David & Goliath...Aubrey style!

Here is Aubrey telling the story of David and Goliath!

Riley is 4!

So this post is just a little late, but at least I'm keeping our events in chronological order!!  In November (the 1st), Riley turned 4 years old!  I really had a hard time with it because 4 sounds so much more grown up than 3!  And I have to say, so far, this fourth year of his life has just been so much fun.  He is just soaking up EVERYTHING!  We are working on everything from social skills (waiting until we are alone to talk about something or someone who looked different) to academics (identifying and naming our letters and sounds).  Riley has always been a kind-hearted boy, but we have really seen that this kindness and joy will forever be a part of who he is.  He has recently become very interested in helping his sister and teaching her new things.  Don't get me wrong, we still have our sibling rivalry moments, but overall, he is an awesome big brother!
Here are a few fun things he is saying/doing:
-he is becoming so independent in dressing himself, brushing his teeth, buckling his carseat, etc...makes my job SO much easier!
- he is really loving books these days
- surprise, surprise..his MOST favorite Bible stories involve "bad guys" or some kind of fight/battle...David and Goliath, Samson, Jesus' crucifixion, etc....kind of worries me but Edmond assures me that it's normal for little boys!
- he is going to AWANA and is in the Cubbies class.  He really loves it and is starting to learn lots of simple scripture.  He even reminds me when we need to work on it.  It's been somewhat challenging for me because I am one of the teachers.  But we are learning and there has been much improvement!
- he LOVES playing with other children..mostly older boys.  And of course they tend to pretend to be superheroes most of the time.
- he also loves dogs.  We have some neighbors with 2 dogs, Sadie and Maple and EVERY time Riley sees them outside playing, he dashes outside to join them.  I know...we should get them a dog, but I just CANNOT think about that right now!
- he has a few articulation errors right now (I know..here comes out the SLP in me), but they are so darn cute!! I just don't have it in me to really correct them right now.  Mostly it's just his s-blends, but on some specific words, he substitutes or deletes sounds. For example, movie theatre sounds like movie beeatre....and thanks is sometimes tanks...and finger is thinger.  So cute!

 One of Riley's best friend's Andy

 Rowan and Ava...our neighbors for 3 years now

 This is Logan...Riley feels like such a big boy playing with him.

I decided to do a water play party since this may be his last birthday where we can do that in November!

 A blow-up slip-n-slide...I was worried that we may have to visit the ER!

I'm sure there is more to report, but that's all I can think of for now! We sure love our little man!