As the school year closes

This is the last week of school for our kids.  We are so blessed with great schools, teachers and therapists.  All three kids have done extremely well this year and learned so much that it has been hard to keep up with them or document their rapid growth and progress.
The girls will have 5 weeks of extended school year this summer, 3 mornings a week in their same preschool setting.  In the fall they will remain in the same preschool setting (we will review Dariya at semester and see if she is ready to move up to the prek).  Aidan will enter the 4th grade in the fall (did I just say 4th grade?)

Here are a few things that each child has accomplished this year.

"I'm cute I know, 47 chromosomes do that to you"  

Alayna- While Alayna continues not to use all her language skills at school she is slowly coming out of her shell and talking more there.  At home she uses sentences and carries on conversations routinely.  She knows her ABC's (name and sound), colors, shapes, can count to 20, can use one to one correspondence up to 5 (maybe a bit more),  knows her first and last name, can spell her first name, knows her age, knows her parents first names, knows the days of the week, can dress and undress herself with minimal or no help (minus socks and shoes), knows emotions, can walk up and down stairs using a rail, sight reading many words and short stories, enjoys coloring, just began stepping up a 5 inch step without holding on

Things we continue to work on:  Riding a tricycle, jumping, climbing steps and curbs with no support, fine motor skills, speech and language skills

Dariya - Dariya continues to amaze us at how fast she is picking up language.  We knew she was a smart cookie and could count in Russian and knew things like her body parts but, we assumed that it would take her a while to master those skills in English.
Dariya knows ABC's (name and most sounds), can count to 10, knows her colors, knows her first name, can dress/undress herself with no support (besides putting on shoes and socks), she is speaking (at home) more than signing, can use two words to make a phrase (trying to get her to do this more often), knows her body parts, loves books (this is huge, in Ukraine she had no idea how to open a book or what it was for), starting to make circular shapes when scribbling, enjoys playing with her family, can walk up/down stairs using rail, starting to step up small steps without assistance, she is adding more sounds to her word approximations making them more understandable, she is stopping when I say stop on walks or when at a park (this is HUGE as she loves to walk and walk without fear of traffic or getting lost!!!) that rocking with mommy before naps and bed (and most mornings when she gets up) is pretty awesome!
things we are continuing to work on: riding a tricycle, steps/stairs without assistance, jumping, playing with peers (not just side by side playing), fine motor skills needed for writing, speech and language skills

Aidan-  His academic skills continue to soar, he is an avid voracious reader, his nightstand holds 5 books (including his Bible) that he is reading at this time, he scored in the exemplary level on all his standardized tests, he continues to excel in piano and amazes me with his great ear, he loves riding his bike, riding his scooter, climbing trees and playing with friends,  he loves his sisters but like any 9 year old they preschoolers can be a bit annoying now and then.  He is excited to be flying to England with Jason this afternoon to visit our family there until Memorial day.  What a way to end 3rd grade!

Please say a prayer for my boys that they have safe travels, wonderful bonding and  family time while in England.  Feel free to throw one or fifty in for the girls and I.  I have a feeling that Alayna is going to be one grumpy girl when she figures out daddy is gone for that long:(!

The girls both can maneuver stairs but haven't been able to step up and down without holding on to the rail or someone's hand until just recently.

Hope you have a great weekend!