It was really apparent this trip how much Sean has grown up in the past two years since we were last in Florida. Just the simple fact that he's tall enough to go on some pretty big roller coasters at both Legoland and the Disney parks was enough to make me realize he's becoming a "big kid". But, also, I'm loving how he entertained and excited he was to have "tasks" while we were out and about. For example, in Epcot, he used the Passport we bought on the last trip and made it a point to get the stamp in every country. He then carefully placed all the country's stickers in their spots in the book while we ate dinner. He also loved trading mini figures with employees at Legoland and felt confident enough to ask them to trade by mid-day. The Wilderness Explorers program in Animal Kingdom allowed him to earn stickers for tasks like learning about certain animals, their environment, recycling, and taking care of Earth. It was a really neat experience for him!
It's been a journey this year getting him to read more for me. He's still pretty reluctant to read on his own, but he really can. He would much rather look at the pictures and guess what the sentences say instead of putting the work in. But, that seems to be consistent with what we're hearing from his teacher. That he's doing a great job at school, but that he's rushed with all his work. He doesn't want to put the time in to do the best quality that he can. That being said, it's still amazing to see the work that he brings home and to help him get further along with his reading. Since his teacher sent home information for an app they use in class, we've been working on it at home, with some bribing and treats, and he's passed two reading levels since January. We're very proud of how far he's come this year and we're coming up with strategies to keep him on track this summer.
At school, he seems to get along really well with everyone. He's getting good reports home daily and is quite social with everyone in his class. Our neighbor across the street has a daughter in kindergarten at Sean's school and they play together at recess and sit next to each other on the bus some days during the week. And he's back to playing soccer with his teammates that he's had for the past two years, so he's been excited to re-connect with some of those friends that are at different schools. His "best friends" at school are Preston and Corey and he begs me all the time to have play dates with them. Sean has even started writing pen-pal letters to a friend named Parker in Oklahoma!
Outside of school he's participating in swim at Aqua Tots. He just recently graduated from Level 5 and moved into Level 6, which he's loving! It's amazing because in level 6 these kids are doing laps back and forth the entire half hour. He's really building his endurance! And they're working on freestyle with side breathing, elementary backstroke, backstroke, and the breaststroke. He's also starting the spring season of soccer with Scott coaching again. Go Sharks! They've had two practices and his first game is next weekend.
He's also really getting into rollerblading. He's been going to the Skatin' Station nights through his school once every other month and at the last one he told me, "Mom, you can go sit down and watch me skate." He stopped me short when he said those words to me. He's already embarrassed to be around me lol!
At home, he's still very much obsessed with Legos! His room is a complete shrine dedicated to Lego sets he's built (see the picture above of him in his bedroom) and it occupies about 90% of his mind during the day. In fact, most of our trip recently was about which Lego set he wanted to buy with his gift cards and he needed to know what time we would be back to the hotel each night so he would have time to play with them. Crazy boy! He's also big into collecting rocks and shells. He tells me he wants to be an Archaeologist when he grows up, so he's got quite the collection going right now. He was in heaven in Clearwater Beach last week hunting for shells and of course, we had to buy him one that you could hear the ocean in.
Personality wise, he's very passionate. That's always been a good word to describe Sean. He can be passionate about the things he's interested in, like building Legos or working outside digging in his "site" in the backyard. But, he can also be passionate about how he doesn't want to go on the school bus on Monday mornings or that he doesn't want to get out of his pajamas on the weekend and go anywhere. Lately, that negative passion has manifested into whining. So, we're working on him cutting down on how much he whines about not getting his way. He's also very imaginative. He loves coming up with games and play scenarios for him and Evan to act out at home. Just the other day they were playing with pirate figurines and animal figurines from the ocean and they had out a blue container filled with water and other tupperware containers to put the "bad pirates in jail". I love the way his mind works when he's building and creating and imagining!
He craves one-on-one attention and even though he shares well for the most part, he doesn't like sharing attention. So, there can be issues with him and Evan fighting for my attention or Scott's. Fighting for space on the couch...fighting for who gets to be put to bed first...or their teeth brushed first...or anything really. I guess that's life with two boys at home! Very competitive at times. But, when you get that one-on-one time with Sean, even if only for a few minutes, those are my favorite moments with him because he's sweet, loving, kind, and bright.
I need to get his official stats, because he just went through a major growth spurt. All his pants are too short! But, he was 46" tall at Disney and probably weighs around 45 pounds. He's just getting into size 6 pants, but has been wearing size 5 and 6 shirts since the fall. He's in a size 11.5-12 shoe. He has three teeth that are loose right now - the top middle two and one of the bottom side ones. I think his top right tooth will go first of the three. He's been waiting for the tooth fairy to return since her last visit last spring.
To my Master Builder, passionate, bright big explorer - Happy half birthday to you! We're so proud of how much you've grown and learned in the past 6 months. And to think - next fall you'll be in 1st grade! Crazy! I hope you never lose that passion you have for building and creating!
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