Friday morning I received an email asking if I was really coming to Friday Harbor and if so if I’d like to meet.  The email was from Sue .  If you’ve never visited her blog you’re missing out.  She does amazing work with crochet and right now she’s designing her own shawl pattern.  She was inspired by a sea urchin and the resulting pattern is beautiful.  She  knits, she crochets, she spins, she wins awards for her fiberworks,  you gotta go say hello to Sue.

Sue and her daughter Emma met us at Jackson Beach.  The kiddos played together (or should I say near each other).  Anna Grace spends very little time with other kids her age and so I don’t have a way of reinforcing the ideas of "share", "don’t take what others are playing with", etc.  Recently I have been toying with the idea (OK… more than toying… I signed the kid up) with putting her in daycare/preschool part time.  Seeing her play with Emma convinced me that this was the right path.

First, Anna Grace kept taking stuff and has no concept of why she shouldn’t.  A lot of that is being "two" but I can’t teach it, reinforce it, etc because she just doensn’t have the experience. Second, things Anna Grace would never try or couldn’t figure out (i.e. getting herself situated on the slide, using playground equipment, etc) she picked up immediately by watching Emma.  So, I know she could learn some not so great stuff at daycare but I think there will also be a benefit.  Anyway… Emma had a great effect on Anna Grace. 

Here’s they are at the beach….

It was really cold at the beach.  Not just by my standards, Dana said it was cold and so did Sue. So, it wasn’t just my little Florida self.  So… we headed into town a bit and went to a playground.

Anna Grace followed Emma, watched her do things and then decided she needed to do them herself.  This included figuring out how to get her legs out in front for using the big slide, deciding she must use the really big twisty slide. (This skill she still has.  Yesterday we went to the park and she bolted to the top of the big twisty slide.  I was a bit alarmed but she did great). 

Here’s Sue, Emma, Me and Anna Grace.  I really had a great time talking with Sue.  She’s very down to earth, easy to talk to and I’m so thankful we got a chance to meet.

Sue recommended a Thai place in town and we headed there for lunch.  Dana and I then put AG in the car and headed on a little driving tour while Anna Grace napped in back.