Progress

It is hard for me to believe that five months have passed since we began school!  What an amazing five months!  I think we have really settled into our routine now, and I am seeing so much progress.  I feel incredibly blessed to be able to witness our children's growth firsthand and on a daily basis.

Today I showed Amelia how much she has improved in handwriting since September.  We were both impressed!  She has grown from an early reader, reading several words and learning phonics skills, to being very nearly an independent reader.  She told me today that she loves to read, and that melts my heart! (Probably even more so because I too love to read!)  Most assuredly, she would not have said that a couple of months ago.  She tells me almost everyday that she loves math.  There are rare days when she doesn't want to do her school work, but most days she tackles it with enthusiasm.  I am so proud of the progress she is making!

Here she is with a picture we colored on our first day of school in 2011.

Brenna is soaking up so much from being present during school.  Some days she wants to sit down and work on "school work", but often she is content to play and pop in from time to time to work on her letters or numbers or whatever Amelia happens to be doing.  She was thrilled a couple of weeks ago when part of Amelia's lesson included "opposites".  Amelia didn't really need that part of the lesson but it thrilled her to teach Brenna, and Brenna was thrilled to jump right in.  I love to see them working together and learning from each other.  Brenna even challenges Amelia every once in awhile!  She has learned the days of the week very well and often chimes in before Amelia when I ask what day it is and what yesterday was and tomorrow will be.   Of course, this makes Amelia furious but challenges her nonetheless.   

Here's Brenna showing off some of her school work.

Grant is making progress all his own.  He is immensely curious and into EVERYTHING!  I can't even being to keep up with the messes this baby can make.  His favorite activities include emptying baskets, drawers, cabinets, etc., following the vacuum cleaner and turning off the power switch, playing ball, climbing onto the dishwasher when the door is open and climbing the stairs.  He is on the verge of walking and I can only imagine how that will add to his ability to cause chaos in our house.  However messy he may be, he is an absolutely delightful little boy.  He is almost always happy and content with whatever is going on around him.  I am constantly amazed as he learns and grows even though he is our third. 

Here he is trying out crayons for the first time.  Even Grant gets in on school time occasionally.