Elijah is five years old! This year he seems to have grown up so much. Really making a transition into the kid years.
Personality: Creative, analytical, silly, somewhat reserved
Likes: Science, discovering how things work, drawing, creating things with paper (such as a paper airplane attached to balloons so that when the air in the balloon is released the plane flies), helping mom and dad with home tasks and cooking, watching shows like Word World, homeschool, reading books (will listen to book after book...as many as we are willing to read), resting int he hammock that hangs in his room, playing games - especially Monopoly Jr, learning about money and earning money for little tasks, and adding to his "collection" (a container full of really random interesting items he finds - everything form bottle caps to seed pods to interesting rocks to odd pieces of metal)
New: Going to Awana, officially homeschooling (also goes to Brazilian school 2 days a week), learning to read and write, memorizing verses, developing friendships (especially with a Brazilian/American boy named Noah), independence in getting himself dressed, into the car, getting this own water and snacks), got a watch as a birthday gift and is trying to understand time, took swimming classes for two months and got over his fear of swimming and began swimming about 8-10 feet independently. He is also beginning to be independent in his activities - like getting a bowl and picking acerola fits out in the yard (leading Audrey in doing it too) and then coming in to ask me to help him make juice. Also he has lots of creative ideas of things to try out. Like connecting a long flexible measuring take to a can full of coins and brining the end of the measuring tape up to his bed. He jiggles the rope of the measuring tape, which in turn shakes the can which makes noise...why? This was an invention of an "alarm clock" for him to wake up from a nap. Super fun to see the creative wheels turning in his head.
Routine: Up usually around 6:30 but stays playing in room until 7:30 when clock is green, breakfast, playing, homeschool around 9:30-11:00, play, lunch, play nap (plays or naps in room for about 2 hours), reading lesson with mom, show, snack, wait for daddy to get home, light dinner, shower, books from 7-7:30, bed at 7:30
Struggles: Learning to play to play together with Audrey (rather than bothering her)
School: Elijah is finishing up the PreK 4/5 year old Sonlight year and has found it all quite easy. We're getting ready for Sonlight Kindergarten (Core A) next. We also do a reading program - he can already read about 30 sight words and can read at nearly level C, and make any CVC word I ask of him! Doing great!!
When he grows up: Elijah wants to make robots (we really do see some engineering skills in him!). He also wants to be a sailor, build a next to ours with a tunnel in between to connect them, and he plans to marry Audrey.
