image diary: in the week before Christmas

and, of course, gracie

I used to worry if Grace was maybe a bit too busy. But, while it has been a super treat for me to have her home with me this last week, I have come to a new appreciation of how busy she likes to be. 

Grace LOVES school. This is no surprise. She is sad on half days, and even sadder on vacation days. She thrives being around people and having back-to-back tasks. Her progress reports have been really good, all 96%-100% marks except in handwriting. Her hand writing is where it should be developmentally, they just have really strict grading standards at her school - good thing it is just kindergarten! I love talking with her about the things she is learning. She is always so surprised to discover that I know a thing or two myself. Her reading abilities are growing and she is enthusiastic as ever about every assignment, recitation, and project that comes her way.

These pictures were taken at her class Thanksgiving presentation. She got to be a turkey with her best buddy, Taylor, during the play.

Piano lessons and dance class have been big highlights for her so far. She has a really easy time with the piano. I am grateful that I don't have to nag her about practicing - she is always willing. She is obsessed with doing pages out of her theory book. We are already into a second one. Often, I have to remind her to actually go play on the piano during her practice time. I'm trying not to push her hard as I know that practicing and weekly lessons will be a part of her life for the next several years. But I'm so so glad she enjoys it.

The dance studio we go to switched to new management shortly before we started. They didn't have a big Christmas recital this year, but instead had several smaller performances at the studio. Grace's class did a tap routine to I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Grace was super excited and didn't miss a step. Of the three focusses in her class, (ballet, tap and acrobatics) Grace still likes tap dancing best. I have casually asked her if she is going to want to do dance next school year too. She says she would love to do dance if she can play on Grant's soccer team as well. This won't be an option and when I pin her down to make a choice she isn't sure. Oh to be an only child!

Whenever she has a minute to spare, she can be found rummaging in the 'art cabinet' for a project to work on. This girl always has an idea in her head that needs materialization. She is always on the move.

We are so grateful that she is the oldest child in our family. More to her credit than my own these days, she has nearly perfect manners. She and I were talking the other day about secrets (more specifically how daughters don't keep secrets from their mommies) and she said, "I only have one secret." "Will you tell me your secret?" "Sure." Whispering, "Last is best. It is always nicer to let others go first. It makes me happy." She has regular 6-year-old moments that are less than great. But for the most part, she remains optimistic, inclusive, and thoughtful of those around her. She loves being Eden's big sister and Grant's best buddy.

grant lately

The biggest news in Grant's life lately is, without question, the last several weeks he has spent playing soccer. Our next door neighbors are serious about soccer. When Augie (above, right) told us he was going to coach a team for his son, Mattias, who is Grant's age we were quick to sign up. It is a great league that is hosted by a very local mega church. Their pre-k leagues play 40 minute, no-goalie games inside a field hockey ring (no out of bounds). They play same genders against each other. And, if the coaches are attentive to it, they have a prayer at the end of the game. Grant got to play with two of his best buds from our Church, Will and Jameson, and loves playing with Matti. I don't think any of the other families on our team, coaches included, attend CCV. But we all loved the league and will be back with Coach Augie in the Spring.

The name of Grant's team was the Torros (bulls). Coach was sure to get jerseys that match the color of his favorite South American team from Uruguay. The boys got the real futbal experience- plenty of Spanish at every practice and game! We loved it. The Torros were not very mighty in battle. A lot of our boys were on the young end of the age scale for their division. But they certainly improved throughout the season. At the very least, Grant learned how to run. It was something he had a hard time getting all his boney limbs to do before. By game 6 he was sprinting around like a regular kid. We consider the whole experience a huge success.

Matti, Grant, and Will. These guys are such buddies. Grant would get teary at the end of every practice and every game (not exaggerating) and would ask (beg) to go home and play more soccer. Or to go over to Mati's house to play more soccer.

Will, Grant, and Jameson. Can't wait for Spring season to start!

Other than his soccer outings, Grant is busy with preschool and with being toted around through Grace's schedule. If given the choice, he will skip school every time. But he genuinely enjoys going. He knows all his letters and the sounds they make. He can write several of them. He is quick with numbers. With thanks to Grace, Grant will sit and work on projects for long periods of time.  When I sit down to read to him, he will choose one book and ask for it to be read over and over again. This is opposed to Grace who will bring a stack of no less than 20 books to the couch.

If you were to ask him, he would say that he doesn't take naps anymore. In reality he still gets a nap almost daily. I pick him up from preschool and then we head straight to Gracie's school to wait in the pickup line. It is a good 45 minutes from the time I get him to the time we are walking through our door with Grace. He almost always falls asleep in the car within a few minutes of being picked up - especially if I bring his blankie. And on days that Grace comes home via carpool, Grant still sneaks in a little shut eye.

He has one edge of his blankie that he finds, even when he is asleep, to lace around his fingers. When he cuddles and sleeps his little fists are balled around this satin strip. The fabric is wearing paper thin in some spots...

We spent a majority of this year trying to tame his sensitive gag reflexes (remember how he would throw up his entire dinner if we tried to get him to try something that didn't suit his fancy?) and I'm happy to report that those days have been behind us for a little while now. I still find myself often feeding him bite by bite, particularly when we are having salad, in order to get him to eat. It is completely ridiculous. But he will eat every bite I put into his mouth when, if left to his own devises, he would rather do anything, including starve to death apparently, than lift a fork to his own princely mouth. I guess I should be grateful that he will down milk and fresh fruit like any three grown people put together. There have been plenty of meals where we have resorted to letting him have an apple, a banana, and a cup of milk. The picture above was taken on such an event, as a matter of fact. During the weeks that he is growing, however, look out. He falls asleep anywhere, any time and eats and eats and eats. I understand this only gets more pronounced as he gets older, right? Awesome.

Perhaps tied with kicking a soccer ball, Grant's favorite pass time is playing Wii. It is something we have had to reign in tightly. There are time boundaries and we have started requiring some chores from him before he gets to play. It is wonderful currency to have as his parent though. He is still prone to grouchiness. All I have to do is threaten taking away his Wii time and frowns are replaced with dimpled smiles every time.