Kid updates

Lila at 4 years old:

• Plays the most darling pretend games. I found her in her room one day, sitting in the babystroller pushed up against her little play kitchen. She had her Anna doll in the sink. When I asked what she was doing, her answer was "I'm pretending Anna has headlice and I have to help her get rid of them." I had no idea she even knew about headlice!
• She's gotten much more confident lately- including talking to grownups! Our lawnmower wasn't working while Ben was gone and while my dad and our neighbor Jesse were trying to fix it she kept saying "Maybe we should wait for my dad to get home, because he's the fixer!" and then turned to Jesse and said "So....we got Chase's tonsils out...." 
• She's been practicing to start ballet in the fall- mostly balancing. She thinks that's mostly what ballet will require of her.
• Her preferred hairstyle last year was "up on top". This year it is mostly a high pony tail, and when I have time, "turls".
• She's starting to figure out swimming! She'll put her face in the water and kick for short distances. She's not very open to my instruction, so she's mostly self-taught, mom-encouraged at this point.

 

Davis at 7 years old:

• He's starting to read really well- although he still hates it and battles me on it pretty much every day. 
• Is such a natural at any sport he tries. He never stops moving. His latest obsessions are flips off the diving board and finding anyone who will throw around a football with him.
• Is obsessed with Messi- even though he's only kind of aware who he really is. He likes to ask "Messi or Pele?" and then debate to the death if someone thinks Pele was better. 
• He makes us laugh every day with funny little comments. He thinks he has the world figured out. Heidi came to listen to me speak in church and during the sacrament he turned to her and said "Guys just pass the sacrament now because God says so, but girls will someday soon." He speaks with great authority about things he only has very basic knowledge of.

Hudson at 11:

• We have at least 3 conversations every day about his hair- his thoughts on length, styling, cool looks and products he'd like to try. He's very into his hair. He told me he's excited to grow a beard because it's "another way to express my creativity".
• He made the robotics team for school again next year and gets to attend a robotics camp at the end of the summer.
• He's the best babysitter around here. He's so good at playing with the littles and being creative with them.
• He's trudging along with piano lessons. It's definitely not his favorite thing, but he still does it. 
• He's very into shoes and style. He loved this look for family pictures. He loves looking around the Nike store at different options. He's always thinking of a cool new outfit he could someday have.
• He's becoming a champion teaser, meaning he's really enjoying ticking off his siblings. It's so endearing (insert eyeroll).

Chase at 13:

• Survived his much anticipated tonsillectomy! He was in so much pain for the first 8 days, but he was a really good sport about it. We were all so thankful when real, noticeable healing started. He went through a lot of chocolate pudding, ice cream, and jello!
• We also started doing weekly allergy shots for him starting in the spring. He's been a good sport about them, even though they are annoying and inconvenient.
• Learning the beautiful and calming Clair de Lune on the piano in the spring. As soon as he performed in his recital he switched to learning Beethoven's 5th symphony- pretty much the exact opposite feel! 
• He got to go on a one night camping trip with the deacons quorum in June and had the best time fishing and staying up way too late with the other boys.
• He's the kindest boy. At our Hugo family dinner, Ray and Diane's very elderly friend comes most months. He loves Chase- Chase spends the whole time listening to his life story and asking insightful questions, and then always pops up to help him out to the car when it's time to leave. Chase especially has a gift with the elderly.