Grace's update

Grace turned five on 15th Nov. My baby girl isn't really a baby any more. She wanted gift vouchers for presents so she could pick out her own things. I think that's because I normally tell everyone she wants clothes. This time she got some vouchers for Smyths toy store. She picked out some dolls with changable heads and clothes and she also got books and some art stuff. She really loves to draw. I also, I mean she also got vouchers for Next. She bought a coat, slippers and a cute pair of slip on shoes. We had her party in tons of fun on 14th Nov so for this year she has switched her birthday to that day as well because apparently your birthday and your party have to be on the same day...There was 16 children including Grace & Daniel at the party.
We are going to have to go and get a family portrait done because it seems beyond us to get all four of us together in a picture at family occaisions.

I know all parents think their children are the most beautiful but they are wrong becauase Grace really is the most beautiful girl in the world. She is also so funny. The other day she clipped in her seat belt but it was twisted a little. I asked her to fix it and she said " Mom, who do you think I am, Bob the builder?" I was glad the car was relatively dark so she couldn't see me smile. She is doing really well at school. Her reading and writing skills are very good. She has a word box that gets two or three new words added to it every week. I use the words to make up sentences for her. Last night I started putting the words in the sentence in the wrong order just to be sure she was actually reading the words and not just learning off the sentence. She had no trouble and even told me I wasn't going to catch her out. Grace also started ballet again in September. She looks so cute in her outfit. A few weeks ago Nelius and Geraldine were up for dinner and Grace was showing them her ballet. When she was out of earshot Nelius asked if she was doing ballet or trying out for the Munster front row.

Daniel's update

Daniel turned two on Sept 14th. We decided to hold his birthday two weeks previously because the weather was so good. We hired a bouncy castle and all the usual family and friends were there to celebrate with us on the day. I'm glad we pulled the party forward because it rained constantly on the actual day of his birthday - not like last year when we could spend the day on the beach.

It's hard to believe how much he has changed in the last year. He is as handsome as ever of couse, but he is also a walking, talking worldwind. He thinks he is the able to do everything that Grace can like climbing walls and jumping off them. He has over 150 words. My heart gets stuck in my throat when he is on a slide because he just launches himself off them.. He is also so independant. The constant refrain in our house is "Daniel do it" He is adept at putting on his socks and shoes and most of his clothes. He has also started climbing out of his cot and knocking on his bedroom door saying "Mommy, let Daniel out" It looks like we will be buying a big boys bed sooner rather than later. I think he has all his teeth now. He won't allow me to check but when I turn him upside down and tickle him so that he opens his mouth real wide it looks like they are all there. He uses them occaisionally to bite. Poor Grace has a mark on his chest that you could take a full impression of his teeth from :-( She usually gives him as good as she gets but I really felt sorry for her when I saw what he had done. He's so cute when he's telling her he's sorry. He loves to sit at the dining room table and colour with her, though there is fierce competition over who makes the better artwork.