Lex can read. Really, seriously read. Have I mentioned this lately? I tend to take it for granted since he’s been reading for years (what 5yr old hasn’t?!?) but every now and then it really strikes me. Like yesterday when he told me that saliva is another name for spit. “I read that in The Encyclopedia of the Human Body!” he tells me. Or this morning when he sat on the couch for quite awhile reading a Raggedy Ann book, a 93 page chapter book with very few pictures. He whizzed right through it. A few days ago we were sitting on the couch together and he was reading a Magic Tree House book while I waited for Eve to pick out a book for me to read to her. I started reading over his shoulder and I was barely finishing pages before he was turning them. Mind blowing! At lunch today he informed me that he is not color blind and that his tongue was playing tricks on his brain. He then gave me lots of details about color blindness and taste buds. Separate thoughts, of course. Awhile ago he stopped reading in the car and it was pure torture. I’ve always considered him a great traveler and it only sort of occurred to me that it’s because he reads. When he stopped reading in the car he whined and complained the whole way to my parents house. Fortunately we figured out the problem and he’s reading again. Whew!

The only down side to this is I have to be careful of the content he reads. I was going to buy him some books at a yard sale last weekend, but they are aimed at 5th and 6th graders and seemed to have some ideas that I don’t want him to have yet. Along the lines of school bullying, teasing, harassing the teacher, etc. Things that might be funny for 12yr olds, but I’m not ready for him to have that exposure yet.

I’m just so proud of him lately. He has been overcoming his fears and accomplishing some big things lately. Sitting at the table, eating a few things, learning to wipe himself, wiggling that tooth until it came out… all things that don’t seem monumental, but to him I know they are. He even asked me today what we’re having for dinner.  I told him and he said, “Don’t forget the carrots.  They are my favorite!” :)  He worked (and continues to work) hard and I’m so proud of him. I love the boy he is growing into.

Here are a few pics from our week…

Eve pouting, playfully, at Walgreens

Our own piece of heaven, our new favorite blueberry patch.

"C'mon mom!" he calls to me.

Happy Blueberry Eve

Eve checks out the hair dryer while...

Lex gets a much needed haircut.

Climbing boy

"I can do it. I'm very strong!" she encourages herself, all the way up and back down.

Lex filled his pockets with rocks, with Eve's help, and then happily told me "Mom, I have rockets in my pockets!" He is big into rhyming these days :)

Those rocks, as well as a few we painted eons ago, made their way into the elaborate train setup covering my living room floor.

We went to the science museum this morning and ended up taking a walk on the nature trails. It was fun.