Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Just Like That. He's Five.

My baby is FIVE! Five, is way different than four. Five is a big kid and that's so weird. Although he is a big kid, he's still a little guy. He seems so much smaller than his peers at school. And I'm fine with that, he's so dang cute.


Joe and I always call him our honey boy because he is the sweetest thing. Just by nature he is sweet to the core. Don't get me wrong, he has his moments of not wanting to share or being rude and demanding, but more often than not he melts us. Affectionate and sensitive with a big side of silly.


Silas is easily excited and has so much innosence. I hope he never loses that. It's almost an obliviousness that he carries. It's admirable. He's in his own little happy world and he is so content. We joke around about girls liking him or calling and Silas not really getting it because he's just content doing his thing. Whether it's piling his animals all around him and just 'thinking' as he looks out the window, or having an imaginary sword fight with the air, he is very good at self entertaining.


He is also slightly obsessed with television. My goodness!! Some days I want to throw the TV out the window because it is the biggest issue in the house. I obviously limit their TV time, but some days that's all he wants to do and at no cost will he stop asking. I want to just get rid of the TV so it's not an issue anymore, but then what would we do on the weekends when we want to sleep in? Favorite shows: Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Octonauts, Peg Plus Cat



Silas is my homebody. Loves to be at home (in his undies) and play with his toys. Or outside in our yard (when it's not -16 degrees!) All day long. The biggest battles we fight with him are going to church Sunday mornings or going to the gym with Joe on Saturdays and occasionally he will resist swimming or skating lessons (and turning off the TV). He prefers to be in his own territory doing his own thing. I am similar, so I am sympathetic! But of course once he gets to the destination he is happy as can be.


When he is playing at home he spends most of his time tying up his ships all over the house. On the railings, door knobs, closets, you name it a ship has been tied there. Or he will tie them together. He also likes to build. He will spend the day building machines (aka hoard things together in one area and call it a machine), or building with Legos. He is getting to the age where he can follow simple Lego directions on his own. AND a new found activity with him is the classic marshmallow and tooth pick sculpture. Obsessed!


Along with building he is super passionate about maps. He often works on a puzzle map at school, so we got one for him at home and he loves it. Grandma got him two huge laminated maps (USA and the world) and they are now hung in his room (tacky, but he loves it). He has memorized some states and loves to bust out a map for treasure hunts.

We call him our builder and map guy. He takes pride in both!



School is going great. I really think that the teaching approach at his school is a great fit for his personality. It took us a while to get used to the required five mornings a week, but we are in the swing of it and the continuity is paying off. The teacher says he is really focused on his tasks and seems to be drawn to different cultures (the cultural book and cards are a favorite), counting and of course maps. I was able to observe his class one morning and it was really fun watching him 'work'. We are excited enough about his school that he will be there next year for Kindergarten and Veda will join him in the mornings for her first year of preschool. 


Silas stays for lunch and recess two afternoons a week (sometimes more) and has the option of ice skating on their skating rink after lunch each day. He LOVES to stay for lunch and I think the most exciting part for him is carrying his lunchbox to school. Not kidding. The other moms tell me their kids feel the same way! With his ability to practice skating (when it's not too cold) at school he's catching on fast.


All the skating at school plus skating lessons Silas has become quite the ice skater. He seems to like it and talks about playing on an actual hockey team next year. He isn't very aggressive, but we will definitely give it a try. I don't think I even have a choice with Joe as his dad!


Silas is also is a huge eater. Maybe it's a growth spurt, but his appetite surprises me. He is my three square meals a day kid. Big breakfast, big lunch, big dinner. With maybe two small snacks in there. He rarely asks for food, just cleans his plate during meals. He is less and less picky the older he gets (PTL!) so it has been fun to watch his variety of food widen. He'll surprise me sometimes and ask for broccoli, but usually he requests string cheese or something sweet. Favorite foods: Peanut butter sandwiches, oranges, cheese, carrots, cucumber, pears, oatmeal, bananas, pretzels, and meat (he loves meat, any kind), waffles, and any sort of sweet treat. 


Lastly, he has (finally) mastered writing his name. He doesn't love to write his name or letters in general and if I had to guess I'd suspect he'd be more of a science and math guy as opposed to a reading and writing guy. But he is making progress in the writing department and has some bouts of interest in what letters sound like (although I think he just randomly guesses!) so I take that as a good sign!


Silas has made our life so much more joyful these last five years. Can't wait to celebrate many, many, many more years with this kid!

Happy FIFTH Birthday to our sweet boy!













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