Eliza at 5 years

Another overdue post that was mostly written, so I will just leave it as it is and move on.  I will catch this blog up!

For her birthday, Grammy said Eliza could start piano lessons with her.  Eliza is really doing well.  She is generally excited to practice.

Eliza is a saver.  The kids have been earning money for their assigned weekly chores.  After paying tithing, the money is split between spending and saving.  Eliza never wants to spend her money, though I have caught her trying to convince Caleb to buy the things she wants to get (Caleb is a spender).

Eliza is so much like I was (or maybe still am).  You would think that I would know how to parent her, but I don't seem to have a clue.  She is very independent and doesn't like help.  She likes to succeed and hates having others see her make mistakes or fail at something.  She doesn't like to apologize or admit when she's wrong.  It seems we are going through a case of the terrible fives (way worse than the twos).  Tantrums at five are way worse than two.

Though Eliza learned letters and how to write her name a long time ago, up until recently Eliza has not wanted to learn to read.  I'm sure it has to do with the issues listed above.  I can't even put my finger on what changed, but recently she has been interested in reading and is doing well with the leveled readers that we check out of the library.  She loves being read to.  Lately we have read Charlotte's Web, Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, and Farmer Boy.  She (and Caleb) just eat it up.  It's a really fun thing to do together.

A couple days after turning 5, Eliza learned to ride a two-wheeler.  I was worried that it might take her a while because she was so scared of falling, but once I gave her the tip to push off with the pedal in the high position, she was off and riding on her own.  It was pretty amazing!

Here is some of her artwork that has been adorning our fridge here in California (so it was done sometime in the past year or so, none of it very recently):

 I love this one.  This is our family (notice how we are all the right size and hair color) looking at the Christmas lights at the Arizona Temple (notice the large reflecting pond is included).

I wish I could remember everything she told me about this drawing she made in her church class.  I know the top right red drawing is Jesus on the cross, and the green below is a temple, complete with Angel Moroni.