sea diver

 We went to Marineland on Halloween.  B really wanted this picture of himself on the sea diver body.

B is learning to play Lightly Row and we used blocks to show the pattern in the left hand.  B is very obedient about going to practice.  At grandpas house it did take getting the blocks out to overcome his unusual reticence.  He's really learning it well now.  It's really fun watching the children grow and learn skills they couldn't do just last month.  He can now play the alberti bass in the left hand and the melody in the right hand from memory. 

outfits

 B is growing into an even better and better looking kid.  Every day I am so surprised to have such a good looking boy for a son.  This is true with each of my children.  How are his dimples so prominent with this straight expression?

B is so funny at lessons.  He is talking to Mrs. A this year which is an improvement.  He needs to practice more though.

He wears this spiderman shirt with a pair of black bike shorts.  It's a specific outfit he wears.  I'm glad B has such a strong sense of "this shirt belongs with these pants".  He is sometimes very concerned about his clothes, if he can't get the "right" shirt.  He is sometimes heartbreakingly devastated about it, but he tries very hard to overcome these setbacks.  Way to go B.  I love you!

Kindergarten in the books

B worked hard on this book all year.  It was more of a pre-k level but he learned to do work daily and as he learned to read it was a very comfortable worksheet companion.  He did 2 pages a day most of the year and then during the summer he did 4 pages a day to finish up.

media choices

This is B's choice of 3 things to borrow at the library today.  He is 6 and loves reading, blues clues and really wanted Bugs Bunny, but mom said "no".

This is working amazing!

Tonight B asked for a sugar baby candy.  We said no, it would soon be time for scriptures and prayer.  He pranced away and a short time later he got the broom and started sweeping in the kitchen.  "This is working amazing!" we heard his excited whisper. 

I smiled at P from where we sat reading in the firepit and left to catch B in the act and give him some sugar babies.

a near thing

Last week while in Gtown I took the little boys on walks every day.  I couldn't get out while they were asleep but after we dropped off lP we went and found a walk.  One day we were walking the trail near the amazing park downtown and the boys were riding in the wagon.  B and L were touching the wheels with their fingers and I told them to stop.  A few seconds later B cried out.  His hand got run over and he yanked it out, tearing the nail most the way off. 

This sweet picture was taken before the incident.  He pulled L in the wagon a long way and was very self satisfied and exhausted. 


Later while visiting the museum he told me that he was glad he pulled it out because he thought that if he hadn't he probably would have had his whole fore arm ripped off.  That would have been worse.

Money boy

B started being able to do chores for commission when he turned 5 last year.  He rarely spends the money and has been able to buy a few larger items because he'll let it just sit and grow in his account. 

A few weeks ago he was really interested in a shark- lantern and headlight set he saw at Walmart.  I told him we couldn't buy it that day but would come back another day to buy it and we did.

 Similarly, we went to Target to buy fine point dry erase markers and B saw a toy for "How to train your dragon".  He really wanted to buy it but I had promised M that we wouldn't buy anything else.  Also I don't like impulse buys.   So we came back the next day and shopped the different toys, comparing price and value.  He did end up buying a stuffed Toothless for $10 instead of the action hero + dragon for $15.

On the way home B said he thought I had wasted $3.  He thought he only had $7 and was getting away with making me pay the remainder.  I let him know that it wasn't good to trick someone into paying your way and that he would have to pay me back.  I also told him it had been a long time since he was paid so he was probably OK.

forward thinking

B told lP "When dad dies we'll get to play his games all the time."  B says what he is thinking and sometimes it is funny but sometimes sad.  A while ago he said dad was so mad he might hit mom.  We both talked to him about how it is OK to be mad but not OK to hurt people.

Life is so confusing because so much of what children see is people hitting each other.  It is the point of a lot of the cartoons and books.  Violence is everywhere.  It is so sad.

On a happier note, B says he'll come visit me when he is grown up.  Maybe we'll even live in the same neighborhood and he'll take me out for dinner.  He told me so.

Embelishments

Driving home from Gtown today B said "I farted".
I thanked him for owning it.
Then the song "Only you" came on and B started embellishing the song.

Only You (farted)
You....(farted)
There's no one else that's just like you...

I told him to stop.  P said I should not encourage him to own it and then tell him to stop.  P didn't realize he was embellishing the song.  It was funny.

lucky boys

B and L are so close.  I'm so grateful for these little ones.  B is a reader!  He reads to me and L.  I love how B entertains and contains L.  During scripture and prayer B sits in the pillow pile and shows L stories.  It's so sweet.

legoland!

 We visited Legoland this month.  B has wanted to go for a while.  He would cut out the coupon for a free ticket from the Lego Magazine and cherish it.  He really wanted to go.

 Legoland offers an amazing deal on homeschooler tickets so we scheduled the day and made arrangements.

 B has gone to Seaworld with P several times.  This trip to Legoland was his first time to an amusement park with people that ride rides.  He is only 5 but he's tall so he got to go on some pretty intense rides.

 B was the reason we made this trip so I posted these here on his page.  I'm glad he had the gumption to ask for something big.  I'm glad he had the sweet patience to wait.

 It was really fun to share this day with the whole family.  I love them.

expressions

B wears his emotions on his face and they are delightful.  I'm so grateful to be able to raise this boy.  He's kind and thoughtful.  He gasps and giggles.  He is so fun to watch as he experiences the ups and downs of life.

skills

B and I recently played this box making game.  He delighted in making the squares and chortled "I am so good at this!" constantly.  He's so fun.