Peer Modeling.

So St. Valentine's, not to be outshined by St. Nick, has also taken up accepting kids' "Wish Lists". Or at least that's how Raia would have it...

"Mommy, for Valentine's Day I want a pink umbrella with flowers on it like Addy, and black boots like Star, and a pink jacket like Jayden!"

I thought we had another 3-5 years at least before we'd start hearing requests like this. At least none of the clothing choices are super outrageous! (at least she doesn't want a fe-mullet like one of her other little girl friends!)

Raia is doing really well in school. So well that I think she may actually be getting bored. Her reading skills are well above the rest of the class, and they haven't done more than practice counting to 100 for math (I was expecting some practice with addition by now). We're doing a lot of "after-schooling" with her at home (kind of like Homeschooling-Lite). I bought a kid's pop-up book on basic human anatomy (bones, lungs, brain, digestive system, etc.) and she LOVES it. One of the "pop-ups" is a wheel you spin to follow an apple -from bite, to chew, to swallow, to digested- and now at random times of the day she'll give us a play-by-play of what the food she just ate is doing. (including some awkward "It's on it's way to my butt!" comments). She and Errol are also playing a lot with some space flashcards, and finding all the planets and moons, and looking at the pictures of astraunauts and spash shuttles.

Errol is doing well at Pre-school. I haven't gotten any more notes from his teacher asking for help in dealing with a sticky situation (like Errol throwing toys or refusing to share) so I assume he's behaving himself. He still loves riding the bus, and ever since one fateful day when Mommy wasn't paying attention and he got all the way to the door without my noticing, and so had to knock to be let in, he doesn't let me open the door when the bus pulls up to drop him off. Or, well, he doesn't *want* me to, but I still do it so that the bus driver knows there's someone home. I peek out just long enough for her to see me, then close the door again because Errol has already started throwing a fit. I can't hear him, but I can see him crying the words "SHUT THE DOOR!" at me through the bus window. LOL.

Patrick is walking all over the place now, and has started working on his climbing skills. He's already made it up onto the dishwasher door once (with it open, of course) and has even made a rather dangerous head-dive into the tub (with me right there to catch him). He's into and onto everything his little hands can reach.

I love watching him walk. He still has that bouncy, kick-your-legs-out new-walker toddle. And when he sees something he wants he'll start walking towards it with a big smile and his hands out in front of him in a "gimme gimme!" pose. It's so stinkin' cute. I especially love it when he walks towards me doing that.

George is still adjusting to the new reality of his no longer being in school. He admitted the other day to feeling a bit "third-wheel-ish" since he doesn't know what his place is in the family dynamic without any worries about finishing homework or studying. He doesn't have to limit bedtime stories to just one story per kid anymore, or rush through dinner to log-in to his required chat times. *I'm* still getting used to it myself. It's really nice though. :)

I finally have an Activity Days Assistant! It's been almost a year since my last one dropped off the face of the earth. We're getting together tomorrow to plan some activities. I'm really excited. :)