six and a half
to
seven

(December 19 - June 19)

Charlie scored two goals during the winter soccer season! He was so stoked! So were we! He loved playing. His team went undefeated and he was sad to have it end. He made amazing 180 degree progress throughout the season. He started so shy and barely touched the ball. When he did, he would immediately back away and let the others take it from there. By the end of the season, he was very aggressive, stuck with the ball, and was constantly moving to participate. It was great! He was great at defense. His top priority was to run straight back to the goal to defend it since there were no goalies in his age group.

Dad took him skiing for the first time and LOVED it. We surprised him one Friday afternoon right after he got home from school. We were hopeful and anxious as to how Charlie would like skiing. We wanted it to be as positive as possible. We hoped he would love it, and HE DID! He LOVED it! Jason was able to tell that first day that Charlie honestly is naturally very good at skiing. He loves going fast, he can turn and stop easily, and he enjoys pushing himself through harder terrain like trees and banks. They went again the next day (Saturday), this time bringing me and Colson. He can turn very easily and stop. He seems pretty well in control and loves going through the trees, on the inclines, and any other “stunt” he can think of on the bunny hill. This season of skiing was a very proud "Daddy Moment" for Jason.

Day 1:

Day 2:

More Days:

February Skiing:

after some adventurous terrain

March Skiing:

Charlie's best friend is Kenyon Proctor.

Easter cupcakes

riding to school with Kenyon and his older brother, Ethan

final playdates with Kenyon before moving:

Charlie loves playing laser tag, Legos (especially Star Wars Legos), and playing lightsabers. He is spending more time learning to skateboard...mostly self teaching. He still loves writing and drawing.

Star Wars nights with Uncle Tyson

millennium falcon

Everything has to be “fair” between him and Colson, and even with us as his parents.

learning the art of tattling

and getting in trouble

He loves coming up with grand plans that never quite make it to completion like building a castle out of boxes, selling airplanes to get “rich” (we are talking trying to sell basic paper airplanes for $5-$50 depending on “how good” they are), and other random festivals or different tickets to things.

Charlie's Christmas Card he made for his buddies

Charlie is obsessed with his reward chart right now. He gets signatures or check marks for doing extra jobs, or for good behavior and habits, etc. He has done a lot of dusting, washing of baseboards, doors, and walls, piano practicing from his beginner book from Easter, folding laundry, etc. Right now he wants to earn enough marks to earn Star Wars Legos. He already earned General Grievous (which took him 90 marks). He has been very upset to hear that he can’t earn the Death Star, which is $500! I told him when he is 16 he can earn real money and buy it himself. He started crying when he realized that was 3,650 days away (10 years). He is still talking about it and dreaming about, but hopefully we can get past this soon.

By the second half of the school year, Charlie was less enthused with school. I think he must be bored, not totally comprehending the Spanish. I’m not really sure, but his love for school disappeared at some point during this school year. It really is too bad! It breaks my heart.

Some school work:

spotlight poster

More school work and drawings:

When things started warming up, Charlie started the spring season of soccer. This time he had Coach Daniel. Charlie really liked him and continued with his great progress.

his face is too cute to not share both

our friend, Bryant was on Charlie's team

Here are more pictures of Charlie:

Charlie built snowmen with his friend, Roman. Notice all of the snowmen have some kind of umbrella or covering to shield them from the sun so they wouldn't melt.

Oliver inspired the boys in the hair-doing department after our Christmas break together.

...and gum

Daddy Penguin Day at school:

love this picture

Charlie's new primary teacher for the year

early Valentine's date with Dad at Kneaders

self care

haircut, such thick hair!

Butterfly Museum

love this kind of play

church with G&G A

Spencer family cabin

"Do as I'm doing..."

Charlie put on Mr. Frog's Birthday

Charlie made himself a cell phone

countdown to move day - gifts from G&G Gruber

Uncle Bryan got him hooked on spreadsheets

Oliver teaching him about taking notes during General Conference...it didn't stick

Charlie's room before moving

...and play corner

can't seem to just smile for a picture

one of my very favorite pictures

a special card Charlie made for me

another favorite at the Mother's Day school program

Charlie loves sour cream and will eat it plain

still a pizza lover

still enjoys lining things up

last day of school

goodbye Orem house

more cute Charlie faces

Moving Day:

With PG friends:

spying mother...happy to see him making new friends here

Charlie's Birthday:

Charlie turned 7! We had a great day with a yummy breakfast, a new soccer goal, building his new lego sets, building a fort with the empty moving boxes with his new friends (Brody & Brooks), Grandma A stopped by for a visit and a gift, and we had dinner at Pizzeria Limone.

Friend Party (with new friends in neighborhood):

Despite my encouragement, Charlie told me he didn't want to have a party. He was nervous about doing something like that with the new friends on the street. But last minute, he changed his mind. I was glad, but of course suddenly very busy. We had a fun party in the back yard with laser guns, soccer, water guns, water balloons, pizza, and popsicles.