Eli in second grade

Eli swims!

I love to watch Eli's skinny little legs propel him places. Eli is having a great time in swimming lessons. Spencer Lee, and Adam and Ben Kiesow from his baseball team are all in Eli's class. Eli doesn't mind goin off the diving board at all!

I think you're Wonderful!

Eli's all about me presentation to his class

Eli and Mrs. Johnson

Eli had such a wonderful first grade experience. His teacher was Heidi Johnson this year. Eli came into first grade having gone to KIP in kindergarten and then summer school after kindergarten for extra help. With Mrs. Johnson he has flourished and is right on target for 2nd grade. Not only did he have a good academic year, he had a great social year. Mrs. Johnson went above and beyond and gave Eli (and I) a lesson in being wonderful. Eli would often get a card in the mail, or a note during the school day that said: "Eli, I think you are wonderful" or "You are an amazing, incredible miracle." When a year like this ends, it brings tears to my eyes- tears of gratitude for a teacher who sees the potential in my Eli, and tears of sadness that his time with her is over. Thank you Mrs. J. for an absolutely wonderful year of first grade!

I think you're wonderful!

When somebody says it to me

I feel wonderful!

As wonderful can be

It makes we want to say

The same thing to somebody new

And by the way I've been meaning to say

I think you're wonderful too!

Eli's tooth adventure

Eli lost two teeth in one day last week, here is how it happened: Eli was playing with Janie, and the playing turned a little rough. Janie kicked one tooth out (a lateral- don't know which one). Then later that day, Eli was playing with Spencer Lee. The playing got a little rough and the second lateral got knocked out. It bled alot too. The teeth got put in a little baggy, and the tooth fairy couldn't find them, becuase the baggy fell out from under Eli's pillow, and under his bed. But she did come the next night and found them just fine.

Art Expo at Oxbow Creek

Eli's project: a lego battle!

Ethan's project: Hieroglyphs information

This year the Expo snuck up on me, it was the first week in March, and I hadn't turned my calendar page over to see what was going on until Sunday night... and the Expo was on Thursday! Which meant that the kids had to turn their projects in on TUESDAY... which meant we now had one day to get them ready! Eli's was already done, we just had to arrange the ships and label them. But Ethan and I hadn't started yet. So when Ethan said that he had a sore throat Monday, I jumped on it and had him stay home so he could get his poster together. That was quite a long day. I used every ounce of patience I had to get through that day and that project. But it turned out just right, Ethan did a great job arranging and pasting. It was fun to walk through the school and see all the projects, and chat with some families that we haven't seen for awhile.

Spelling with Eli

Tonight I was helping Eli with his spelling. It was so frustrating. But when we got to his bonus word, hundred, he was silent and gave me a quizzical look. Then he looked down at his paper and wrote '100'. And THEN we both broke out into huge belly laughs. I love that kid.

Edit on stomach flu

Eli got it... REALLY BAD.
Threw away 7 pairs of underwear bad.
Poor Eli.

Cold Thursday

Eli sure loves his babysister

Jonah and Mason

Sadie at 27 days old

It is freezing cold today, like 4 degrees with 20 mph winds that make it REALLY cold. I was hoping that we could stay in today, but then realized that the boys have karate tonight. Curtis is in Morristown and gets back tonight. His truck is going to be frozen solid at the airport, I hope he remembered to bring his gloves this time. Janie is in her bed still awake, Sadie is sleeping in her stroller, and Jonah has a friend, Mason, from preschool over. Also, Jonah has played the wii WAY too much today.

Happy 7th Birthday to Eli!

It has been more like a birthday weekend for Eli! On Saturday in the middle of the biggest blizzard in something like 20 years Eli had his friend party at Grand Slam sports in Coon Rapids. There were 8 boys: Adam Day, AJ Lapicola, Spencer Lee, Kaden Grimm, Clark Sessions, Ethan and Jonah and Eli. They have mini golf, laser tag, bumper cars, batting cages, and an arcade. I didn't get any pictures because my camera battery was dead- sad. Eli wanted chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles. They were sooo good. The Lee's took Janie Kate for the afternoon which was great. Getting everybody home in 20 new inches of snow was crazy but kind of fun in a way, good thing both of our vehicles have 4 wheel drive.

Today church was cancelled because of all the snow a cold temps, so we celebrated with just our family and a few gifts. Eli tried out his new scooter in the garage, and modeled his new hat.

A few awesome things about Eli:

Eli is very sweet and nurturing with little girls, especially Janie. This week he took Janie out to play in the snow, and walked by her with his hand on her back for almost 30 minutes. Our neighbor Laura told me yesterday that he is really gentle and kind to her Ju-Ju.

Eli's report card came home Friday and I was so proud of him, he has done so well this year in 1st grade. The areas he did the best in were singing on pitch during music, and he got an 'E' (which is exceeds expectations... wait, that might be Harry Potter grade... hmm..) anyway an E is the highest grade, and he got one in PE for sportsmanship. What a cool combination of qualities for a 7 year old!

Eli is very aware of following the rules and being honest. A few times this year he has come to me and said he wanted to talk to me about something. One time he took some small playmobil toys from our neighbors the Lapicola's, and wanted to return them. A few other times he has been worried about breaking a rule at school, before he knew it was a rule, and wanted to know what would happen to him, and if he needed to tell his teacher and what was going to happen. I can tell he is learning right from wrong, and can tell a difference in how he feels when he makes good or bad choices.

Eli still has the best laugh ever. He gets going and his face turns red and he cannot stop. He has a great sense of humor and I love that about him. We laugh alot at things that Janie does or things that he says.

Eli still loves candy, has a huge sweet tooth, and lemonheads are his favorite just like Uncle Paul.

Eli is a GREAT dancer. He loves to move to the music. Axel F and All Star are his favorite songs to dance to.

Eli at 7 is so cute with his 2 front teeth halfway in. I love this kid. Happy Birthday Eli!

Remorse

We were about one millimeter away from going to the ER Monday night, thanks to a swing, a pair of pruners, and 2 boys who have been fighting alot these days. Eli was sitting in the baby swing below our deck, and Jonah got mad about something, and walked up to him and threw the shears at Eli's face. Eli started screaming, and Curtis came running ( I was upstairs putting JK to bed). Curtis said that he could see blood around Eli's eye but Eli wouldn't open his eye. He also said that he picked Eli up and Eli clung onto him so hard! Curtis thought that the shears had pierced Eli's eye, until they got upstairs, and then Eli opened his eye. The shears caught him right in the corner of the eye and scratched down Eli's face. What I heard from upstairs was 2 boys crying like they had been seriously injured. Mom's know that cry, ya know? Jonah was WAILING, and this is what he said:

WAAHHH: MOM I FEEL SOOOOO BAD!!
WAAHHHH: I SHOULDN'T HAVE DID THAT SHOULD I???
I'M SOOOO TIRED! WAAHHHH

While he was doing this Curtis and Eli were having a conversation in the next room. Eli came into the bathroom and said:
"It's ok Jonah, I forgive you... " gave Jonah a big hug, and shed a few tears himself. I think I did too. And pretty sure Curtis had a few as well. It was a sweet moment.
And later in the bath tub Jonah told me at least 3 times:
"Mom, I'm SEWIOUS I fowgive Eli!"
I'm pretty sure that Jonah was having good feelings for Eli by that comment, and that is a very good thing these days!

All about mandibular central incisors

Eli lost his first tooth! When I was in Utah Ethan realized that Eli's permanent teeth were coming in behind his baby teeth, and coined the term 'double biters'. We have been waiting for these little teeth to fall out and finally they did! The other one also fell out last week, so no more double biters for Eli. But he did get a note and $1 from the tooth fairy. Wow have her rates gone up!

JK also has two new teeth emerging, her first tooth popped through the same day that Eli lost his first tooth! She has been pretty happy despite having two very sharp little teeth come in!