We are due for an update! Bug collecting is in full force. The kids categorize most bugs as ladybugs and Claire names all of them Junior.
Elijah received “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” for Easter. Although it definitely falls under what I would term “fart literature,” he finished it in about 2 weeks on his own prerogative, so I’m ok with it. He still has a healthy love of trouble—got kicked out of track practice. I won’t go off on my rage about the city hiring teenaged coaches who have no interest in discipline nor teaching, but the fact remains that E likes touching (wrestling, taunting, fighting, aka loving in E language) people more than people like to be touched. He made the cut for a competitive soccer team and remains the top scorer on his rec team. Tactics include abrupt screaming and lots of trash talk to both the opposing team and his own. The screaming has carried over into the home lately, especially since David foolishly introduced the 3 to Jackson’s “Thriller” and Claire is particularly edgy about zombies and ghouls. Sign language was covered in school recently and he signs a lot of his answers to me. In preparation for his baptism, he and David have been doing more intense Book of Mormon reading. As always, Elijah isn’t too interested in toys unless his friends are. He spent his life savings ($14) on a muscle man bc his friend had one and he liked it for about a day. Now he’s onto Bay Blades.
Claire is on the second box of Bob books mainly bc I'm a slacker and haven't pushed her, but she’s progressing quickly. She's still ever the diva (much to Elijah’s annoyance)with her imaginative songs. And she’s already immersed in girl drama, concerned about who said what about her and they definitely aren’t invited to her bday party anymore. She has a powerful baby magnet and it’s hard for her to concentrate on anything besides cooing and caressing when a baby is in sight. She only wears dresses and I’m thrilled that she doesn't mind wearing her brother’s hand-me-down undies. Many conversations with Claire start with, “There's good news and bad news...” And my girl is always very thoughtful and considerate towards others.
Iris still changes clothes hourly. She tells people to get out of her room, out of her house, and out of her car. The child is possessive bc she can be and usually wins bc she is the baby. She is on-again, off-again potty training and has an ever-runny nose, which is good for her b/c as she says, “I like mocos.” Her daily prayers are filled with "gracias" for long lists of her friends and family (she has an excellent memory for names) and for popcorn...still the only thing she eats consistently, besides her mocos, of course.
