Cousins

Cousin Jess, Cousin Kevin, Great-Uncle Bill - and Grace.

The King and the Chapter

Grace stops at every pile of snow she sees and climbs on top, declaring herself "the King" and delivering a speech to her imaginary subjects. I, the photographer, she called "a chapter". The duty of the chapter was to stand next to the King while she pontificated.

Snowy morning in St. Paul

Our first day in St. Paul. Grace woke up thrilled that there was snow on the ground and put on her shoes without taking off her pajamas. So I let her go outside into the 15 degree chill for a few minutes.

At the escalator

On our way to St. Paul, Grace's first foray onto an airport escalator turned quickly into a desperate situation. Dad, always quick to lend a hand, instinctively grabbed his camera to snap a picture of his wife and daughter as they struggled against the relentless metallic tide of steps.

A doggie called Grace - a story by Grace

There was a doggie called Grace.  She liked to play with cats.  She played tag.  At the park, where there is not anything to ride on, nothing to sit on, nothing to stand on.  But there's nothing else.  The kitty's name is... there's another cat called Grace.  Another dog named Bone.  The other cat's name is bone (editorial note: I think she's just making this up as she goes).  The bear was is its cave snuggling with her cubs. (Explanation: Dad suggested a bear might be part of the story.  Grace disagreed.  The bear was in its cave, so it couldn't be part of this story.)  These dogs ran in circles and these cats run in circles (visual aid: cats and dogs represented by fingers on Grace's hands).

Red Eye

For some reason, all three of the clowns in this picture have red eye. It's appropriate, somehow.

Sign

Last time we went to the zoo, Grace insisted that I take a picture of this sign. I explained to her what the sign said and she still wanted a picture.

Semantics and the almost-4 year old

Grace and friends have figured out that the easiest way to change the perception of your behavior is to change the word. She and Miles were jumping off the back of the couch onto the cushions. When I told them no more jumping on the couch, they switched first to "bouncing." And then to "falling."

Miles the Pink Jedi Master and Grace

Grace and her friend Miles absorbed in the Care Bears, a DVD designed to torture parents with mindlessness.

Little Quinn, Mark, and Cat

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Ms. Pearl and Ms. Elisabeth

P. Pearl and G. Elisabeth, holding hands at Mark and Amy's palace on the peninsula.