Thanksgiving

It has been another busy month, By far the highlight was our Thanksgiving visit from Grandpa and Nana. We had quite a crowd at our Thanksgiving this year - 16 people including kids - and we definitely could not have done it without help from the grandparents. Of course, I took zero pictures of Thanksgiving, but it was a feast - turkey, ham, stuffing, squash, potatoes, wild rice, pies, cake.... We definitely went overboard but at least no one went home hungry.

Grady was a big help with the Thanksgiving shopping. He made his own list (scribbles except for the word "HAM" - everything was crossed off by the end of our trips).

The day after Thanksgiving we all went aboard the Holiday Express for a slow train ride along the Willamette. Although really that was just pretext for the real highlight of the trip - candy canes.  I tried to time our trip with the sunset, but instead timed it with the rainiest weather we've had all month!

Still no candy canes

First Santa experience. He's not buying it

Clara doesn't even realize Santa is there, such is the power of the candy cane

The visits always go by so fast, but it was wonderful to see Grandpa and Nana while they were here. The kids, as always, particularly enjoyed being read to and just generally showing off.

The other big event of the past month was the destruction of our tree out front. When Peggy and Jeff were here last month, a huge branch fell off, narrowly missing the mailman. (And this despite having it trimmed just a few weeks earlier.) Because the tree was deemed to be a danger, we got it removed. The removal process was pretty exciting, and the kids - especially Grady - loved climbing on the pieces of trunk after it was taken down. In fact, he loved it so much that there were quite a few tears when someone came to take them away. Thank goodness for Westmoreland Park's tree and rock climbing stations!

Everyone watches

Bird-shaped rot

No more tree

On to the kids. Grady is doing really well at school. He is learning a lot of French and is starting to read. He can sound out words and write them down (as in "HAM") and can recognize some words now while reading. He has become interested in theater, and likes to lead a "theater class" for Clara and Theo. I am taking him to see Mary Poppins this weekend. I hope he likes it.

The big news coming up is that Grady will be having his reflux surgery next week. Grandpa will be coming out to help with the other kids and cooking. It will be stressful but Grady is a brave kid and we will get through it. '

Clara is also doing well. She is getting close to being potty trained, which will be wonderful when it's done but right now is in that slightly stressful stage. She is somewhat interested in French, but only wants to learn words like poop and pee. She has been really enjoying music and singing lately, making up her own silly songs and singing them loudly. She has also been very interested in her babies, making sure they have blankets for bed that are carefully spread out (often in the middle of the kitchen). She and Grady have been playing really well together lately too, often for hours without needing much intervention.

Theo has officially said his first word - "CAT." He refused to say it the entire time Grandpa and Nana were here of course, but he has been spouting it off before and since.

He is also beginning to scoot forward after a month or so of backwards scooting.

The problem with backward scooting

It is somewhat painful to watch, since it looks like it requires so much effort. He is already getting into trouble - yesterday scooting to knock over Grady's tower before moving on to my wine glass.  (He's improved a lot even in just the few days since this video was taken.)

He is eating lots of solids now, and enjoying pretty much anything he can get.

Toast is good

Like, really good

But raw kale will do in a pinch

His sleeping has stagnated with one wakeup usually between 2 and 3, and then usually up for the day around 5:30-6:30. Not too bad.

And here is the usual random hodgepodge of photos. Enjoy!

Largely unstaged group photo

Clara and her skirts

Pants: overrated

SO excited to go out to eat

Selfie with my babies

Grady's biggest fan

Yoga time

Clara figures out how to get into Grady's bed

Clara leading a pack of 4-year-olds through the woods

Looking pretty with her hair back

Grady immediately gets to work adding spikes to Grandpa's card; Clara immediately gets to work coloring in Ida and her sister. (Everyone was really impressed by the cards, Grandpa!)

Music lesson