every night for the last two weeks, designing and making Chloe’s dress for the father and daughter Princess Ball, a fundraising event organized by our town. This is her first time going to a formal event and I wanted to make her a special dress. I haven’t made clothes since my high school prom but I always thought about making clothes and this was a good excuse to start again. I finished this dress literally minutes before she had to go, while getting her hair and nails done simultaneously! I would say I definitely had the “make it work” moment from Project Runway. Lol. Chloe thinks I’m obsessed with that show. 🙂 I’m happy how it turned out, though I second guessed myself constantly and thought about buying a back-up dress just in case. Chloe approved the design and cheered me on, even though she said she’s not the “fancy type”. She was very happy with it which made all my sleepless nights so very worth it.  Thank you for trusting me to make your dress and happily wearing it. You are the sweetest! <3

Poems by Chloe:

Panther Hour
Whoosh the trees rustle
The night sings its lullaby and that when the panthers will come.
Their sleek black fur moves silently under the undergrowth, it slinks under the shadows
Its body brushing against the leaves, egging it to continue singing its song.

That’s when the panthers will come.
Their emerald eyes flash
Suddenly and poof they’re gone disappeared into the night

That’s when the panthers will go.
~~
The Song Of The Fish
Splash!

I jump in the air
My fins longing for the feel of water

I fell back and let gravity pull me down
back into the deep abyss of the ocean.
~~
Flag

 I am soaring through the air the wind talking to me trying,
To make me fly but alas!
I am stuck to the pole like a butterfly stuck in a spiders web.
But if I were released, I would soar like a bird
Free of being burdened by the pole.
~~

A short fiction by Chloe:

Sink or Swim
“Jonathan, honey you seem quiet. Are you okay? Should I check your temperature?” asked my Mom.
“No, Mom. I’m fine” I managed to answer but my words were carried away by the roaring winds of California bay. My Dad glanced at me from the rearview mirror and said cheerfully, “He’s fine, dear.” I nodded in agreement. We drove along the bay down the steep gravel path to the most beautiful beach I had ever seen, “Wow” I murmured in awe, for the sand was as white as snow and the ocean was a brilliant blue the most vibrant and the breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean. As dad started driving down the path to grandma Hope’s house I thought, maybe this trip will be relaxing and fun. I can’t wait to get started!  But boy, was I wrong.

Ding-dong, we were at Grandma Hope’s petite little beach house. I examined the house, it was sky blue and had flower boxes under the windows. She had an abundant garden, a pool, and a rocky path down to the beach.  I couldn’t wait for the actual summer to begin! Grandma Hope answered the door she had brown curly short hair and warm dark brown eyes that made me feel like I was special. “Come in, come in!” she chirped.  “ I’m so glad to meet your son Jonathan,” she glanced at me and gave me a ferocious bear hug, any uncertainty about her was immediately washed away and I felt at home. While the grownups talked I went up to my room and opened the door, and came into the coolest room ever! I quickly unpacked changed and fell asleep in the bed.

The next morning I woke up by the song of birds, I got dressed greeted Grandma Hope with a kiss, ate and helped with gardening. Later she told me to change into my swimsuit, I did as she asked then hopped into the car which she drove, all the way to the pool.  I started freaking out my hands got all clammy and sweaty,  we were at the pool, no it can’t be, but yes right in front of me was a sign that confirmed my worst nightmare. I put on my brave face for Grandma and walked to the pool with her. Grandma looked at me after 10 mins passed and I still wasn’t swimming, she asked, “ Johnny, why aren’t you swimming?”
“ I have a stomach cramp from er… breakfast!” I lied
“Okay” she replied. 10 mins passed and she fell asleep, apparently there was no lifeguard and all the parents were going to a club, this can’t be good I thought and I was right. 20 mins later  I spotted a little kid who entered the deep end and seemed to be drowning, I had to do something, my chest shook, I started sweating, with all my willpower I walked to the diving board and dived in, the cold water shocked me. I kicked and propelled my arms till I was swimming. I spotted a kickboard grabbed it and swam to the little kid, who seemed no older than three. I pulled him up and placed him on the kick board I  then grabbed it and kicked to safety. Apparently the parents saw what happened and one grabbed her baby off the kick board and showered him in kisses. She turned to me and expressed her gratitude but I didn’t hear I was lost in a memory… I  remembered when my best friend Bill drowned and….

That night Grandma came to my room we talked about my saving the kid, and about Bill…
she told me to let out all off my emotions and I did. I cried and cried till I fell asleep but before I lost conscious I said to Grandma Hope “Let’s go to the beach…”

Chloe had an incredible 4th grade! She’s become really responsible and she’s been great at being on top of her school work. I can’t say enough about how an amazing writer she is! She’s written so many stories, poem and essays during this school year, I’m just only getting through half of them. “Sink or Swim” is one of the short stories she’s written and I got chills from reading because her story seemed so real. Amazing.

Chloe and a few of her classmates are making a banner for Teacher appreciation day. Thank you class mom for planning a fabulous party!

Not only she did an amazing job on this poster, she gave a fantastic presentation about who her character is, her reasons for immigrating and her experience on the boat ride, at Ellis Island and how she lived thereafter. Her stories were so creative and imaginative based on real facts, I felt like tearing up listening to her stories! Two thumbs up Chloe!!

All of them did an awesome job.

Super proud of you!

Chloe worked so hard on this Immigration poster. Her character’s name is Sonia and she came from Poland.