For the record, flying squirrels are really cute. Google Alabama flying squirrel and that's textbook.

I think I'm better with unpacking other people's stuff than I am packing of any variety. I like creating order and I don't like being packed.

I have patched 4 holes in Noah's pants (with the monster mouths he likes). I would like for him to stop wearing his pants out at the knees.

My mom bought Sara a pair of Gap jeans in September (very much on sale) and she's worn out one knee. For what Gap jeans cost, I thought they would last a little longer. I'm not sure if she's going to go for a patch, but if not, she's looking at Target jeans.

I'm patching Grace's pants with hearts or balloons. She is not as rough on her knees as Noah is.

The best pants for Noah are the lands end reinforced knees but I can never find the jeans in his size.

Sometimes I think Toughskins really must have been a godsend.

Yikes, Theo! May you knit swiftly.

I bought my cats some crinkly aluminum and feather toys to discourage Molly from batting their water dish all over the apartment, and she is now busily chasing one and growling to herself. I think she's freaked Jackson out; he opted for hiding rather than playing with his own toy.

Dave still wears out the knees in his jeans. Admittedly, this is because he spends a lot of time on the same level as people of Noah & Grace & Sara's ages.

Matilda doesn't always wear through her knees, but she grubs them up spectacularly. Any legwear she outgrows without putting holes in is only good for hand-me-down playwear, not kid consignment and certainly not for wearing into the world beyond the front yard. She loves pastel sweatpants and yoga pants, but the knees are all dingey grey-brown by midway into the first wearing, and nothing ever gets the grub out.

Since I have gobs to do today, I decided to take Walter for an extra-long walk. Now we both need to rest up before I get with the box-breaking-down or blackberry pruning, but it was very pleasant!

I totally grew up in Toughskins, even though I really hated the stiffness in them.

Today we ran up a mountainside and then down another. Or that's what it felt like, even though it was only 4 miles total. I'm faster than my sister on the downhills, anyway. And then we had excellent sweet-potato pancakes with my adorable nephews.

And now I'm home and beyond cleaning the house a bit, I don't have much to do. Well, I could edit my niece's application essay again. (Don't family members know that when you do an editing job for them, they're not supposed to send it back for another look? Oy.)