September/October/November

Just a few things to report about October/November:

NATE
These months you:

• Started in a new room at preschool. You are now a Sea Dragon and loving it!
  
• Gave up pull ups at night and then decided you weren't quite ready to be 100% big boy so back to those Cars pull ups we went. Oh well, I don't mind if you take your time growing up.
• Are more in love with your binky than ever. We have started talking about giving them to the binky fairy after Christmas, but I think you're in denial.
  
• Have an uncanny ability to recognize simliar cars and places we've been. Whenever we see a car that is the same make/model as someone you know, you point it out, and you're always right. You can also remember places we've been, even if we are just in vicinity - for example, the other day we were up on Queen Anne, near The Leonardsons house, but not so close that you could see it, and you said "This is where Anna Jane lives!" Amazing. I'm pretty sure you inherited your Daddy's card catalog memory!

JILL
These months you:

• Started 1st grade! We just had your parent teacher conference and you are doing fantastic! Reading is your specialty. In the past three months you've made amazing progress. Your teacher also told us that you get along with everyone and don't get caught up in the drama. So glad that you save the drama for us at home. (said slightly sarcastically!)
• Became a Daisy. At this point meetings are more like a crazy play date, but I think we're laying the foundation for you to be an awesome Girl Scout down the road.
• Started soccer. Daddy coached your team, The Flounders, and you played really well when you put some effort in to it, but overall you weren't a huge fan. It could have been because the team was co-ed - those boys are already pretty competitive. We're hoping that next year the team will be just girls and you'll be willing to give it another try.
  
• Have been playing so well with your brother. Especially in the past month or so you've really started to take Nate under your wing and show compassion and empathy when he is hurt or sad. He is lucky to have you for a big sister!
• Love having your hair brushed (not!). It's probably thing we battle over most. That and clothes since you insist on wearing Yoga type pants and a t-shirt every day even though you have other, perfectly good clothes in your drawer.
  
• Still request that I sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and scratch your back at bedtime every night. I'm tired of the song, but I know that it will be bittersweet when you stop asking.
  

These months as a family we:

• Went to Yakima to visit Gma & Gpa & Nana Betty. We went blueberry picking like last year and had a great time!
  
• Took a trip to the pumpkin patch with our friends the Breckenridges and the Cho-Thompsons. Perfect fall weather, great pumpkins and piping hot mini donuts - what more could you ask for?
• Celebrated Thanksgiving here in Seattle with Gma & Gpa Boise, Auntie Jen, Uncle Chris, Julia and Emma. We had a blast and even went ice skating at Seattle Center! Jillian - you were a bit tentative at first, this being only your second time on the ice, but by the end you were skating all on your own! Nate - you were a kamikaze skater. You used the walker thing the whole time, but your feet didn't stop moving! I think if we take you a few more times you'll be zooming around on your own in no time!
  

In other news, we officially UN-baby proofed our house by removing those crazy doorknob contraptions. Wow, are we really THERE already?

Blueberry picking in Yakima

Go Flounders!

The little ones at the pumpkin patch

The big girls (not sure where the poses came from!)

Until next time!