Update on the Boys

Chase at 5 years old:

• Preschool is the highlight of his life! He looks forward to it and when I told him he had to skip it (he had strep throat) he burst into tears. (His preschool teacher told me he almost burst into tears when she informed him that fall break was coming and there wouldn't be preschool that day either). 
• Is still the most social child you'll ever meet. It doesn't matter the age- from adults to babies he makes friends wherever he goes. I love this- and I love that it's rubbing off on Hudson. A group of kids at any given place (chick-fila, the park, the museum) is called "friends".
• I let him have time to watch Netflix on the iPad in the afternoon while Hudson is napping, but he has to watch something educational (He often checks in- "Does this show teach me something mom?") Then I get little bits of wisdom from him that he learned from Magic School Bus/Space Racers/Wild Kratts etc.
• Had his first bought of strep throat in November. It was so sad, he was so so miserable! I almost didn't take him in to see the doctor, but decided to call anyway (he was fevering and feeling terrible, but no white spots on his throat). I was relieved I did when I found out it was strep. After a few doses of antibiotic he was right back to his normal self! Chase is generally such a healthy kid- at almost five and this was only his second antibiotic ever! (He had an ear infection when he was three months old) He unfortunately had another round of strep in December.
• I think he has an adventurous heart. He talks about various vacations we've been on all the time, and is always asking when we can go again. 
• By last fall, (4.5 years old) he memorized all 13 Articles of Faith. We practice them whenever we are driving in the car. He has a great memory!

Hudson at 3 years old:

• Refers to random things as his "friend". His "blanky friend" "puzzle friend" or "my friend toothbrush"
• Bites Chase. Sometimes out of anger, sometimes because he's being a dinosaur/lion/alligator. We've tried a myriad of punishments/consequences and nothing seemed to be getting the message across that this isn't okay. Finally Ben bit him (which I was against), but it actually worked. Hudson hasn't bitten anyone since! Then he got bitten in nursery by a girl in the ward, which hopefully cemented in his little mind that it isn't okay!
• Whenever he does something naughty and I get after him, he gives me this bored/apathetic/sly sounding "Sorry mom."
• Takes care of himself- if mom says no candy, he'll just wait until I go to another room and then scale the pantry shelves to get to it. He does this with various snacks all the time. (Chase would just whine, but generally obey.)
• Is still such a sleeper- he is still napping a solid three hours every afternoon and still does really well at night. He has always struggled with nightmares (at least that's what we think it is) where he yells out in the middle of the night- although it usually lasts about 10 seconds and he's back to sleep before we can even get to his room. If it lasts longer than that I go in to comfort him and he usually calms down very quickly when I pick him up. I wonder what he's having nightmares about and feel sad for him that he's scared. A few weeks ago he was screaming so I went in to comfort him- he was still mostly asleep and started screaming out "Chase pushed the button and it was my turn! I'm so mad! Chase! It was my turn!" then he went back to sleep. Now I know the subject matter of these nightmares- apparently elevator button injustice. Another night it was "Chaser spilled my smoothie!"
• After months of work, finally has his alphabet down! We have both loved doing our little alphabet lessons and crafts while Chase is at preschool. If we go to pick up Chase and haven't done it yet, he will remind me, "Mom! We didn't do a letter and a craft!"