September Swing

Just when we thought the unbearable heat and endless drought would never end, September arrived to save us!

The older kids started 6th grade (!!!) and are loving it. Sarah is in band this year, playing trumpet. So far she seems to like it, though she hasn't been eager to play for us yet.

Grant enjoyed the Open House night at the school, especially the lockers.



Much to our dismay, Sunny (who has been Grant's nanny since he was 2 months old) decided to go back to school, and Grant misses her a lot.

We have had a couple of "cool" weather breaks, finally! It's so nice to be able to get outside and play more. Also, I am happy to put long pants on Grant since he seems to scrape his knees EVERY TIME we go outside.

We've been spending more time at our favorite park, and Grant really likes all the leaves that are falling.



I guess I need to get used to the tidal wave of "activities" that comes with every September, because it is bound to get even busier as the years progress. Our part of Dallas has a large and very active local early-childhood PTA group that I've joined. They had a kick-off party a couple of weekends ago, and it was packed with families and kids close to Grant's age. He loved the fire truck, of course. I'm hoping we will get know some of the kids he will go to school with in a couple of years.



Our new nanny is Jessica. She and Grant have a lot of fun. He's old enough now to enjoy things like "Story Time" at the library so Jessica took him to one yesterday. He loved the story and singing, but then discovered that there was: A COMPUTER. THAT HE COULD PLAY WITH. OMG. So he was beyond thrilled with that visit. My sweet little nerd.

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Summer

Despite the unrelenting 100+ degree weather, we've managed to have a ton of fun so far this summer.

Almost every evening, and on weekend mornings also, when the backyard is relatively shady, we go outside to "play splash" with the hose and sprinkler and pirate boat full of water (sometimes the dog's water bowl too). It's most fun when the big kids play too, and often Sarah will get out the sidewalk chalk. She and Grant have a blast making art/messes in the driveway. All this running and playing in the back yard does have its downside, though.

A few times EARLY in the morning before it gets oppressively hot, we've gone over to a little park to play and walk around in the grass field next to it. 

Grant has just suddenly learned to go down slides fearlessly by himself.

He's also learned to go up and down stairs somewhat safely (on his belly), though if we're not vigilant he stands up and tries to go down the way grownups do. He doesn't yet have a full measure of respect for gravity.

His vocabulary has gone through the roof. For a while I was trying to keep a list of words he was saying regularly, but he went from about 50 to 75 one week, the next week was over 100, and now I've lost all hope of keeping track. He can and will say almost anything (or at least try). I get surprised on a daily basis by words he says that I've never heard him say before. Today he pointed to his wooden Zebra toy and said "BEEZA!" which is both close and adorable.

Yesterday when I got home he ran to me, put his arms around my legs and said "HUGS!" I love that boy.
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Kids with Cameras

Another installment. Enjoy!

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Kids with Cameras

I have an inexpensive digital camera that we bought while on a trip without the battery charger for my regular camera. I like to leave it lying around the house, maybe on the coffee table, or on the kitchen counter. At 8 years old, the kids are more than capable of operating this camera, and could quite possibly operate the space shuttle, but we adults don't want to think about how digitally outpaced we are by our children. Anyway, they like to pick this camera up and go around the house with it while they play. I love finding it every now and then and checking to see what they've been taking pictures of. It's always hilarious what they find picture-worthy and how they ham for each other. I can't get enough of these little glimpses into their world.

Here's a great catch, probably from last weekend:















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