I want to remember:
1. How, when talking about past events, Briggs will say, "A long, long day ago."
2. How Staley calls Briggs "Boo" and is always so sweet with him. And Briggs always calls Staley "Sissy."
3. How Adelie was SO excited about moving up to the top reading group in her class and now is way more willing to read to us or on her own without prompting.
4. How my kids (especially Briggs and Adelie) like to go into the playroom and listen to "The Pond" series on CD while crafting and playing. They've heard all the stories SO many times, but it is what they always want to listen to. In the future when they complain about hearing loss, it may help to remember that they listen to it at super loud volumes and I always have to tell them to turn it down.
5. How we are working diligently with Briggs to learn his upper case letters and he is down to only about 6-8 that he still has trouble with.
6. How Staley was selected to be part of a special group of 3rd graders who get to participate in weekly STEM activities at school and because of this, now Monday is her favorite day of the week.
7. How Adelie has changed up her repertoire of ways to get her movement needs met around the house. Now she doesn't just hang upside down off the couch all the time. Because of tumbling, she also does lots of back bends, kick overs, cartwheels, and splits. She also spends lots of time climbing up the doorframe between the kitchen and dining room.
8. How Briggs has gotten braver about watching movies at home with the family now. He has now watched Aladdin, Frozen, and Tangled without freaking out. Progress!
9. How Staley still walks Adelie to her classroom to hang up her backpack each morning and how Adelie waits in her classroom for Staley to pick her up after school so they can walk out together.
10. How when I ask for volunteers to pray at the opening or closing time at Wednesday night Kids Connection at church, both my girls always raise their hands.
11. How Staley sets her alarm for 7:00 on school days and then comes in to my room and snuggles with me for 10-15 minutes before we have to get up for the day.
12. How Briggs is transitioning to listening to the chapter books we read to the girls before bed as opposed to reading picture books separately. And how he follows along with the plot and the story pretty well.
13. How at church now both my girls sit with friends or have friends sit with us during the service.
14. How all 3 kids will now wash themselves up in the shower and brush their own teeth. Getting ready for bed is way easier for us now since they can do all the steps on their own.
15. How family game time is a lot more fun as there are more strategic games that the kids are old enough to play now.
I love the ages my kids are at right now. They are all getting much more independent and helpful. They are building friendships and doing well in school, but still love to play together and spend time as a family at home. We are in the nice stage where the constant needs and supervision of toddlers and young children are less but we haven't yet entered the moods and drama of the pre-teen years. I have loved my little family at every phase, but this one is especially wonderful.
My loves!
