Once again, I am a bit behind in documenting our life and the quick changes that are happening in the three kiddos. LIFE.
Quick snippets from what I can recall:
David--school is trucking along. David is now reading 4-5th grade or beyond but he still grumbles if he has to read anything but his favorite graphic novels. His math is coming along and we have almost completely mastered the addition tables. He has started multiplication. And the maturity level of his learning has definitely grown! He can work independently pretty well and is putting together rather amusing stories frequently (albeit not without more grumbling often). He has not only matured in the school arena. Socially, he is slowly becoming more aware and is definitely just as tender-hearted toward the Lord as ever. He often tells me that he wants to grow up to be a man of God and will do whatever God has planned for him to do. There is less disciplining going on and a lot more discipling. I believe he finally has curbed himself from sucking his thumb in the past month too! Woohoo! Still loves all things lego. Video games come in at a tie, and nerf is a close third. He has discovered a new-found love of audio books. He spends many hours listening to Rush Revere, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, and some other books on CD. He is now a competent cyclist with no wobbling (see separate post). He also lost his second teeth in a rather dramatic way (documented by another post). What a joy this son is to me!
As mentioned before, his picky eating as a youngster is long since gone. But I couldn't help but laugh when I saw his plate at a buffet pizza place. Check it out below...the first plate was such a funny combination: pizza, topped with cheddar cheese, black olives, croutons, and carrots. The second plate was dessert and another 1.5 cups of black olives! This kid adores olives!
Elizabeth--despite a thrilling first week followed by a bit of a rough start with school, E is back to accelerated learning. She can now read simple stories (if I can keep her from guessing at words). Her math is even more impressive. She is counting by 5's, 10's, doing addition to 7s as well as all the basic other things. Even adding coins. Numbers seem to come naturally to her and I obviously have a little girl that memorizes quite easily. While she is at much the same level as David in some ways, she plays equally as sweetly with "baby" A. She is in that funny in-between stage. Not quite grown-up. God has really been opening her eyes to Him. The declaration she made a year ago in September, is becoming cemented on her heart. I can see fruit, and it is so sweet to see! While there is still some head-butting between she and I, she is softening to correction and the moments of stubbornness are fewer. She loves to color! When coloring free-form, she almost always includes family members in her pictures. She will still play dolls or ponies with Abigail, but she is equally at home rough-housing or building legos with David. She started ballet this fall. While she is extremely naturally graceful, it is easy to spot that she is several years junior that many of the other ballerinas in her class. My tender flower also tires easily and has come out a few times before the 45 minute class is over, stating that her legs are breaking. Hah! She is my messiest child, but when she is inclined to, she also is my most thorough cleaner-upper. She is a little fashionista, and she serves as A's personal fashion consultant/dresser. She even wears matching headbands/bows when she changes into pajamas. She then carefully takes them out before climbing into bed. It is so endearing to have my little affectionate Bizbeth constantly at hand!
pjs and headband
swinging with her baby
Abigail--she has done exceptionally well entertaining herself while the other two do school. Occasionally she pops into the room, but for the most part, she prefers to play with ponies, barbies, little princesses, legos, or "color in the lines." Her personality is surprisingly strong-willed. She is completely cheerful...except when she's not. Most of the time it is because she thinks she can manipulate with a tantrum. It never works. Fortunately, those moments are slowly passing too. Some of them are likely a reflection of no nap when my sensible child (who still likes to nap most days if given the opportunity) is on the run with us. We are trying to wean her off sucking her blanket. She was trying to use it as a threat when she didn't get her way, "I'm going to suck my blanket!" This week has been blanket-free. While she is more mature than D at her age, she shows no sign of interest in school at all. Her counting has regressed and she can only count accurately to 2! (despite much practice) Her alphabet isn't much better, but she does show signs of a very quick mind and good memory. She can remember people's names weeks later that she has only met once or twice. I love the picture below of her chubby fingers. They are a mark of the babyhood that she is still a bit loth to shed. She is truly torn between desire to be baby and maturing child. There are days that I too wish I could cling to those chubby little fingers and keep my last baby, but time ticks on and with it comes her proper maturing.
more pjs with matching headband
August 29, 2016 Abigail asked to pray to have Jesus in her heart. There had been previous conversations like this, but this was the first conversation that she gave me all the basics of Christianity when I asked her. Even so I was not so sure of her grasp of these basics, but I would rather err on the side of letting her pray and then following up than denying her because of her age. David is definitely testament to that! Abigail and I prayed together in the study. I knew only time would tell. I still pray for confirmation of this decision as well as constantly discuss with her the basics. We also talk about God's further work in her life. Meanwhile, I watch for fruit and continue to provide opportunity for her to declare the salvation story. She has surprised me several times though in the past few months. Once, I said, "We are praying for confirmation that Jesus is living in Abigail's heart." She indignantly told me that she had already prayed in the " 'puter room." She remembered the moment, and apparently it had meant something to her! There are definitely glimpses of God's work in her life.
In other ways too, we had a rather full three months. There were other moments undocumented above. Like the first time for the kids to go roller skating...It was for a birthday party. I wasn't sure how it would go but was pleasantly surprised. David did fine--even venturing out on his own without the pvc walker a few times. Overall, though, he felt far more comfortable with it. E (who is not yet my athlete) never gave up and definitely enjoyed it the most. She has been begging to go back! She did exceptionally well (despite using the walker the whole time). A did as anticipated. She lasted about five minutes and then cried to stop. It has been years and years since I have roller skated. Michael and I had fun too. Wonderful exercise.
There was lots of WOW singing this fall--all the kids sang at least a few times in Wednesday night service and Sunday morning. Sweet expressions. You could tell David was really worshiping the Lord and it brought me to tears!
E went on a few dates with Daddy.
David went with Daddy to the church to help pack food for needy families.
We had a few visits to a current fave--Chickfila.
The girls dressed up more than once--these pictures are from a day they put on matching Cinderella dresses.
Other days, D and E dressed up alike. E borrowed D's upward shirt.
Still other times the kids waited to see what I was wearing and then purposefully coordinated their outfits to be like Mommy. What a sweet compliment!
The church has set up several photo spots around the kids building. The kids stop me each time asking if we can take a picture. This has made for quite a few pictures... Some taken with dear friend G too.
They also wanted to seize a photo opp at Target. Per David, this picture is for Daddy!
And miscellaneous pictures...
