3 Jumping Beans

Well, it's been awhile since I've written down what our 3 Jumping Beans are like these days, so I'm going to take some time to do just that!

Elliot, 5 years:
He LOVES reading, and can read really well. He can read pretty much all his books, with help with some words like "scrumptious", but all the basic words he can read by himself. He loves digging in the dirt (since we don't have a sand-box) and looking for worms. He loves watching movies and playing Curious George games on-line. He loves playing games like Uno, Go Fish, Croquet, bat/ball and putting 100 piece puzzles together. He learned to ride his bike without training wheels a couple of weeks ago and likes to practice that new skill while we take walks. He loves gardening and pointing out all the new flowers and seedlings that are coming up. He loves doing and helping out with anything an adult is doing. He loves playing with his friends. He loves listening to music. He loves playing pretty much anything with Vincent - like imaginary games outside, jumping on the trampoline in our neighbor's yard, building tracks for trains, etc.

He's a very bright kid. And he's a very busy kid, which lends itself to curiosity - like exploring trinkets, buttons, machines, and anything that sparks his curiosity regardless of whether it's appropriate for children - which lends itself to moments of frustration on the part of his parents. He also has lots of energy and puts himself whole-heartedly into anything he does. He still likes to ask "why" to almost anything and everything. It seems his method for learning is "hands-on" and asking questions.

He's a very handsome kid, very loving, likes challenges, and has a gift for language, words, and knowledge.

Vincent, 3 years and 11.5 months:
He loves big events, like going out to eat, going on walks, going to the library, going to the children's museum, going to the beach, going to the zoo, etc. He loves to play with his trains and cars/trucks. He also loves to dig in the dirt, and play games with Elliot - especially Uno and Go Fish. He loves to go on walks and hikes and do pretty much anything outside. He loves puzzles. He enjoys books, but not to the extent that Elliot does. He loves riding his tractor and bike. He loves to "work with wood", which means getting his wheelbarrow, filling it with chopped wood, and stacking it on our porch to burn in our wood stove. He also loves gardening and is super excited about the new flowers/plants/trees and seedlings that are growing. He loves snuggling with me (his mom) and his blankets (of which there are 3: one to lay on, one to cuddle with, and one for his toes!!).

He is very passionate: super excited about life, or very upset about life. There's no questioning where you stand with him or where he stands with life!! He likes to watch and observe and learn and figure things out instead of asking lots of questions...it seems his method of learning is tilted toward that of observation. He is more cautious and likes to feel confident and comfortable in his skills and/or understanding of something before he tries it. He is more quiet in social settings, but he is sociable and is quite relational once he has developed trust in someone.

He is very handsome, very passionate, very loving, and has a gift for observing how things and people work. He also is one to do something well if he is going to do it...play, art, learn a new skill, etc.

Annaliese, 18 months:
She is the embodiment of sweetness! She loves her brothers, animals, being outside, pushing her doll stroller, reading books, playing with her dolls and stuffed animals. She laughs easily and is very sociable - loves telling people hello and goodbye, and she loves to talk. She keeps up with her brothers and loves to try doing what they do. She loves to jump on the trampoline or on the bed. She notices any kind of insect or bird or animal - "wook mommy, a fy" (fly), or "wook daddy, a boowd" (bird), ant, etc. She loves to take baths and play with water and dirt.

She is very beautiful, has bright eyes, is very gentle and sensitive and so far has needed very little discipline. She is a fast learner, and she already knows how to count to 9. She is very lovable and loves to snuggle and cuddle. She loves to give kisses too!

So, these are our 3 Jumping Beans. And we love all of them so very much!