Lana is 7

 

Lana Mae is 7! She has to be the most patient one for her big day it seems like, because starting in December we have a steady stream of birthday and hers ends that streak until (almost) winter. 

Lana is ALL IN into whatever she's doing. She played her first year of basketball this year and loved it. She started to realize her own strength and speed and gained a lot of confidence over the season. She also finished up softball this summer and really enjoyed that. Lana also plays piano and although practicing isn't her favorite, she has really improved a lot in the last year and is really good at site reading when she trusts herself. She struggles with being a bit of a perfectionist, but has really learned in the last couple months that it's okay to try and not be the best right away. We also learned this summer that Lana is an excellent swimmer. Her swimming lesson teacher said her strokes are text book. She likes having that distinction from her siblings. :) 

Lana is gearing up for second grade. She finished her first grade academically strong. The other aspects of school were a struggle this year with differing little dramas, but I think we've had enough school detox that she's excited to give it another go. I'm confident she will have a good year. In JAM last year she learned she is good at memorizing Bible verses. She also is really good at remembering to pray for people we know that need prayer. Lana is incredibly observant and has an excellent memory which is sometimes very helpful, and sometimes very challenging because her mom doesn't always remember what I was supposed to be doing. :) 

Lana enjoys playing Barbies, house, and cheer leading (especially with her cousin Remy). She likes to play outside with someone (not alone) and likes to jump on the trampoline and ride her bike. As she grows up, it's fun to see her become more accomodating for her younger siblings and just realizing how to get them to play with her. She's good with them. 

We look forward to seeing what 2nd grade has for Lana and what she has for it! She is such a little spunky light and we love her to pieces. <3

Knox is 5

Sara McMillian Photography- I mean, come on! <3

 

Whew what a ride! Knox is FIVE! 

Knox is a ball of curios energy and confident "I can do this without asking" energy. I feel like he is always in a process of creating something or devising a scheme. I don't how to further describe that, but if you know him I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

He is also incredibly sweet. He notices things about his family and comments them as if they're no big deal. Awhile back I was wearing a dress he hadn't seen and he said "you're so beautiful" with no schmooze to it at all. He said it like a statement and it was so kind. Also, at church whenever I am playing piano, he delivers me little notes on the half wall in front of the piano. He sometimes delivers them in a hymnal. 

Knox is currently gearing up for Kindergarten and we are all so excited for him. I think he is excited also, but he's very stoic about it, maybe even a little nervous. We enjoyed this last year of being at home. He enjoyed the power of turning on PBS kids whenever the kids went to school and he really was sweet to Greta. I've said it before and I'll say it until I'm gone, I love this year of friendship 2-3 year old with older sibling 4-5. I love it so much that I get a photo session of it. Thanks to our friend Sara who has captured each of my kids at this stage. 

Knox absolutely is the life of the party or he's really quiet. Both/either are cause for some follow up, but we are absolutely confident that God made him just right for His purpose and we can't wait to see how Kindergarten plays a role in getting him there. His teacher is the best and speaks "Wichert" very proficiently as this will be Wichert #5 for her. 

Here are a few quotes from Knox from the last year. 

• (Hating getting his haircut) "If you keep cutting my hair, I'm going to look like an old grandpa with no hair. 
• (At Pizza Ranch eating his dessert and out of the blue) "6 is next to 7!"
• (Driving by the hospital in Salina) Mom" Greta and Knox, that is where you were born. That's where you were brand new babies!" Knox "Is it called brand new baby place?"
• At Walmart trying to move around a lady's cart in the middle of the isle. I said "excuse us" and Knox said "excuse her too!"
• (At the dentist after she sucked out the water with the straw.) "I like the pipe!"
• (Driving to Hutch in icy conditions) "Stay calm and steady."
• "Eli, I got a job for you. You need to find Luna's collar."
• (Leaving club car wash after Brent locked himself out of the truck and after a long day.) Mom "It feels like everyone is thinking- mom is really on edge maybe we can do something to really make her lose it!" Knox "Let's go to a hot dog stand!!!"
• At the Garcia's house, Knox licked Rory while on the trampoline and then said "If you can't beat 'em, lick 'em!"
• We lost Knox after JAM one night. After Brent found him he said he thought Eli and Micah could see his trail. "oh wait (slaps hand to head), my trail is invisible."
• "Mom, how is your leg?" Mom "it's doing ok, thanks for asking" Knox "My pleasure."
• (big sigh) "It's a great day for bird watching."
• Knox walks into my room and sees a pile of clothes and shoes to donate. "Mom, when I get big, my girlfriend might want those."
• Riding in the car out of the blue "I didn't know dad was alive in the 1980's!"

Micah is 11

Micah loves to chat and discuss and ask questions. He's probably our most social kid, at least at this point, and he loves talking to anyone. He reminds us both of his Grandpa Gary in this way. He wants to know about you and he's happy to share about himself also. He's also really funny and his most funny target is his dad.

Micah wrapped up his grade school career in May. It's crazy to think he'll be headed to middle school. In our town, he goes from 40ish in his grade to 150ish in his grade. Given what I've already shared about him, I think he'll deal with the increase just fine. Paying attention and not talking too much are Micah's biggest school challenges. :) He's excited to join his brother and they even get to have a class together.

Micah played soccer, basketball and baseball this past school year. He found some success in each with his favorite being basketball. He will soon venture out to tackle football and he's really excited about that and as of today, he's earned $100 he needed to come up with himself. 

He and Eli still love to collect sports cards- their most favorite ones being NFL. The last few weeks he's been drawing football and basketball players. He really enjoys art. Oh, and he redesigns his shoe boxes of Curry shoes. They look pretty sweet. 

Micah has become more of a reader in the last 6 months or so and finished Harry Potter this summer. He's working on a book about the Mannings right now. He also plays piano and does a really good job. Practicing isn't his favorite part of the day, but he's the most consistent in practicing. He generally comes home from school and practices piano first thing.