An Elias Update

Typical Elias look

Elias is excited to be learning new things at school.  He is working on addition (double digits sometimes) and subtraction.  He uses the Montessori beads and marbles as props.  He loves to count to 100 for anyone who will listen.  He is really making progress on reading (Ms. Julie thinks he can read at least 1000 words).  We are hoping to at least get him tested before he enters Kindergarten next year to see if he could be placed at an advanced school.  I sent in the paperwork, but haven't heard.  Even if he tests well, we may just decide to send him to our local school.  That decision can be made later (January).

He loves swimming.  In September, I enrolled him in group swimming lessons at the YMCA.  We lucked out, and he got Mr. James as an instructor.  Ms. Elena was also helping out, but because Elias volunteered a lot, he usually got to work with Mr. James.  Mr. James is good at pushing the kids, but he is still very nice.  Ms. Elena is just nice.  After the 8 weeks were up, I decided Elias would be better off in private lessons.  It gives him 30 minutes with just Mr. James (who Elias loves).  Elias can float on his back (with a noodle), can get rings off the bottom of the pool (with help), takes big jumps in from the side of the pool, and can swim very short distances on his own.  I sure hope he learns the basics before the 8 weeks are up.

Elias is still as goofy as ever.  Today we passed some construction, and Elias said he wasn't sure what they were building.  I told him it would most likely be a business of some sort.  He said it could be anything, even a clown house.  I had to concur.  Maybe they are building a clown house.

His favorite thing to do when we are eating is to ask, "What do you want to talk about?"  He is a bit particular about what we discuss, but never has any ideas of his own.  We have already begun the, "I don't know.  What do you want to talk about?"

If Elias were old enough to vote, he would vote for Mitt Romney.  He says it is because he has never met him, but he knows he has never met Obama either.  It doesn't matter what we say, there is no changing this boy's mind.

We buy most of our groceries at Vitamin Cottage, and one day Elias came home with a picture of Frankenstein to color in and submit to them for a coloring contest.  Elias colored him pink and purple (of course), and we found out yesterday that he won a $10 gift card for the grocery store.  Today, he got to pick out something special at the store in celebration of his winning picture.  He told me that Daddy was going to have to guess what he picked when we got home.  When we walked in the house, Elias said in one long sentence...Guess what I picked at the store Daddy.  It starts with a p.  It's pudding...Needless to say it took Matt quite a few guesses before he figured out what Elias brought home.

I must admit I have been enjoying Elias' company more and more.  Who knew they turned into actual human beings around age 4?