Pretty Pink

This is a quick shot of the Rose of Sharon flowers starting to open in my backyard. 

Today was Ellie's last swimming lesson and she did awesome. She has improved a lot in her last two lessons. She was the only child that showed up for her class today so she got all the teacher's attention. She is now able to swim a full 15 feet without any floatation and in the last 10 minutes of the class she was learning better arm over arm form. Ellie is so excited to learn to swim correctly and she has been watching the advanced classes while she waits for her lessons to start. She caught on quite quickly. I don't think we will continue on with the next group of lessons; each session is $600. I think we will wait to see how she does on her own with us before we continue. I feel she is safe in the water and she is having so much fun with swimming now.

Thanks for your concern for Ellie. I don't think her mom will take Ellie with her anytime soon. She doesn't like to get up in the morning with her or spend time with her...except to get a hug from her or sit and watch a kid's show with her. I can't imagine her giving up her freedom to take care of Ellie.

We had a busy day with normal life at home this morning, then we went to the library and shopping before swim lessons. Later my son, Ellie's grandfather, wanted to take Ellie to the Tuesday market, food carts, music, car show event in Hillsboro. Ellie didn't want to go unless I went with her, so I went too. I shouldn't let her control me that way but it is difficult to say, "no" when there is already so much stress in her life. It was fun but I was ready to leave before anyone else. Ellie's mom showed up with an old high school friend. She was fine but her friend was her main attention and they didn't stay long. Ellie stayed very close to me; she is nice to her mom, but she has no expectations of her. I think she has given up on her mom being the kind of mom she wants and deserves. Ellie is a happy little girl...sways with the music and enjoys life...she seems to accept the reality of her life...she questions stuff (with me) and understands more than any 5-year-old usually needs to know.