The kids have been very inspired by reading Farmer Boy together for homeschooling, dragging their antique toboggan through the grass with loads of what-have-you, building cabins out of firewood out by the woodshed. Today's project was weaving.
At suppertime they also recited a poem they've been working on memorizing to perform for Daddy (a complete surprise to him). I didn't record their first recitation because I didn't want to give them nerves with a camera, but afterwards Rundy said I should tape it for posterity to immortalize the lisps and cuteness. They were happy to oblige with a second round (though the applause wasn't half so loud and hearty as it was the first time around, and you can't see their first flush of pleasure at Daddy's delight). They were so gratified. I didn't even know Marnie had it memorized until earlier this morning--who knew? Cute little parrot.
Tessa is rounding out her first year with quite a miserable week of teething, poor girl; four teeth right on the cusp of breaking through the gums for days now. Despite the discomfort that has made her a bit needier than usual, she's still managed to expand her daily rounds of exploration. Her circuit now includes library cabinets, game chest drawers, the Tupperware storage cabinet, and the recycle bin. Nothing escapes her intent curiosity, and this month she's shown a great desire to communicate all the magnificent wonders she's discovered through a steady stream of grunts and gucks and tongue clucks and emphatic gestures. She continues to dance and grin as though any music in her vicinity is being made just for her enjoyment. She's become highly interested in the removal and replacing upon feet of socks and shoes. She's displayed great largesse of spirit in the unstinting sharing of food (both real and invisible) with any interested parties. Her new favorite game is playing hide and seek with her brothers around the easy chair. And she's graduated to climbing any and all couches in our home. She has a wonderfully idiosyncratic way of getting around--a speedy galumph in which she thrusts one leg and one arm forward and scooches the rest of her body on her bottom to catch up. Though she has more than enough wiry strength and balance, she still shows virtually no interest in walking. What a waste of time when she can galumph so much faster...
She's our sweet little string bean, perpetually moving, perpetually curious, perpetually delighted in by us all.
This picture of Tessa in abject teething misery I include because it's the only one with the silly 12 month tag in the frame before she was off like a bullet.
She perked right up with a bit of distraction.
And to round the post off, a few pictures from her first birthday party this past weekend.
A climbing cake for a climbing girl:
A bemused introduction to party blowers and being the center of attention:
