Milestones

I've gotten away from monthly milestone updates on the kids.... partly due to the fact they are older and don't have as many "monthly" milestones/changes, and partly due to the fact that I'm just too busy. But I feel remiss and wanted to give an update - not on the events in our lives but on the kids themselves.

Jack, at almost 8 years old...

- has lost a total of 8 teeth - middle four teeth on the top and bottom. All four bottom middle adult teeth are in and two of them are diagonally crooked. The two middle top teeth are coming in - HUGE - with no room for the other two teeth.

- is totally obsessed with the Wii U. He especially loves the Wii U Lego video games. He is also obsessed with playing apps on my iPhone.

- is amazing with his math and spelling. He almost always gets 100% on both his math and spelling weekly tests. And if it isn't 100%, it is within the 90% range. His weekly spelling lists are always the hardest level and he is advancing his math skills as fast as possible (not being held back).

- loves playing outside - riding his bike, playing baseball, soccer and football.

- still enjoys Jiu-Jitsu (almost two years of doing it) and has started to do Jiu-Jitsu competitions. 
- started playing piano and not only seems to really enjoy it but also has a good sense about it.

- although on the smaller scale for height and weight, it doesn't phase him in the slightest.  His athletic ability rivals those that outweigh him and are much taller than him. 

- loves his may-may (lovey blanket), cuddling with Mommy and sleepovers in our bed.

- doesn't mind holding my hand in public or even having me hold him in front of his friends.

- plays with Legos, nerf guns, anything soldier/army related.

Brooke, at just over 6 years old...

- is an amazing reader. She reads out loud to us and sounds out 5+ letter words. Although we don't do sight word flashcards, she knows all the basic sight words just because of her reading.

- loves, loves, loves soccer. She is the most aggressive girl out there and will take on anyone. 
- enjoys gymnastics and has started playing the piano.

- has found riding her bike once again. We took off the training wheels last spring, but she took a fall over 4th of July and didn't get back on it until early this year..... she conquered her fear and now rides her bike every chance she gets.

- will hang in there with Jack playing the Wii U (although not as obsessed) and has found a couple Disney video games she enjoys.

- still has the sweetest personality; always loving and wears her emotions on her sleeve.

- loves anything Disney princess and My Little Pony.

- loves to listed to books on CDs and music CDs. Often we find her sitting on her stuffed chair, with her CD player in front of her listening to music (and singing) or listening to an audio book.

We've been in our house for almost a year now and it has been simply amazing. We are still so in-love with the house and blessed to have it. As a bonus, the street could not be more perfect. It is one of those streets that has Christmas light strung from side to side. I love it. We have 5 neighbors with kids around the same age as ours kids - there are 14 kids aged from almost born to 8 years old. One of our neighbors has become our closest friends, with kids the same gender and age as our kids. We typically do Friday night dinners with them and the kids have sleep overs.

Although no life is perfect and one could always "want" more... but there really isn't much I can complain about.