Finley Turns 5

 

Finley you are 5, and you are SO excited about it! 

You finally get to go to preschool this year. You were so ready and didn't even flinch the first day I dropped you off. You can write your name, read and sound out many words and basic sentences, and do some higher level math (multiplication and division). You definitely benefit from having several older siblings to teach you all of the above grade level skills. You enjoy math and writing and have made your own school books that you work on at home for fun by yourself and with your siblings. Your friends at school are Mack and Jackson. You play with hula hoops a lot at recess together.

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This year for your birthday we celebrated with a Space Jam party. We invited some family friends over and ate pizza and had a bonfire outside. Some of your birthday presents were a LeBron James Space Jam basketball toy, a Space Jame costume, LeBron James Hot Wheels car, a dinosaur digging kit, and basketball cards. 

 

You LOVE basketball and the NBA. You like going to basketball games, watching them on T.V., and playing in your own games. You've been begging us to join a basketball league, but we've only been able to find clinics at your age (no leagues or official teams that get jerseys, which is what you want). We may be able to find somewhere that you can play with 6 year-olds in January because you definitely have the skills to play a level up. Dad made a drill list for you (along with the other kids) that you take very seriously. You like Michael Finley and collect basketball cards just like the other kids. Your player knowledge is pretty impressive for 5. We found a pair of Air Jordans at Once Upon a Child for you and you are convinced they make you jump higher and score on higher baskets.

You also enjoy playing board games with me. We play NBAopoly a lot. You also like to make up your own games that we play outside. You are old enough now to understand the rules of games, how to take turns, etc. so it's fun to play games with you.

You are still working on some of your sounds/words and it is terribly cute how you always add a 'w' sound before the word "if." So, it's "Wif you want to play basketball, just come outside!" or "Wif I eat this apple, then can I have a cookie?" I love it–it's very cute.

You sleep in bed with Drexler every night. You two are pretty close and you like to do everything that he does (LEGOS, play with dinosaurs, play basketball, etc.). Mikan also likes to sleep with you guys. He often asks for a turn to sleep with you as well. You and Drexler like fishing and have your own tackle boxes, lures, fishing poles, and memory books you've made about the fish you've caught.

A week after your birthday we took a trip to Florida with Nina, Poppi, Sophia, Aunt Alexa, and Aunt Debbie. It was your first plane ride, first trip to Disney, first trip to the Kennedy Space Center, and first trip to the ocean. You were nervous about the plane ride (you told me on the plane ride back that you never wanted to go to Florida ever again, unless we drove). You were also nervous about many of the amusement park rides, but you still had a good time and even learned to swim!

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I love watching you figure out the world. You are adorable, and still 35 lbs so you are easy to keep in my lap. You are low-maintenance and independent, but still love to cuddle and give lots of kisses. We love you so much.

 

 

 

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