yes, my boys are as cool as my chickens.

someone told me that i have updated more about my chickens than about my kids.  let's fix that:

greyson has been reading like a fiend.  his first grade teacher has a system of rewarding kids with a bead for each 20 short stories or chapters they read. she is a genius. the kids keep their beads on a necklace and it is quite a first grade status symbol.  greyson loves a competition and has been up reading at 5 am several mornings, trying to earn his next bead.

it seemed that greyson went from reading simple words to reading chapter books in a blink.  we are still not really sure how he learned to read so well.  we know we didn't teach him, and he has always surprised his teachers.  reading is a skill that just clicked.  he never did sound out words very much - he just knew them.  i often tell the story that i became certain greyson could actually read at the start of kindergarten.  we were at the grocery store and he looked up and read, without hesitation, "refreshingly organic" off the sign above the produce.

in the last week greyson has shown more interest in writing, too.  i've found a few notes he's made for himself like this one:

asher jumped off of a curb, slipped (in algea growing at the bottom of a neighbor's driveway because she over-waters her lawn everyday despite the drought and water restrictions), and somehow landed on his face.  he was hysterical - until we got him inside and cleaned him up.  he's not bothered by blood and he wasn't hurting badly, but the kid cannot stand to be dirty or embarrassed.

asher has so much to say and so many questions.  without enforced 'quiet time', i'm quite sure he would talk all day.  he really has his own perspective.  along with a fascinating conversation about which super hero has the best powers,  i enjoyed these thoughts from ash this week:

"mom, which animals only have one nostril?"

"listen mom, i can hear the clouds moving."

"mom, i like those bumps on your tummy.  they look like hills and i like hills."

"i can't brush my teeth because i can't use that much water.  you know, we are having a drought here."

 following my other boys, Quinn became mobile and gained an opinion on most things we do in a day. he expresses himself with some signs - he uses "milk" and "more".  he also starting saying a few words - "ball", "backpack", "bye bye", "bubba"- though those all sound alike, so maybe it's just one word?  when those things fail him he can violently shake his head "no", throw things, hit, and scream.  wonderful.  most of the time he is still such a joy.

my kids are awesome. i am so lucky.