Elijah Updates End of 2018

Dear Elijah,

I haven't written just specifically about your for a little while and it is time for updates!

• You have improved this year LIKE CRAZY. I am amazed how far your behavior has come from the beginning of the year. You were so defiant at the beginning of the year, and now you are listening, we can talk through things, you are controlling your reactions... it is SO much better. I am so grateful for all the work that you have done and that we have done together. Your dad and I have focused like crazy on filling your love bucket as much as possible during the good times so you are receiving as much positive reinforcement as you can. When you go to "time out" I read the scripture to you before you leave. We read parts of the Book of Mormon together to soften each other's hearts and it has made such a huge difference. 
• You are still VERY head strong. You are a WARRIOR. You always will be. That part of your personality will always be with you, and it should. It is one of your greatest strengths if you use it the right way. You KNOW what you know. You are capable and smart. You get things around you so quickly. You are smart and funny. You are extremely great with numbers. 
• We are reading together as part of your daily routine (when I'm on a good routine!). You are still not hugely interested in reading a ton, but we will get there. 
• You are SO cute with Joshua, but you like to antagonize him a lot. Same with your other siblings, you are an antagonize. You know how to push people's buttons and you are good at it. Just like your uncle Jonathan. 
• You are going to be starting more sports this upcoming year. Your coordination is amazing. 
• You have an AMAZING voice already. You get embarrassed getting in front of a group and crowd, so you won't sing in front of people because you are so worried about doing something wrong, but your tone and ear are wonderful. You will probably start piano next school semester.
• You are ALL about trains. You love everything about them and that is all you want to play with. 
• You are also in Karate and are doing pretty good at it. You aren't quite as focused on it as Gabe and Talia, but you are still six years old and you have time. Right now it is just for learning. You will grow into the ability and focus of it. 
• You go with me to run errands all the time while the older two are in classes. For homeschool our focus for you is your morning routine and how the house runs. I'm really following the concepts in Thomas Jefferson education and being patient with your growth. You are a perfectionist and I can squash your love of learning if I push you too hard. You will get it when you are ready with how smart you naturally are. 
• You will do anything to earn time to hold my phone and listen to "Hans Zimmer" (that is the pandora station that plays the music from "Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars). You LOVE the music on there and could listen to it forever, while walking around the house like you are directing it. 
• You are devilishly handsome and always will be.