December

 

 We were sure Greger would start walking this month--and he did take a single tentative step a couple of times--but he's still motoring quadraped style. He loves to "sing;" any time music comes on, he is happy. He loves to give high fives and raspberries and occassionally bursts into applause. He mastered the art of safely getting down the one step in our house and is now applying the same maveuver to higher surfaces like sofas and beds.

Luci loves to count in English and Spanish and identify printed numbers and letters. She's been a lot more into imaginative play lately and has taken to carrying around Gus's stuffed fawn and pretending it's her baby/wrapping it up as a present. She loves her BSF class and asks to go there frequently. She also just leveled up in her swim class and can swim and float independently now. She's asked to take dance classes in the new year while her brother is in gymnastics. We took her and Gus to see the Nutcracker (a full, live performance with orchestra), which may have inspired the dancing bit. She did really well during the show.

Matching pajamas!

She is so diligent when she has a job to do. She very carefully piped the whole gingerbread house.

Why color with crayons when you can cut them up?

 Gus loves all things Star Wars, including Star Wars easy reader books and Star Wars Legos. I also put some audiobooks on his tablet that he's spent a fair amount of time listening to. He's been creating books, cards and notes for his friends and family this month. One of my favorite things about age 5 is the look he gets on his face when he is acquiring some new piece of information. You can almost see the 5,000 questions formulating.

He loves having a little brother.

It's hard to see here, but he has Greger on a leash. And they were both enjoying themselves thoroughly...

Gus is really enjoying Christmas music this year. He went and got his long-neglected guitar down when I started playing the Christmas music.

Other Things That Happened...

Clove oranges and Christmas cards were made.

Gingerbread house was built.

Pizzookies were had.

We broke down and bought a minivan. "Blue Steel."

Visiting daddy at work.

Gus and Lu saw their first Nutcracker at the same place I saw my first Nutcracker, the Center for Performing Arts in downtown. They refused to cooperate for ANY pictures...

The popcorn machine Grammy and Papa gave us for Christmas was a hit.