October 2010

It has been a very busy month, actually the fall in general has been a whirl. The biggest even was going to Orlando with Grace. My mother had a meeting that she had to attend and so she and my dad very graciously took Grace and I with them. Tod didn't make the trip. He's switched schools and didn't think that the new principal would be impressed by taking some of 60 some odd sick days for a trip to Disney World. Luckily, his new school is wonderful. The kids are always a challenge, but generally an easier challenge and the administration is very supportive. He also enjoys the 1 mile commute and no more PTA duties.

Grace loved Disney World. Most of the really great photos are on the grandparent's camera, but you can imagine the maniacal glee on her face with her first roller coaster ride. She did get a little tired of the camera being out.

Her first ride was Dumbo. 20 minutes of waiting while the 4 year old just in front of us totally melted down, during which Grace tried to be patient. Then finally the magic moment getting to ride in the yellow hatted Dumbo and 1 min and 20 sec of flight and glee and joy and then massive tears when she realized that was all that 20 min of waiting got you. After about the 3rd ride she got the idea and learned to accept the timing.

Her favorite ride the "Brer Rabbit" inspired log flume. Since getting home she's watched "Song of South" way too many times and loves to sing Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da, throw her animals in to the "butter patch" (she can't say brier to save her life), and no tries to convince me to do what she wants with by telling me how much she doesn't want it.

The trip was wonderful and just the right length.

Since being home dress up has become of extreme importance. Luckily since it is October most people think we are in the Halloween mood. We have made a lot of errands dressed as super heroes and princesses lately. Correction. Grace has. Her favorite is to dress as American Eagle, a character from a library book that she loves. The book is done in a comic book style and half the illustrations show American Eagle as he really looks, a little boy wearing: boots, shorts, tee shirt, gloves, cape, and baseball hat. The other illustrations show him as he sees himself, a muscle clad super hero flying through the city saving the day.

Please note the items needed because Grace went a found one of each item on her own to complete the ensemble. The next time we check out the book I'll scan in a sample of the art.

Grace is a wonderful imaginative little imp, and is growing in many wonderful ways.

So it is summer here and really stinking hot. Really hot! We have been very busy this spring and summer and so I have neglected adding any photos for quite sometime.

We had the house on the market and tried to relocate to St. Louis. Unfortunately that plan didn't turn out as expected but Tod did get a new teaching position here in Memphis. He now is teaching 6th grade social studies, which is world history, at a middle school literally on mile from our house. He is excited for a new challenge and because of the differences in student base and new administration should be a "gravy" job.

Grace still is growing like a weed. Her imagination is in full throttle. She spends her day informing me that she isn't Grace right now she's _______. One of any assortment of characters her current favorites being either Bug Lady or Buzz Lightyear. When she is one of these alter egos she tells us that Grace is a work and will be home later. If asked she'll inform you that Grace fixes teeth at work. Granddaddy must be proud.

She loves to read and paint and her newest word "rough house".

We spent the summer with visits to St. Louis and my family reunion at Pickwick, and most recently the three of us visited James, Lisa, Laura, and Elizabeth at their home is West Stockbridge, MA. It was a delight. I spent quite a lot of time with them in middle school and high school there but hadn't been back since Laura's first summer. She's driving now. Grace really had a blast with the cats and "playing cello" like Laura and dressing like a fairy as often as she could. We took in the grounds at Tanglewood and Grace attended her first concert on the lawn. She also fit in very well with the Cooke proclivity for ice cream.

At Up Yonder she had a good time playing with the other youngest cousins and went swimming and tubing and knee boarding. She was highly disappointed that she didn't get to stand up on the knee board. Maybe skiing next year who knows.

She also had a rather major mile stone this summer she got to graduate to a "big girl" bed. She didn't fit length wise in her crib any more so we took pity on her. She now is sleeping the in the bed that was Dad's, Monnie's (my great-grandmother) Bob's, and mine. She likes it. Especially when she realized one morning that she could get herself out and come get in bed with me to snuggle. (Curse the 6 am sunrise into her room, but the snuggles are nice)

Here are an assortment of pictures to share and I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and that you are able to avoid melting before Autumn.

A little site seeing in MA took us to the highest peak in the state which has a lighthouse memorial on its top.


On the grounds at Tanglewood. Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony. We went to a Sunday afternoon Pops concert and heard the Pops playing with Arlo Guthrie and others. It was quite lovely and Grace even sat and listened occasionally. Her favorite part was applaulding and yelling bravo. Lisa cracked up every time and I still don't know where she learned bravo from.




Lots of water color painting. They just don't ever make enough blue paint.


playing the little "cello" next to Laura's big cello. Mama had to turn the pages on the music stand for her and when she was done she set the little player violin down on its side and rested the bow on it just like Laura.

lots of fairy dances on tip toes

making music

watching for kitty cats

lots of fairy time at James and Lisa's

She really wanted me to take this picture of her "stitches" I was busy finishing the last bits of sewing on an order and so Grace wanted to do some sewing too. The arrangement of thread on the peg strap on the dulcimer is her stitching.

hiding

squishing Daddy

fairy god mother (Grace is at work)

reading often

more hiding

Ice cream

The bees are her favorite both at the zoo and when we encountered them at the Shaker village in MA. She is difficult shall we say to get to leave them.

Granddaddy at the zoo

she loves the birds at the zoo.

more reading

big girl bed

More ice cream!

Playing at the Park


a hug for Mama.

Happy End To Winter! Finally!!

I hope you all have had a pleasant time this winter, and I hope that for all of us it will be over soon. I saw leaf buds forming on trees here and the daffodils are finally starting to come up. Usually in Memphis they are gone by now.

Grace and Tod and I have been busy finding new ways to keep entertained and enjoy ourselves. And Grace has enjoyed all of her Daddy's snow days.

Here are a few photos from the fall and winter that you might enjoy.

The botanical garden here has opened a wonderful new children's section. My daughter, being of the ultra hearty Dillender stock, feels no cold and so delighted herself and tormented the other children by splashing away. Apperently, no one else had brought a change of clothes to play in the creek. She also loved climbing in the trees with her buddy Andersen.



Busy cooking candied citrus peel for Granddaddy for Christmas.



Grace loves to be a kitty cat all the time. We go to the grocery store, the park, and even to mother's day out once as a kitty cat. I guess she likes spreading smiles.



We weren't sure exactly which person at Riverwoods Santa was giving the tractor to, but Granddaddy graciously let Grace claim it. It is a big hit. As were the tools she got and immediately used to "fix" it. Anytime she gets to talk to Granddaddy on the phone she asks him how his tractors are doing.



Toy box/ nap spot



Snow day #2





Snow day #3 and yes the sled is just a piece of plywood and a tie down strap. Tod said it was his best 5 min project ever. Grace thoroughly enjoyed having us pull her around the block.


And in case you haven't seen it yet. We are introducing the Gold medalist in the 2022 downhill



Grace joined us on the slopes one morning in Telluride. She really had a blast and told me to go fast! She also shouted encouragement to Granddaddy and Uncle Bob and Daddy too. She had a very good time with Nannie the other days going for adventures and loved flying in a plane.

Grace is three now and all about adventure. She keeps us on our toes and keeps us amazed at all that she learns and has figured out.