N-O-R-A and J-A-C-K

Music is big in our house right now. We saw They Might Be Giants a few weeks ago and if you haven’t discovered Here Comes Science, it is the best kids CD ever for two geeky parents and what are sure to be brilliant kids. We all love the songs. Yesterday, we spent the afternoon singing to Justin Roberts and his new CD. It is about the 4th time we have seen him and it is always a treat.
Nora is now only 5 weeks from three and surprising us constantly. The other day, she was drawing on her Aqua-doodle and all of a sudden, said, N-O-R-A. Whaaaat? She can spell her name? We didn’t teach her that! I just love that school of hers! At her parent-teacher conferences a few weeks ago, we heard that Nora’s teachers think she is “clever and bright” and “not just bright because she is one of the older kids in the class.” And, at the risk of sounding like one of those annoying moms (I know, but allow me this), one of the mothers at Nora's school said to me, “Nora is so smart!” Another mom said that the conversations she overhears during drop-off between Nora and her teacher Brigid are “outstanding for a child her age.”
It has been fun seeing the kids start to play together without any prompting from Geoff or I. Here they are sitting down on the porch reading together. Jack is such a willing participant in anything Nora suggests, it is just a nice thing to see. To that end, Nora has become a huge fan of “Go Diego Go” the cartoon series about animal rescues. She watched the show daily before bed and Jack sings “Go Go Go” in support! Gramma sent Nora a Baby Jaguar (Diego’s sidekick) and she carries that little thing everywhere. Jack gives him hugs when his sister lets him touch it. However, she has made it clear, the show is about her, not any of us. Example: Geoff said, “Hola Diego” at the start of one show recently and his sweet girl turned around and said “He not talking to you Daddy!” Well, that may not have been her best moment, but she is sweet running around the zoo or dog park yelling “It sounds like an animal is in trouble!”

She is a sweet girl. Just last night she said to me "You're a good mama" Really? she nodded yes and I just enjoyed the moment. I also was the very proud recipient of my first kid-made necklace, complete with a heart which says "Nora Loves Mommy" ahhh, I love this age. I figure I'll keep that necklace and wear it when she is completely absent of any positive emotion as a teenager.
And, with Father's Day fast approaching, I wanted to post this picture. These children adore their father and no one can get them giggling like he does. He puts up with their tantrums and refusals of him for mommy, but they look for him when he leaves and ask about him if he happens to not be with us. So, here's to you Ga Ga, you're a great Daddy!

In other family news, my brother and his wife had a baby boy on May 20, 2010. They named him James Lawrence Anthony, with all three of those names a tribute to men in their extended family. He came out perfect and healthy and with red hair and blue eyes. If they let me, I will post a picture soon. He is a cutie and joins big sister Dosha who is just over two.

Changes

Jackson is suddenly starting to look like a little boy.


And Eleanor is starting to look like a baby jaguar.

A sleepy jaguar.

Showing some Bengals pride. I don't think the outfit will fit come football season.

Puddles and The Best Compliment Ever

So, Jackson has become quite the runner. He loves being chased; he wants to be grabbed. Add this to the fact that he adores water (specifically, being in it) and we have a puddle jumper! It has been raining here in Columbus Ohio, like it should be in the Spring, and we have the great fortune of having a large mud puddle form just outside our door. This makes for a very happy set of Grove children. See below (and yes, I know they are getting sooooo big!) Catch me Mama
And Nora Kate loves water too. She especially loves jumping and getting us all wet. Here she is saying "Look at what I found in the water!"
A smile for Mama, but never both kids at the same time
"Come on Jack, you can trust me. Just take my hand"

So, in other news, we have had some amazing fun with the kids lately. Jack is very thoughtful for his age. He tussles all of us on the head, which means "gentle." We know this means gentle because he does it most to Mookie (our pup) when I say "Be gentle." He is saying all sorts of things (pup, ball, cat, go, cup) and giving loads of kisses and hugss. In six short weeks, he will join big sister Eleanor at her school finally and our G-School (code word for sucky school) days will be behind us.



So, speaking of Eleanor, here are some of the marvelous things she has shared with us just this past week or so:

• "Daddy, you are my favorite boy." (How great is this? The best compliment ever)
• "I like this Mama, it's just you and me" (Out on errands together)
• "I will watch over my baby brother Jackie Boo" (and she does!)
• "Elizabeth, Sara and Kate are the best teachers in the whole world!" And what about Brigid? I asked of her other teacher? "Brigid is my friend." (ahhhh, she likes school)

A Day at the Park 2

Here are a few more pictures from that day. Thanks to Jeremy at Kester Imagery.

A Day at the Park

One of the first nice days of spring last month we all went to our favorite park in Grandview to play. One of the other parents, Jeremy, there with his two small kids asked if we like to have some pictures of our kids playing. Turns out he and his wife are professional photographers and he said he be glad to take some pictures and e-mail them to us.

Jeremy insisted he didn't want any money of publicity, but that's the least we can do for the great pictures. The Kester Imagery studio is located in Mt Vernon, Ohio and they seemed like great people.

Nora was hamming it up for the camera, but Jack wasn't real sure about it and just put on his serious face.

Flowers and Springtime in Ohio

Hi everyone,
Sorry it has been so long since we have posted. The winter has broke here in Ohio and with temps reaching 60 degrees, we are outside meeting the play demands of our kiddos. Speaking of the now 15 month old Jackson and 4-months-from THREE (what???) Eleanor, they are super. Say what you will about being only 17 months a part in age, but they are so damn cute. Jack follows Nora around and she helps him a lot. They beam smiles at each other and love to be around one another. It's just sweet. Here they are attempting a nap:

And, look at our girl, so tall! And she is counting objects everywhere and doing things like taking a slice of pizza and announcing, "It's a triangle!" Uh--yeah, it is! I would put her at 85% potty trained, getting through most nights fine, but poopin the first thing upon going outside. Change in temperature? That's my theory. Her teachers report all good things from her, being sweet and helpful and making good choices, all of that stuff you hope you'll hear. Here is quote from one of her teacher notes, " I wanted you both to know that Nora was absolutely wonderful this week at school! She's been extra helpful, very polite (e.g., during snack times), and generally just a pleasure to be around. :)"

Asserting her independence has been the name of the game lately though, with some great outcomes and some frustrating (refusing to get in her carseat, despite the desperate attempts by her parents to rationalize with her) times as well. Ah, three!


Here are both kids enjoying a Gymboree birthday party, rapt with the teachers musical ability and chance to use moroccos.
And speaking of birthdays, Nora with her friend Collin--it was his 2nd birthday party.

Lastly, a picture of our happy boy. Believe it or not, after 8 - 9 months of having exactly 8 teeth, the kid is getting EIGHT more simultaneously--all flanking is existing 8. We go to the pediatrician today to get his well child check up so I'll have height, weight and head size to share later. He is growing a lot though, seems bigger to me. Losing the baby fat and looking so much like a little boy instead of a baby. He is a sweet little thing and talking!!! I swear he mimics everything we say and is pretty close, but has added woof woof, up, and his own name to the list of words he can say. Yay!

And, a shameless fund raising plus. The little school Nora attends is having an online fund raiser. It's a pretty easy thing to do for those of us who will buy flowers for our gardens anyway. It ends April 2, but you can order flowers from any where in the US and they will be delivered to your house. All the proceeds will go to help ICC gather supplies for our garden.

http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=1438

Snow and Such

If you don't live here or haven't heard, Columbus has had three snow storms over the last two weeks. The kiddos are loving the snow and both love to shovel. Here is Jack ready to go. He has grown really attached to the shovels and throws quite a fit when we pass them by on our way out the door. I hope he is this willing to shovel when he is a teenager.


After one of the first storms Eleanor and I made some "baby snowmen". We check on them everyday, although the small baby has been almost completely covered up by the recent snow falls.


Playtime in the sink to get cleaned up.

Here is Jackson playing with mama.

My ladies after a hard day of playing.