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.

Happy November.

We have all been having a nice but extremely damp fall. We make good use of the sunshine when it is around though. Here are a few photos of a visit from Nannie and Granddaddy, who is probably Grace's favorite person, and of course a few Halloween photos. Grace and the camera didn't cooperate at the same time too well but she had a lot of fun at Miss Sheri's and handing out candy.

Playing it cool with Andersen

almost always smiling

At the Zoo

"GRANDDADDY" is a definite favorite
You must understand that this word is only vocalized at high pitches with lots of decibels and with great enthusiasm.

Checking out animals

Play time with Daddy.

She's almost ready for piggy back but not quite.

MEOW!

Giving Daddy love.

Hope you all are thoroughly enjoying the fall and family and friends.

Grace's Art

Hello,  I wanted to share with you all some of Grace's creations.  These are the big highlights for me!  She loves to color and to paint, and just yesterday we got out scissors and she was enthralled with cutting.  She is not able to be potty trained but she can use her scissors.  Here are some of her paintings and projects done in the nursery.

First painting ever!

another water color.  She actually was very careful with brush strokes and seemed to spend much thought on them.

her "work"  she likes to get a pen and make very careful and minute scribbles on the page because she has to do her work.

school project.  (thumbprints)

Growing Up

She is getting in training for sleeping arrangements for Up Yonder.

(I used to claim the pick-nick table for my own so I'd be assured of a spot to sleep) 

Grace is getting to be such a big girl.  She talks all the time and everyday is relating more complicated thoughts.  The most fun to watch is how much her imagination has developed.  She loves to grab Fred Bird and put him in the high chair and make dinner for him.  This morning she was getting toys and asking him which ones he would like to play with.  "Fred Bird, do you want the blue ball?  Yeah, you want the blue ball."  

Manners are starting up to.  She remembers to ask with please and hollers thank you as she's taking off to the next activity.  

Mostly she is still just the goofy little monkey she has always been,  very quirky, inquisitve, and very sweet.

reading to her animals instead of napping

first pigtails!

some days she insists on wearing her "jimmy-jammies" all day, and some days she just has to be "naked baby",  and she loves to accessorize with hats.