Update on Mason and Evie

Mason

love him

We had his parent/teacher conference last week.  His teacher said he is a great friend, is respectful, has excellent manners, and is a great example to others in the class.  She said he is quiet, but confidant and that she has seen his confidence grow so much lately.  She also said that his attention to detail is extraordinary and that he is a perfectionist.  I am just so proud of him.  I know that as parents we think Mason is the sweetest, but it is so nice to hear it from teachers too.  His art teacher said that he is the sweetest five year old that she has ever taught.  She said that he is a five year old gentleman, and that is what our society is missing today in young boys.  Such a proud mom moment!
I am so glad that we decided to hold him back and give him this extra year.  He will no doubt be ready for Kindergarten in the fall and hopefully have even more confidence.  His sweet teacher said she knows that he needs extra time to finish projects because he wants it to be perfect, so she lets him take all the time he needs.  I know he won't always get this, but I am grateful for it now.
His physical and academic development is right on track and even ahead of where is should be.  He loves outdoor and active play.  Some of his other favorites are art, blocks, class pet, library center, puzzles, science, and writing center.
He is definitely all boy right now.  Last year he played mostly with the girls, but not anymore.  His school friends he plays with the most are Isaac, Laith, and Gavin.

ready to ski

He still loves sports.  I was planning on signing him up for basketball, but he said he didn't want to play.  This is the first time he has said he didn't want to play a sport, so I listened and didn't sign him up.  Maybe next year.  He is already ready for soccer and baseball to start again.  Matthew took him to get skis, so I hope he is a good skier by the time the winter is over.

Evie

One thing I haven't mentioned on the blog is that she graduated from speech in October.  When she started in April she said less than five words.  In August she was saying around 50 words, and by October it was at least 400-500.  She talks non stop all day long.  God is laughing at us worrying about her!  Who knows if she really needed speech or if she was just taking her time like she did with crawling and walking.  I love hearing her sweet voice and all she has to say.

She woke up the other day and said she had sweet dreams.  Matthew asked what she dreamt about and she said, "babies and princesses!"  That about sums up her life right now. (plus books)

Give her a baby doll and books and she is a happy girl.

When you ask Evie what she did at school she will say "played babies and books" every single time.  Her teacher said this is true.  When they have free choice, she gets a baby and a book and sits in the chair and reads.  She is learning and growing in playschool and I just love her teachers.

I have never called her a princess as a nickname.  We call her all sorts of names, but princess isn't one that stuck with us.  Well, she has figured out that she is a princess on her own.  We can tell her anything, for example: Evie, you are beautiful, smart, funny, silly, nice, etc and she will always say "no I am a princess"  It cracks us up!

We were talking about the baby the other day and she kept saying that she was the baby.  I said you will be the big sister and she said "no I am the princess baby!"  We might be in trouble when the baby gets here!  :)

I was taking a picture of how long her hair was, then I noticed what she was doing in the reflection.  :)

Another thing she has picked up from somewhere is fishing for compliments.  She will be so sweet and tell you that she likes your shirt, shoes, necklace, etc but if you don't say that you like something of hers, she will say, "what about me?!"  Oh man this girl is going to give us plenty of headaches!

fun day at the zoo

They love the tree.  They could spend all day looking at the ornaments.

my sweet loves