Simmons Farm

(missing picture)
Gracie liked the pumpkin patch, the apples, and the pick your own flowers. She wasn't as keen on the farm animals. 

(missing picture)
I'm pretty sure she said "apple" today. :) She at least pointed and grinned when I asked her to show me the apple!

We are expecting. . . a cousin! Laurel will have baby #2 in May, 19 months apart from James!

The children of the neighborhood are playing "trade" today, toys flying fast from house to house. Jackson was lucky enough to score "the last sea serpent on the earth" from Charlie, a particularly enterprising friend.

New Word for Gracie Day

The word is "UP"!  Essie was here to hear it.  Other words in the vocab: Mama and Dada.

A big head = A big brain

Mary Clement had her 15-mo. appt. today. . .

Average height, but thin (10-25th %).

Head circumferance - 95%!

Harry: "Daddy's school is longer than how long we'll be in heaven."

I'm starting to wonder if homeschooling is the best idea for us. Matthew's lesson tonight as we walked to dinner at Hula Hut (thanks to my bday gift card from Laurel!): a pronoun is a noun that gets paid for being a person, place, or thing.

During the day we met Simone (and David and William) in Saledo, halfway between here and Waco and swam in the creek until we got kicked out by the park police. Yikes!

Tonight made Baked Lemon Pasta (with chicken) and Mocha Silk Pie
for friends (Kevin Stuart and Kody & Dee Cooper & son Cormac).

A marvelous day!

And, she's off. . .

Mary Clement took her first steps at the end of August, but is only now walking all the time. I took these videos a few weeks ago; she's a little more stable now. I include 2 b/c the first is so bright.

(2 videos missing)

Other little things of our day:

Mary Clement "talking" to Harry's Bear Backpack as if he's her close friend. . .

Jackson ran/walked 2 miles today (instead of our usual one) for Marathon Kids (you walk or run 26.2 miles over a few month's time), and very proud of himself, was heading to tell Matthew the details. Harry, trailing behind, said, "Am I the only one in this family who can whistle?" (this may be Harry's one thing that Jackson can't do).

Harry playing battle in the bathroom with all our toothbrushes.