Wednesday, November 6, 2013

A quick update from least consistent blogger ever!


Eli just turned 8, and has reached a whole new level of maturity.  He requested dinner at Shogun, and he and Jaxon explained to the chef why he shouldn’t start fires and throw eggs at home.  This is the first time his request hasn’t been McDonald’s!  His wish was for Skylander’s SwapForce.  His birthday party plans are finally underway now that baseball, basketball, and soccer are officially over (until December).  Eli improved greatly over the past season.  He has so much strength and is finally learning to use his size to his advantage.  I’ve had so much fun at his games lately!!!  Baseball – he is a consistent hitter, but this season finally started putting some power behind his swings (he does pretty well on defense too).  Soccer – he is becoming a good defender.  Most kids avoid whatever side of the field after he runs at them the first time.  I guess seeing the equivalent of an 8 year old runaway freight train headed at you is a bit unsettling at their age.  Basketball is Eli’s favorite.  He has figured out how to rebound the ball and shoot it over his head so the other kids don’t have a chance at getting the ball.  He had a couple of fun spin moves that were fun to watch as well.   Academically he is doing great!  He reads on a 4th grade level and knows a lot of multiplication already.  He is still really great with his brother and sister.  It is common for friends to comment on how good he is with younger kids.  Late note: on a rare moment alone with Eli, he decided to tell me of the bible story he learned at church… Joseph and the big fish J

Jaxon just completed his soccer season.  We absolutely love the team he is on!  He is very proud of his Most Improved Defender certificate.  At the end of season soccer party, he ended up eating dinner at a table with another family.  The mom and dad commented on how great his manners were.  When I told him how proud I was of his good manners, he responded, “Yah mom, I didn’t burp or fart.”  I’m so proud J  Jaxon surprised us all not long ago.  Eli was playing a game on the ipad and kept asking multiplication questions.  Jaxon answered each question correctly.  When asked, he explained that a child in his 1st grade class had taught him… “Ken from Japanese”.  Jaxon was able to teach Eli multiplication in under 5 minutes from the back of the van.  Amazing!  Jaxon is doing well in school.  His teacher has learned how to he is able to hide and not complete his work.  He had his kindergarten teachers fooled, so I gave a warning to Mrs. Robertson.  So far Jaxon is doing amazing at first grade.  I don't know how many spelling words he has missed this year, but it isn't many.  It is very common for him to come home with a perfect score!  When he finally tires of playing video games with Eli, Jaxon loves playing with Alysa.  Sometimes his enthusiasm becomes too much for her.  Alysa was going through a biting stage for a week or so.  I got such a kick out of watching Jaxon run for his life with AJ chasing after him with her mouth wide open – clearly going in for the attack.  She didn’t have a chance at catching him.  It was quite a sight though.  Wish I could have caught that on video. 

AJ is such a girly-girl.  I’m not quite sure what we are going to do with her.  She loves to get dressed, put on shoes, and put bows in her hair.  When we traveled to Houston, we stopped at a Burger King.  The kids were passing around a crown, and once AJ put it on I called her a queen.  She shook her head no.  Her daddy called her a princess and she said “princess” with the biggest smile on her face.  She is already interested in potty training.  We’ve been slowly introducing the idea.  I’m guessing by the next time I remember to blog she will have been potty trained for months!  She is living up to her name.  She brings Joy to everyone.  I keep waiting for her brothers to get mad at her for getting into their things, but she manages to charm most everyone she comes across.  She just learned how to climb out of her crib (just shy of her 2nd birthday) because Eli would always get her out upon her request.  She loves playing with the ipad, legos, soccer ball, basketball, putting on chap stick, and anything else she can get her hands on.  A while back I was running through the house gathering the things I needed to leave for work.  I noticed her running along behind me also grabbing things.  I realized once I got to the door that she had prepared herself to come with me to work.  She had a small lunch bag that she was carrying as a purse, a small toy, and a snack.  She often says things that make us smile: So happy, NOT happy, aw man, awesome, so funny, and she finally starting calling Jaxon by name (until now she called both brothers Li-Li)!!!!