I finally have a fixed computer and can write about my handsome five year old! Five just seems so old to me. He has really grown up in the past year and we have so much fun! Eli was my baby who I had prayed for for so long and was so thankful to receive. He holds a very special place in my heart because he has taught me everything I know about parenting, about sacrifice, and about selflessness. Every day is a new adventure and I look forward to many more and the future. I know God has great plans for him. At 5 years old Eli:
1. Loves: Cooking (especially Annie's Mac and Cheese or any dessert), going up in the hayloft at the farm, roasting marshmallows in the chiminea, camping, worshiping with his guitar, biking, cars, riding his scooter, playing on the playground, wrestling with Dad and Cora, trains, jumping machine at the mall, any carnival rides, water slides, swimming, legos, marbles, riding the trolley, playing with friends (our neighbor Jaxon especially), airplanes, rockets, timers, clocks, anything mechanical/technical, and little nick nacks that his room is full of.
2. Goes to speech twice a week with Ms. Rhonda at Heartspring and does speech with Ms. Sharon before school once a week. He has made some huge strides in speech recently that I have been so excited about. He is now using "s" sounds and "k" sounds without prompting! YAY!
3. Has been going to OT once a week (and working on a daily home program) for core weakness and grasp weakness, but as of today is officially graduated! I could not be prouder of his hard work and wonderful willing attitude!
4. Can put his clothes on, his coat on, and his shoes on by himself. He also does his chores, which are: Putting dishes in the sink, helping pick up toys, and helping take care of Carrot his rabbit.
5. Loves preschool and is thriving there. He loves school and has a lot of great friends this year (especially now that other kids can understand what he is saying). Every day he wants to play with his friends at the playground after school and they have so much fun. They even walk holding hands sometimes, which is so cute. His best friends at school are Maddox and Garrett. At least a couple of times a week, our neighbor Jaxon comes over to play for a few hours. They always have a blast, whether they are playing snakes, airplanes, tag, riding bikes, etc.
6. Loves Sunday School as well! One day his teachers told us that he wanted to tell the story to the class of the Good Samaritan. He not only told the story perfectly, but then acted it out for them...ha ha.
7. Works on a home program with me daily that includes social skills, speech, and OT type activities. He also uses some programs on his ipad, which he loves. We have an ABA therapist coming once a week to work with him to give me a break. He loves Ms. Danielle and just started a cooking/lunch/speech class with her at Heartspring as well.
8. Has prayed for snow almost every day this Winter. God must have REALLY been listening and stored up all the snow for the week of his birthday. We had like 14 inches of snow and the kids were in heaven. We have had almost 30 inches throughout this Winter. They have been sledding and playing in the snow like crazy!
9. Loves to travel. It doesn't matter where we are going, this kids loves trips! He loves to fly, but will settle on driving trips as well and is a wonderful traveler. He loves going to the farm and to Texas, and asks constantly to fly to Lake Tahoe or California again.
10. Had his 5th birthday at Pump It Up. He invited all of the boys in his class, his cousins, and church friends. It was the best party! The kids had a blast jumping in all the bounce houses and slides, then we ate ice cream with toppings and opened presents. It was wonderful to have all of our family here to celebrate such a special boy!
