Eli is such an organized kid. He is the first one up, dressed, doing his piano, eating his breakfast, and then reading. He always knows what he has to do for school and does it without being asked, he remembers everything, forgets nothing, and is quick to get his "stuff" done whether it is packing for an overnight, setting out his basketball stuff, or getting a snack. If only we could all be so organized!

After Eli skipped second grade and went to third, I thought it might take his at least 2 or 3 years to catch up-but not Eli. The first trimester of Eli's 4th grade year, Eli has all A's (which is the first time he got letter grades). Eli made A honor roll! Eli also had over 100 points for his AR reading, and was one of the top math kids in his class. What a hard worker. Nothing will be impossible with such a work ethic.

Eli is involved in kids choir, Wednesday night live at church, piano, basketball, outdoor and indoor soccer and CHAT (the school newspaper) this year.

We praise the Lord for Eli! What a sweet, caring, hard working, wonderful big brother to Ethan and Emery Anna and buddy to Si. When Si and Eli are away from each other, they can hardly stand it and are always asking where their brother is. They spend hours and hours playing ball in the basement together. They both love to read and play video games.

Si has been showing his engineering, creative, inventive side lately. He is always interested in how things work and the in's and out's of everything, but he just designed a new soccer shin guard! He used to have an old shin guard that itched and was uncomfortable under the bottom on his foot. Then he had a pair of shin guards that were really light weight but they didn't stay up. Si designed a shin guard holder that holds his shin guard in the correct place, is light weight, and is comfortable. It was fun to see how hard he worked on his project (an ELENA assignment), his mind at work, and the final outcome. We are very proud of Si!

Si is a leader in school, get all A+, and has lots of great friends.

Si is involved in select soccer, basketball, kids choir, Wednesday night live at church, Cribbage club, piano, and Destination Imagination. He is a sweet big brother to all his brothers and sister. We praise the Lord for Si.

Ethan is such an independent little boy! His latest accomplishment is that he decided to potty train himself (a little before mommy was ready to tackle that feat). I bought some pull-ups because they were on sale. When he saw them, he was done with diapers. A few days later Ruby Hudson came over to play. Ruby goes by herself in the big girl potty so from that time on, no more pull-ups! Ethan will only wear underwear now. He hasn't even had an accident yet. (It has only been 2 days, however). But when that little guy makes up his mind, watch out.

Ethan potty training himself is just an example of Ethan's independence. For 6 months now he loves to do things for himself. If he is hungry, I can find him sitting at the counter eating a gogurt all by himself. When I ask him about it, he say he got the gogurt from the frig., opened it with scissors, and threw away the garbage. It is not always a clean proposition, but it is done independently. Ethan loves to push a bar stool into the pantry, reach a snack, and sit and eat it. Ethan wants to be just like his big brothers and sister. Whatever they are doing or saying, he does or says.