West will be turning 5 next week! I've planned a small party for him at Kangaroo Zoo - they have bouncy houses galore. He is inviting his buddies - Drew Dixon, Bodee Hawkins, Mason (lives next door and I can't remember his last name!), Hayden Martindale, Seth Keyser, and Zann and Gavin Slater. Hayden, Seth, Zann, and Gavin are in a playgroup with West that we do every Monday. We alternate Mondays and take turns having the kids over. It's been really fun! And it gives me about 2 hours to do some errands. Alone.
West is trying to sound out and spell words and really enjoys preschool. He asks if he can go three days a week instead of two! He still says "her" instead of "she." "Her is playing on her iPad (Hannah)." "Her doesn't know how to drive (Grandma)." haha!! It's so cute, I hate to correct him. West still loves cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. and is very good at riding his 4-wheeler. He likes to come to the gym with me, and practices his basketball after he is in the nursery. He is obsessed with the days of the week and knowing how old people are, and how much older they are than he is. He wants to be old, and doesn't like that he is younger than all of us, even Rags. West likes to be on a schedule, and knows that when it's a certain day, certain things are done. For example, Tuesdays he goes to Drew's house and to preschool while I go to work. Thursdays, Grandma Debbie comes over (he really looks forward to Thursdays). Fridays, Drew comes over. When we divert from this schedule, he gets really upset!! West likes things clean and tidy, and is a big helper around the house.
Hannah is 10 and still dancing away! She did a solo to Swagger Jagger a few months ago - it was adorable and she had a lot of fun with it. Hannah never, ever complains about going to dance. She is a good student. She struggles a little with math, but she picks up on other things very fast. Her reading and comprehension is sky high! But oh boy, is she messy!! Her room is always a disaster!!!!!! I am constantly finding random dishes, wrappers, old moldy milk, chewed gum - you name it, I have found it in her room. Once I found a rotten apple in her drawer. But then on some days, she will get in the mood and clean her entire room up and start "organizing!" She just has to be in the mood, and it has to be her own idea. She is a sweetheart and is almost always happy. She gets very, very annoyed when she is teased by her brothers. And that, unfortunately, happens a lot. She will (hopefully) get used to it. Her good friends are Jerzi Dixon and Trinity Citte. She has had a crush on Cortland Goldsberry for a couple of years now, and he finally admitted to liking her! Her 5th grade teacher is Mrs. Udy. Hannah loves computer games, her iPad, the TV, and anything with a show on it. She's an electronic and junk food junkie! She really likes chocolate milk and watermelon.
Chance is now, officially, a teenager!!!! What the heck. He is now 13 and a typical teen. He's getting a little bit of an attitude and talks back. He is breaking out in zits on his forehead and nose, and texts like a mad man! His voice is getting lower, and we are now exactly the same height! 5'4"! Chance is going to South Junior High. We bought him a gigantic binder with folders for each class to try to keep him organized, but he is still struggling with that. He also struggled with his locker at back-to-school, but since I mastered the locker I was able to help him and his locker partner, Aaron Johnson, out. His grades this first quarter were not up to his potential - he pulled out a 3.0, but barely. He is in Honors Math, and doesn't like the fact that he actually has to study! He is also in Art - he changed his class selection without me knowing! He originally had choir, because his artistic ability has never been the greatest. But, he got an "A" in art this quarter, so maybe he's been suppressing his abilities! ha! Chance is still playing Kings basketball and enjoys it, even though he doesn't play in the games as much as he would like. He played for South Ogden's 7th grade team, and did very well. He is a good boy and passes the sacrament with respect. I was just told that he has been leading the music in Priesthood! I guess I'd better help him learn how! Chance has started a Dodge Ball team for charity for school and is really excited about that!
We are still stuck on Crestwood! But we are enjoying it. Our ward is so, so nice. The Hawkins used to live across the street, but they just recently moved a few blocks away. So that was sad, because West and Bodee had become nearly inseparable!
