Rudolf, the red-nosed ... toddler?

Miss P. has been growing like a weed even more than usual. She's been complaining of what we think are growing pains in her knees, and has also been really clumsy recently. At the same time, she has discovered a penchant for climbing. Chairs, tables, night stands. Whatever she can get to, she climbs on. This week, though, she had to pay a price for that dare-devilry. Two days in a row, she ended up flat on her face, with the results as shown. Doesn't seem to bother her too much, though.

US News & World Report Rankings Are In!

Not that I place much value on these types of rankings, but I'm thinking our kids having citizenship of thee of the top four is not bad... :)

Graydon the Jaguar

Texas Oktoberfest

This one was actually in October, but it's still way too hot! Still, the little ones put on their traditional garb (we don't have any that fits Graydon!) and went to listen to oompah music and eat sausage and sauerkraut. Everyone enjoyed the bounce houses thoroughly and Graydon was very excited with his face paint!

It's just a regular day at our house

Thought it was time for more impressions from our house!

Huh.

This is what happens when Daddy leaves town for a week and Mami is on her own. Put Wiley in the tub and went to check on Graydon doing his evening homework after a long afternoon of math pentathlon club and soccer practice. Came back to find Portia had joined her brother in the tub. The kicker was that when I went to take off Portia's clothes and ridiculously swollen diaper, I found that she had pooped, too! The grin really says it all, little stinker! Also kudos to Huggies for making a diaper that withstood that kind of abuse and didn't spread poop all over the tub!

Visit from Ebo and Erika!

We enjoyed our visit from Ebo and Erika that (sadly) ended last week. We enjoyed our hike (and swim) at Hamilton Pool and hanging out during Graydon's soccer practice. We also say a big thank you for the great soccer gear they brought - in all three sizes! Here is Portia modeling the smallest. :)

Graydon's Art

Graydon has really come a long way with his art in the last year or so. He has gone from drawing what were essentially glorified stick figures at the start of kindergarten to this most recent example. He copied (freehand, not traced) the hummingbird from a drawing on the internet, but he did all of it by himself, from outlines to textures to shading and all the detail. He spent at least an hour if not more quietly focused on it, too. This mama is impressed.

Tanner kids, take note!

I found this chart from Ms. Montessori - seems reasonable to me!