Jake

Jake is getting more grown up each day it seems. Hard to believe that Kindergarten will be over in 3 weeks. Although he is a good solid reader, he is not that into listening to books (much to my dismay, of course). He likes picture books somewhat- and funny books like Chet Gecko and Geronimo Stilton- but all of our attempts at "good" chapter books seem to fall on deaf ears. I am dying to read him Harry Potter and Charlotte's Web and Dragon Rider and such, but so far it's a no go.

Sometimes he says things that I swear came straight out of Brian's mouth. It is becoming more and more obvious which traits he has picked up on from each of us- both good and bad. He is kind, loving, friendly, gentle, helpful,and sensitive to other people's needs. He is also needy and demanding and whiny and sarcastic (he gets that from both of us...) and often over tired despite our best efforts to get him to sleep past 6.

While he has a typical love/hate relationship with Tanner, his relationship with Faith appears to be all love. That little girl can get away with murder as far as he is concerned. Tanner, on the other hand, can just look at him wrong and it's all over. Still, they are all playing together really nicely these days. The boys will engage in a game of 1 on 1 basketball or Tanner and Faith race their matchbox cars. While the need is still there for him to be "entertained" by one of us, it is getting better, I think.

He loves to help around the house- probably his favorite thing to do is help his daddy. Recently we had to move everything out of the boys room because we are getting ready to do the construction (build a big closet). He just was so happy helping to carry the things down to the garage, decide which things we would sell at the garage sale, etc... He makes breakfast for the kids on occasion and the other night requested that he be allowed to make us all dinner (He wanted me to rest since I was recuperating from strep throat).

He has his best buddies at school that are his age, but also makes friends with the older kids on the playground, often playing basketball, four square, or tether ball with 2nd graders. I am so, so proud of him and lucky on this (and every) Mother's Day to call him my son.