Two Grohs: March 2013

I admit it. It's not coming back to me and truly, it IS Facebook. It took over my desire to post all things Grohs and I do it. All the time. But then I don't do it here, so I long for the day my FB posts and this blog become one...technology must catch up to me!

But it doesn't mean life has been less busy (quite the contrary) or that these kids don't remain the center of our universe (they do), it just means I post less here and post more there...in brief and silly one-liner statements about the hilarity that is growing up Grohs.

Young Elena is almost 7 1/2 and growing like a weed. At about 53 pounds and about 48 inches tall, she is a string bean. She is doing so well in school this year and is nearing the end of first grade. She is an "Accelerated Reader" (and is now reading the second Diary of a Wimpy Kid novel) and is testing into third grade reading. She also does well in math and is so much better at controlling her talking this year. We still understand Elena has a 'bossing kids around' problem, but I'm hoping that is gone someday too. She is even nearing the end of wearing pull-ups (the bain of her existence). Her bedtime pals are... everyone, but her favorites are still piggy pillow, fur bear and deedee.

Her best friend is still neighbor, Kelsey, though she seems to have a lot of "BFFs."

She just wrapped up her second EDMT show as a bumblebee and she is starting swim team next month, followed quickly by soccer. In the meantime, she is in swim lessons to prepare and takes Monday drumming lessons on the set Gramma got the kids for Christmas. She has lost an impressive six teeth and will be evaluated for braces when two more come out on the top (likely in about six months).

Elena has the most insightful questions these days and is all about a big heart. She can be very helpful with her brother, then sour, bossy and annoyed. I suppose that means she's about right.

Michael is a riot. Weighing in at 43 pounds and about 43 inches, Michael is not a rail, but a round little ball of love. He is almost done with his first year of preschool, can write his name and even wrote his first 'sentence.' He asked me how to spell, "One Mouse" and did it. He's a genius. He is full of hilarity and a little crazy. He will start t-ball and soccer in April and is also doing drumming lessons with Elena. Michael loves all things dinosaur, robot, and superhero and will play pretend around these topics at any moment. He still loves to read and STILL loves my hair. The boy asks every night if he can play with my hair when he comes into our bed (though we really put an end to this a few months ago. He can come in after about 4 or 5 a.m. and Elena sleeps in her bed unless a special occasion). His special bedtime pals are...like his sister, everyone, but his favorites are big bear, bozo and Daddy's old hunny bunny.

Michael is a pretend-a-holic. He is convinced he has no teeth. He said he has 'anks' because his teeth crack. We all have teeth, but he has anks. And trees are sashas. And he makes up stories like you've never heard. And MAN, the kid is funny. He woke up on President's Day morning and said, "Let's go open presents." Presents, Buddy? There are no presents. "But it's Presents Day."

And we love to sing together. I made up a song one night and put Michael to sleep...so we sing it a lot together now, each time it's different, but the chorus remains the same. "Once upon a time, there was a little boy. His name was Michael McCarty and he was such a joy."

Oh, how I love these little people. We're just back from Yosemite today and I will add photos randomly from the last six months, but know little blog, that I will come back periodically, between school and work and life and most importantly, family.