More ballet class

I caught a little more of Clara's ballet class on video today. She really is enjoying it, and I must admit that I am pretty proud of her. She has been working very hard and listening to her teachers.

Clara and Clay greet the day

This morning Clara and Clay both woke up in great moods.  I caught a little of their morning play on camera.

Clayton's First Word

 

Last night before going to bed Clayton said his first word to Clara and Grandma: "bye-bye" accompanied by a wave.  He did it over and over when he got such a great reaction.  This morning I was able to get him to repeat the act.

As for Clara, we are still going strong with home school.  This week she has been working on an Ocean theme and focusing on the letter 'H'.

 She has also been working on writing her name.  She has been able to spell it outloud for a while, but has just recently started to write it herself.

 She loved making paper octopuses, but we've had a time keeping them away from Clay.

Weekend Project

Well, we had a productive weekend.  I finally got the floors installed in our front hallway.  I had been dreading this particular room becuase it has 9 doorways and three closets which meant lots of measurements and cuts, but it actually went in surprisingly fast with the efforts of my father and brother.  Mom and Grandma Selma were also on hand to help with the kids so I could work on the floors.  

I still have the kitchen floor to lay, but after that our entire upstairs (less the sun porch and bathrooms) will have new flooring.  Plus, now that most of it is down we are no longer tripping over boxes of planks everywhere.  

To finish the hall I still need to cut a few thresholds, caulk and paint the trim, and finalize the wall paint color; but the end is near!

9 month and 3.5 year checkups

So today was a big day for doctor visits.  I knew it was Clay's 9 month check-up but when we got to the doctor's office they reminded me that Clara hadn't had her 3 yr check-up.  Luckily they were able to squeeze her in while we where already there.  Both kids got 2 immunizations (Clara was great for the first one, but after that wanted nothing to do with a second.  Poor Clay cried for both, but quickly recovered).

Everyone is growing well.  Clayton has a head circumference of 18.5 inches (95%), weighs 19 lbs, 4.75 oz (55%), and hold on to your hats: is 30 inches long (100%)!  I still can't believe he is so long for his age - no wonder he is already into 12 month clothes.

Clara is 38 lbs (90%) and 39.25 inches (75%).  I was a little concerned that her weight percentile was higher than her height, but the doctor assured me that is normal in toddlers who often grow in spurts.  The only suggestion she had was to replace some of her apple juice with milk to cut down a few empty calories and promote bone growth.  You got it, Doc.

Ballet Class week 2

I didn't have my camera with me for Clara's first week of ballet, but this week I was ready.  Unfortunately, one of the little girls was crying so they closed the door during the class so she could focus and not see her mom.  That meant I couldn't really video much.  I did get a little of Clara going into class and coming out.  And for a few seconds I cracked the door and caught a little of the action.

Apple Picking Time

It's that time of year in Georgia - the apple harvest is in.  We were planning to go to the orchard later this month, but when a beautiful and un-seasonally cool weekend came our way we made impromptu plans with the Hess family to start the apple picking early.  This year we tried an orchard in Blue Ridge.  It was great fun for the kids.  We rode a tractor pull into the orchard (much to Marian's dismay).  Once there we roamed the trees gathering as many as we could cram into our bags.  I was surprised that so many different varieties were ready for harvest so early, but the orchard crew said that it was due to the unusually hot summer.  After picking time, we perused the gift shop and snacked on fried pies and apple cider (YUMMY).  A really wonderful time!

Finally feeling better

After the last few weeks of sick, snotty-nosed children who where anything but photogenic, I am happy to be back with new pictures of my little darlings.  This morning (before they had a chance to spill anything on their clothes) they were in particually good moods so I snapped a few shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously adorable!  If only they were this happy (and clean) all day long.

Ballet Class

Clara had her first ballet class today.  Thankfully she is all better after a week-long cold.  She had a wonderful time.  The class has about 12 little girls, all 3 years old.  She will be doing ballet and tumbling for one hour a week now through May.  I was pleased that Clara followed instruction pretty well (or at least as well as the majority of the little girls).  They learned first position, how to plie, and danced like different kinds of animals (cat, frog, snake, monkey, etc).  But perhaps the highlight of starting ballet was getting to go shopping for the wardrobe.  The class specified the tutu, tights, and shoes so all of the girls will match for their recital later this winter.  They were adorable.

All ready for class

 

 After class we enjoyed the first cool day of the season by going out on the back patio for some bubble blowing and trike riding.

 

 

Sick kids

Sorry I haven't posted much lately.  The kids both have colds this week.  That is no fun for anyone... and certainly not photogenic.  I hope they are on the mend not only because I want them to feel better, but also because this weekend is DragonCon and I really want to be able to take them.  I know Clara will love seeing all the costumes and hub-bub.