Growing up…

Aaron and I watched Abe and Breanne walk into school together this morning while Ali sat contentedly in the jogging stroller.  Aaron commented on how quickly they’ve grown and what awesome kids they are and I had to agree!

Abe is seven years old and in 2nd grade. He has become a voracious reader and also loves to write, draw, create secret code, play pretend with his sisters, and play board games.  A few weeks ago asked us if we would help him sell his Nintendo DS on Craigslist.  He had saved for two years to buy that DS with his own money and had recently stopped playing it due to lack of interest.  Abe recognized he could get nearly $100 for his DS and games and would rather have the money to spend on books.  He was happy to send the video games on to another boy who was excited about it and save his cash for something of greater value.   Abe is very logical and smart.  He has a few close friends at school and church and is easy to get along with and love.  He is a peacemaker and very generous with his sisters.  He is also clever and witty.  Just last week I got home after Aaron had already tucked the kids in bed and found some papers on the table that they had doodled including Abe’s rough draft Christmas list:

This list make me smile.  I love his logic and requests.  He really enjoys reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and owns all but two of them.  He recognizes that only Dad could handle managing $10 million and he would be happy with just $30.  I asked him why he wants a 2-story house and he said because he likes stairs.  Sliding down them, stepping up them, he just likes stairs.  The new brother request has been going on for over a year now and Aaron and I have both told him it is a potential possibility but certainly not before Christmas and there is no way to guarantee a new baby would be a brother, so he’d have to get used to the idea of a potential sister also.

Breanne is in kindergarten and is a friendly, loving girl.  She is making lots of new friends and loves to give hugs to her friends and family.  She works hard in school and is reading and writing quite well.  She has a TON of energy and is giggly and happy.  She is fast on her bike, strong in gymnastics, and loves to run and play.  She is the perfect middle child and plays well with Abe and Ali.  A few weeks ago we watched “The Sound of Music” as a family and after the movie was over she went upstairs and started figuring out how to play “Do-Re-Mi” on the piano.  She loves to make music and seems to have a dance beat going on in her body all the time.  She is tender-hearted and wants to help others feel loved.  She loves to dress pretty and accessorize her outfits.  She seems to have clicked with a group of Kindergarten boys and says she plays pretend with the same four boys at recess every day.  Reminds me of myself at that age!

Ali is getting more creative and independent every day.  She just has to be included in the older kids activities and is nurtured and led along by Abe.  She follows her siblings everywhere and loves to ride her bike to school to pick them up at the end of the day.  She often pretends to be a baby kitten and cuddles up on my lap to read books.  At the current moment she is pretending to be my “pet” while she throws blankets and then folds them back up.  Three years old is such a fun and creative age!  She is adventurous and excited about life and enjoys going to gymnastics and swimming.  They’re all growing up so fast!!