Across the Pond: December 2011

Carter,

It is amazing to me that you are 5. Although, if we were going by pure energy, you'd be 30 by now.
You are still full steam ahead, and I'm convinced that the reason I am so fatigued is that you literally suck the energy out of me and use it for yourself.

You go to school 3 days a week here in Crestview and love it. You are at the point where school is immediate gratification. You hear things and then, they're in your brain and you remember them and apply them! You are starting to read, tell time and do more and more things for yourself. We have discussed you making your own breakfast but that doesn't really solve our getting up early problem since you can't very well get Vivi out of her bed for us. Ha. You are incredibly smart Carter and I can't wait to see where school is going to take you.

You are taking on more responsibility including feeding the dog, taking out your bathroom trash and turning out lights and shutting the bedroom doors before we leave the house. You take things in from the car for me, help me carry things, corral your siblings and help me find things. Your school backpack is your responsibility and we let you brush your own teeth now and then too. You know how to lock doors, make your bed, let the dog in and out, get toilet paper, take things to the outside fridge and sort laundry.

You are so good and quick at everything you do, so it is easy for us to add on responsibility and expectations. Your daddy and I try very hard to be fair and not expect more from you than we should but I'll be honest, it is hard sometimes. When we see how capable you are, it is easy for us to pile more and more on your plate. But, remember if you want 'big kid' privileges you get 'big kid' responsibilities. I'm sure I will wear this saying out more and more as you near adolescence.

You were on your first soccer game this year and had a good time. You really liked the games but weren't too fond of regular practice. You spent a lot of time high-fiving instead of watching the ball. You aren't quite fast enough for offense but you're a pretty good defender and goalie!

You LOVE dinosaurs, especially the T-rex. But, you're pretty knowledgeable about all of them and correct anyone who might guess the wrong name. "No mom, that's not a dromaeosaurus! Good grief!"

You love Star Wars and got all 6 movies for your birthday. Speaking of movies, You LOVE them too. This can be a good thing, or bad thing. It's very good, because if I come down with a migraine, or the flu ~~or a hangover~~ or it's rained all day and we ran out of glue and Popsicle sticks, I can put a movie on for you and you're all set. The bad part is that you'll be so entranced I will forget that you've been watching a movie for eleventy hours and your brain has turned to mashed potatoes long before Luke knows who his father is.
Screen time is a constant battle (not too dramatic of one, but one we have to revisit often nonetheless).
Luckily, your brother and sister do not share your same love affair with the TV.

You have such a knack for making friends. You are able to go to any playground or beach and make an instant friend. Sometimes they're little boys your age. Sometimes they're 2 year old girls. Sometimes it's a group of 8 or 9 year old boys, doesn't matter. You somehow convince them that they definitely want to play with you or they're missing out.

This year for your party, you invited your best friend, Ollie for a sleepover. Y'all made pizza, ate rice krispies, played pirates and spy jungle animals and watched Star Wars until you both passed out on the couch. I didn't even make you brush your teeth, I just carried both of y'all to bed! You and Ollie had a great time.