FIVE! and Growing Pains

Yes, that title suggests there is a lot to say and indeed there is.

Alder is now 5 years old and so proud to be.  Here is a photo from his Walk Around the Sun Celebration at school and his joint birthday celebration with friends Sylvie and Joren at their farm....thanks Oma for the yummy home-made cakes!

...and for a fun blast from the past (first birthday shots at the same location).

"Do you know how old I am?" he asks any stranger that will talk to him.  They all dutifully prod him to announce his age and he does, matter of factly.  Heath, often just beside him, says in a quieter voice that he is "almost 3."  Kind strangers lean in and ask him to repeat and then exclaim what big boys they are!  Such a big deal, these ages.  Alder does not know everyone's name at his school, but when I ask about a certain person, he says..."oh, she's 7 and a half"  But what is her name?  "I dont know, she is in the Lower El class."  No name, but age to the half.  Interesting.  Despite Alder's infatuation with age, he is actually acting quite mature these days.  Talking more about playing with a wider variety of friends on the playground (girls, younger, older) and not just the same three boys of 6 months ago.  He is proud to be "sitting out" less (i.e., wrestlings less with aforementioned boys), and most of all so excited to be a "kindergarten friend" because once you are 5, you no longer nap, but spend time with the other 5 year olds and do "hard works".  Indeed, Alder has been bringing home some serious evidence of this:

 Teahers first write a word with a yellow highlighter and then Alder traces, and then writes by himself to the right.  From only a few months ago, his cursive has improved tremendously.

 Now, do not freak out by this one like I did when he first brought one home.  Alder cannot tell you what 5 plus 6 is (from memorization), but if you put an "addition board" in front of him, he can do it all the way up to the 20s (which he did today).

 He is also been starting to sound out words on his own (for awhile now), and we enjoy seeing how he phonetically does this.  He sent a thank you letter to "Mis Ganet" the other day.

And of course he loves drawing - this is a dog, I think.  Notice the pirate with sword and hook on his addition work as well.

As for Heath...well, he is entering a difficult stage.  Maybe it happened when we cut off his golden locks and transformed him into a big boy overnight...  yes, I promise these photos are taken within a few weeks of each other...

So, it seems like we are always frustrated with him and him with us.  I am reminded that the terrible 3s are worse than the terrible 2s.  He can still be the most loving and funny child, but he is testing us on just about every front these days.  What will they do if I do not listen?  Will they really not read me a book before bed?  Will they really make me sit down on the mat?  What if I snatch this toy from Alder for no apparent reason than to make him mad?  Then, when he is sitting out or has had something taken away from him that he is not allowed to choose, he says horrible things through dramatic sobs...."You're not coming to my birthday, mommy!, I'm going to throw you in the compost/trashcan, I want all the grown ups to die..."  yes, that last one was something I had to try hard not to over-react about.  We talk about death.  He does not know how hurtful such words are.  Then, after some solitude and a calming down, he flips a switch and is back to his nicer self.    Hoping that this phase will pass.

He also demonstrated that he is not ready to be a big brother (NOT that this was a plan at all!!) when he was with his baby cousin Jonah this past weekend.  He tried at first to be sweet....

 Then, slowly he started to morph....

 ...into a grouch that uttered nasty things.

On a lighter note, here is what Heath has been bringing home from school....

Funny....kind of.  My mom has always said that letting the boys pee in our yard might backfire on us....

 and sweet....

To dwell on some nicer things, Heath is super excited about his birthday.  We are going to be spending it in Grand Isle with family and he is counting the days with a paper chain.

He and Alder continue to be the best of buds (90% of the time) which is such a wonderful thing in so many ways.  They really do love each other.

 Superman and Ironman (?) suits from Grammy and Papa are a hit.

 Aboard the 'Pinta' that came to visit Richmond and was similar to a pirate ship for the boys.

 Just playing...

...and laughing together.

Our days are full, but we are having fun and enjoying each other.  Things are going to slow down here soon with vacation and my field season waning....looking forward to both! VERY much.