I didn't get a photo of the kids together today,
but I did get this picture at the derby on Friday.
I didn't realize it at the time, but John and all the kids are in it!
Updates:
Bentley - has been on a reading kick for the last month.
His teacher read the class Fablehaven, and Bentley read
books 2, 3, 4, and 5. He is reading the epilogue for
Candy Shop War tonight. It's really fun to see him reading
so much!
Brandon Mull seems to be as big of a hit with Bentley
as
Rick Riordan was last year. Got in trouble recently at school
(along with his entire group of friends)
for saying rude words at recess. Evidently some
parents complained, so the principal pulled the boys
in to remind them to use appropriate words.
I spent one lunch and recess hanging out with the group,
and managed to say "crap" which kind of defeated the purpose.
Bentley recently got the simplified hymns piano book and is
playing a lot of them. He has a few other songs that he likes to
practice as well. It's great to see him playing music on his own.
He has had a few basketball games where he was on fire -
he takes a lot of shots and usually makes a lot of shots.
Maxwell - For Fast Sunday today he decided to fast
for Elizabeth to find people to teach in Maryland.
He and Bentley sang in the Stake Primary Choir last weekend,
and did a beautiful job. It's nice to be able to count on Maxwell
to behave well at school, scouts, and church things.
Maybe he makes a special effort because his older
brother tends to get in trouble pretty often???
I know that is what MY younger sister would do/did.
Max has excellent handwriting and is just about to get
his cursive licence. He is always passing off his times table
very quickly. Maxwell is devoted to defense at his
basketball games. They have to play man to man and he follows
his guy around like his life depends on it.
He's made a couple of shots this year,
but he doesn't get the ball as often as Bentley.
Maxwell has made huge strides in piano.
He practices well, and his teacher has given him some
difficult pieces. It is exciting to see him developing his talents.
He is preparing for America's Battle of the Books at school.
Jonah - He is once again a vegetarian. I am not feeling
as supportive this time around, but we are trying to find
things he can eat on the occasions that the rest
of us have meat. He says he will eat meat if it is Chinese food.
His favorite animals over the past month or so have been
red wolves, dolphins (specifically
Winter), wood peckers,
zebras, and arctic wolves. He says he still loves soccer, but
since it is the off season, he has been practicing basketball
and seems to really like that. He is also training for
a team that he made up. I'm not clear on what
the team is or what it is for, but I'm fairly confident that Jonah
has the details down. Today his primary teacher
told me that he tells interesting jokes. One that he shared
today goes like this: "Do you know why the
Prophet Jonah was named Jonah?" "Because he was named
after me!" Last night I took Jonah with me to the
Syd Riggs Foundation benefit concert.
He chose to sit in a back corner, mostly away from people,
which turned out to be a good thing
because he liked to move to the music. He was a good sport.
Ruby - Her favorite thing lately seems to be Joy School,
and she counts the days between each session.
She loves seeing her friends and is constantly making them things.
She is still pretty focused on weddings (specifically her weddings
with Milo each day), jewelry, and dresses. She also likes to
watch Power Rangers and Inspector Gadget. Kindergarten
registration is this week, and while she is excited for that,
she still thinks it would have made more sense for her to
start kindergarten already. After all, she IS five years old
you know. She likes to sing and dance, and will occasionally
instruct Milo and me to sing everything we say.
I am not so good at remembering to do that, but Milo
usually does pretty well. Maybe it's something you
have to learn while you are young?
Ruby is learning to read. John has so much patience
with her. She knows the sound of the letters in the
alphabet, but sometimes struggles with putting the
sounds together to form the words. She memorized
our phone number for Joy School, so that is one more
things crossed off the get-ready-for-kindergarten list.
Milo - Will say, "Mommy, do you understand?" after he
tells me something. It was sort of cute at first, but now
I am wondering if he really thinks I am that far behind him.
We are slowly introducing Milo to the idea of
potty training. He is not too excited about it, but
hopefully over the next few months he will get the idea.
Milo is sure that there are "mosquito bites" under
Ruby's bed (right next to his own) and that is his excuse
for trying to (and usually succeeding in) sleeping with
John and me for at least part of every night.
He is going through a frustrating phase where he throws
everything. He loves to play catch and sometimes
he is trying to get someone to play with him.
Other times, though, he is just chucking stuff.
He will NOT eat the cereal when the kids choose
Lucky Charms for their Sunday cereal. I keep hoping
he will, but once again today he ate just the marshmallows.
He loves nursery, and I think he is the oldest kid there.
He sings all the songs, and sometimes I catch him
singing them at home by himself. When I suggest singing
one, though, he tells me it is only for singing in nursery.
