Weekly Happenings - 9/29 - 10/5

We'll start with some random updates and then get to the pictures!

1.  Both the kids have amazingly expanding vocabularies.  Peyton is starting to use big words - Mommy, isn't this weather delightful?  That dancer had a fantastic performance.  etc.  So adult-like!  And Garrison is really learning to use turn-phrases.  Daddy, let's go outside before I go potty, how 'bout that?  

2.  Peyton is doing very well in school!  She recently completed her first "Book It" reading list and earned her own personal pan pizza - she is super pumped!  She even recorded all of the books she read on the sheet by herself!  She also had a great September, earning more than 6 "purple days" (meaning exceptional behavior) so she got to enjoy lunch with her teacher in the classroom (vs. the cafeteria).  She is also doing well with math and learning her site words.  She is on her 7th site-word list and is starting to want to read more on her own and needing less help in beginning reading type books.

3.  Garrison is doing really well in his new class as well.  He is the "baby" in the class that is made-up of 3-5 year olds but he is adjusting well!  He now fully recognizes his name, reminds us his name is "Garrison Arthur Todd" quite regularly and knows most of his letters by sight.  Garrison also recently started soccer at school, Happy Feet, and loves it!  He is also continuing with swim lessons and doing really well not fighting his goggles anymore and learning to swim without his bubble.

4.  Peyton is still enjoying piano lessons and progressing very well!  She is about to start her 3rd set of books and has learned her "5-finger" notes on both hands and is learning about notes on the staff now!  Recently she has learned how to play Winnie the Pooh, Micke Mouse March and Happy Birthday!

5.  This week we got Peyton's school pictures back.  You can definitely tell they just told her to smile with the awkward smile that resulted but when she brought them home she told me how beautiful she thought they turned out so there you go!  She does look beautiful but I'm quite positive I've not seen that smile on her face before!

6.  The Royals have made the playoffs this year for the first time in 29 years - yep, that's not a typo.  To say there is excitement in KC would be an understatement and our house is no exception.  Peyton & Garrison are excited to wear their Royals shirts (that of course we had to buy after they made the playoffs and Daddy had to go to 5 different stores to find Peyton's!) and cheer on the Royals as long as the game isn't after their bedtime!  Daddy & I have watched all of the games and lost a little sleep in the process but man has it been fun.  They won the wildcard game and swept the ALCS series to move on to the ALDS.  Let's Go Royals, Let's Go!  (clap, clap, clap clap clap)

7.  On Saturday, Grammy & Grandpa came up for a visit and to pick-up Apollo for his vacation at their house while we are out of town on our mini-vacation coming up.  The kids were so excited for their arrival that they hangout on the porch in their jammies and coats to greet them when they arrived!  Chad & I have been VERY busy with work recently and unfortunately we both had to work a lot of Saturday.  While we finished-up with our work, Grammy & Grandpa had lots of fun with the kids at Peyton's school playground, a trip to McDonald's, naps for the boys and shopping for the girls.  We then wrapped-up their visit with some game time and dinner out with everyone to celebrate Daddy's upcoming birthday!  The kids were thrilled to spend the day with Grammy & Grandpa and we were thankful for the help with the last minute work we both had to do!

8.  On Sunday, we took it pretty easy given we had a pretty crazy week.  We enjoyed lunch outside in the "delightful weather," Peyton & I went to Chad's cousin's baby shower and we watched the Royals win!

9.  This is Garrison, feeling no pain, watching cartoons!!