Isaac's Journal

January 5, 2012

Today it is nearly seventy degrees. We quickly completed our school work then met Natalie, Roman and Beckham at the park. Now you and Abby are playing outside together instead of taking a nap. My only stipulation is that you have to STAY outside. I saw you carving a “lightsaber” out of a stick. You shave all the bark off of one end then color it blue or green with a crayon. I love these expressions of creativity! The pocket knife was a reward for finishing the “Alpha Phonics” book in November. You also received your own “big Bible”.

You are truly a good reader now. You'll attempt nearly anything though sometimes you get frustrated and give up. Anything that is an “early reader” type of book is a good bet – up to about a 3rd grade level. You've also been doing a lot of writing on your own. We haven't even worked on spelling yet, so that leaves a lot to be desired, but I love the Bible book you've been writing. “GOD'S WORD I HAV MADE THIS BOOK MY NAME iS ISAAC I AM 6.” The next page (CHAPTR 1) reads, “GOD iS THE BEST KING HE TRND THE DRKNIS INTO LIGHT HE MADE THE PLANITS HE MADE THe URTH He MADE SPASE AND MOSTE Of OL HE MADE YOU” It's just too sweet not to copy some more, so here's CHAPTR 2: “GOD MADE YOU iN HIS OWNE IMIj I LOVE GOD RILEE MUCH DOO YOU”

The one snow we've had so far was on a weekend, so you had tons of fun sledding and snowboarding with Dad. You and Abby are both big enough now that I try to send you outside every day unless it's truly miserable weather. You are still sooo active that you literally bounce on and climb on everything in the house if you don't get a chance to run around. We've been “boot skating” a few times at the frozen pond down the road. And we just bought the acre of land behind our house and you're hoping Dad will make you a zipline! In any case it would be great for you to have that space if you would actually go on the land. But of course, you hate being by yourself so if Abby won't go (and she won't), you won't either.

We spent Thanksgiving in Minnesota. One day was at Grandma Drewry's, one day was the Flanegan celebration and one day Grandma Kim took us to the aquarium in the Mall of America. You got to ride one roller coaster. Then the rest of the time was chilling out with Wii and movies and running around outside with Westley and Hayden and Nerf Guns. I'm so glad we were able to see everyone, especially your namesake, Great Grandpa Ed, because he passed away on Christmas Day.

We took the week before Christmas off of school and did lots of fun Christmasy things: caroling at a nursing home with our friends from church (Fagreys, Jacobs and Kennedys), decorating sugar cookies with cousins, and making gingerbread houses with Grace and Nadya Belcher. Christmas Day you got three remote control trucks, lots of Legos, and some books, crafts and games. You seemed quite pleased.

Then after Christmas Daddy left for MN again to be with his family and Elise and I flew out a few days later for Grandpa Ed's funeral. You, Abby and Matthew stayed with Papa and Grammie. You got to sleepover at their house and they took you to Chuck E Cheese and the Storybook Island lights display. We are so blessed to have them nearby.