This and that times 5

Bennett:  9 years old.  Likes shooting hoops in the driveway.  Thinks it's fun that he gets jokes he sees on TV commercials/shows and often replays them for us even though we saw it too.  He likes to be told more "adult" jokes...usually by Darrin :).  He thinks it's cool when his dad lets him stay up late to watch sporting events.  He's a homebody and has to think hard about whether or not he wants to do some event or go somewhere with someone.  He hates going to the grocery store.  He loves yogurt. That's usually his snack choice or is included in at least one of his meals.  He's going to try soccer for the first time this year.  He's competitive and doesn't like to lose in a game.  In school he doesn't get worked up before a test or big assignment and is okay with, "I did well enough."  :).  So his competitive nature doesn't necessarily apply to schoolwork.  But he still does well.  One of his favorite television shows is River Monsters on the Animal Planet.  And fishing still remains an all time favorite for our boy.

Annabelle:  8 years old.  Just had her dance recital and is bummed it's over for the year.  According to her, it's her favorite "sport."  She's still very opinionated about her hair and clothing but in a whole new way.  Her wardrobe is simple (but now we need to purchase a few more of her favored items) t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, black yoga pants.  When she doesn't have a pair of black yoga pants clean, it's a huge ordeal.  She likes dressing her and her sisters the same or similar, and she enjoys doing their hair.  She can easily go from playing something "older" to something "younger" when her sisters ask her.  She likes to write and make lists.  And she likes math.  She's my buddy and loves to do things with me.  She doesn't even mind the grocery store.  She likes music.  She's been working hard on improving her splits.  She can go all the way down in one direction.  She's still working on perfecting the middle splits.  She just got glasses which correct her vision a bit.  She was having a difficult time seeing the board at school.  She enjoys having them....at least so far.

Eliza:  4 years old.  Just completed her first year of dance with Miss Kim.  Her weeks revolved around whether or not it was a "dance night."  She is in a phase of "What if..." sentences.  She comes up with some crazy stories/scenarios to complete those sentences and sometimes it's hard to even know how to respond.  It might go something like this.  "What if we could take a car and put it in our house...etc"  She got a bike one size up from the one she learned to ride 2 wheel on and it is wonderful for her.  She rides all over and is a little too brave for my liking.  She's a cuddle bug, especially with her Dad.  She likes playing "Mom."  She also likes to color.  She enjoys singing and listening to music.  She's quite social and asks almost every day, "Who are we going to see today?"

CallaMae:  2 years old.  She's in a "I do it myself" phase to the point where sometimes I have to put things back on a shelf just so she can get it off again.  Most of her sentences end in "Mama" and it melts my heart.  She loves to be outside.  CallaMae can make her siblings laugh very hard by the things she says and does....mostly at night when she should be quiet and trying to go to sleep.  She likes cheese flavored rice cakes and pretzels.  Her favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  And she likes listening to all the songs her sisters like on Youtube including All About the Bass, Let It Go, Shake It Off, and Uptown Funk.  She even does a decent job singing them.  Sometimes I hear her singing to herself.  She's quick to let you know you're bothering her.  "Don't" and "Go away" are things that come out of her mouth regularly.  Lol.

Adelene.  7 months.  Breaking her first bottom tooth through.  I can now feel the whole thing above the gum.  She still sucks on the first two fingers on her left hand.  She recently started eating solid food and does very well.  Didn't take much practice at all.  She's so smiley but often checks to make sure I am still in her view.  She gets up on her knees and rocks and moves her hands forward, and is able to slowly get where she needs to go by pulling herself across the floor one way or another.  She loves when you kiss her cheeks.  It makes her laugh.  She by far sleeps best in her crib.  She doesn't sleep long or well when we are on the go (not a good car seat sleeper).  She is content when being pushed outside in her stroller.

Here are my favorite 6 at Cabelas in Dundee this past Tuesday.  It was a spring break day trip.  CallaMae was mad because she wanted to keep exploring and looking at the animals.