The Grubers: August 2019

five to five and a half
(June 19 - December 19)

Charlie’s swimming is getting a lot better! He can hold his breath under the water and has gotten more comfortable. I’m very thankful to swimming lessons. He is doing better at splash pads and finally enjoying going under the fountains and squirting water. It is so fun to see.

Charlie can totally pinch and tuck his pen by himself now. That is now his “go-to” position. I’m so happy about that. It is perfect timing just before Kindergarten. I have to thank Aunt Annette for introducing that technique to us and thank Jason for really pushing him to make the change.

During the summer, Charlie has loved doing our “school” at home. It has been so simple, a fifteen minute lesson on a letter, or color, or whatever, but he really looks forward to it and misses it if we miss a day.

He is obsessed with our weekly hiking group with Roman Markle and the new friends we have met there. He says he wishes we could go on hikes every day! He wants the hikes to be longer and longer! It amazes me the endurance and stamina he has for these things. I am always surprised! He always looks forward to them and even has certain clothes he likes to wear for the hikes. He also likes to wear hats when we go because Roman wears hats a lot. He loves running ahead with Jude, Roman, and Colson. They enjoy running away from the adults.

As we know, Charlie is built a lot like Jason. His typical sitting position is that “W” with his heels laying outside of his bum. However, he seems to be getting better with sitting cross-legged (or how Jason and Charlie call it, criss-cross applesauce). He seems to be getting more comfortable with it, but still isn’t his natural position. Again, we have to thank Jason for his persistence in getting on Charlie’s case about that.

Charlie can ride his bike without training wheels! We are so excited and he is thrilled! He learned pretty dang quick! It seemed to come really easily after a couple of months of riding our makeshift strider-bike. Dad and I were shocked!

Charlie likes to say “you’re not being nice” when he is getting in trouble for things.

He is becoming obsessed with washing his hands.

He spends a lot of time drawing stick figures, tall and short, giving them names and ages. Along those lines, an obsession is asking how old people are, or how old people look. When we play figurines, each one has to ask how old they are...every single one! It is surprisingly exhausting and tiring to play with him. He also likes to pretend to be different ages.

While I do computer work, Charlie loves to look at my blog online. He can scroll through the pictures and press the “older post” button. That keeps him entertained for awhile. He remembers a lot! He can recall what we did last year for the 4th of July and so forth...and what he wore, and other random details. It’s hilarious and impressive at the same time.

Charlie is doing so great with reading! Right now he loves reading Biscuit books and Go Dog Go. He can even attempt to read other books and tries sounding out the words. I am so impressed.

Charlie started Kindergarten on August 29th. He LOVES it! He has Mrs. Jones and goes in the afternoon. He is considered an Early Bird (12:00 - 2:50) because he is in the earlier group for the afternoon class. (They have a staggered schedule by 30 minutes so each half of the class gets more one-on-one attention during reading time). Charlie always comes home with so much to tell us. We are overjoyed.

We moved the black desk/toy table to his room so he can draw there instead leaving endless streams of papers and drawings out in the kitchen. He can also do his “homework” there.

We tried out some Orem City Rec dance classes for Charlie. We decided we liked the hip hop class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-4:55. The main reason for this, other than something new and fun to try, was to help with Charlie’s coordination and confidence.

Pictures from the Hip Hop Christmas Performance:

His instructor

Charlie was all smiles during his performance! It was absolutely adorable! The biggest smile there!

Charlie keeps getting better and better with reading. He started loving Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. Charlie will try reading just about anything. He is doing well sounding things out.

One day Charlie was going poop and a small piece was stuck on his bum. Dad helped him by shaking him so it would come off, and Charlie said to Dad “Wow, you are strong….and brave” (words i have been saying to him before school and if he is melting down about something unimportant).

Charlie is amazing with remembering dates! He can tell you exactly when Alpine Days was, or when he scraped his knee, or when the wedding was, etc. It is pretty amazing. He knows the months and lots of the dates for birthdays of all family members and cousins.

We got out the Wii in October and the boys love it, especially Mario Kart! Charlie has gotten pretty good. He has taken 1st place against ten other computers a couple of times on the easiest tracks. That’s pretty impressive for a first exposure to video games.

Here are more pictures from the past six months: