Texas Thomas': Brian’s Update

1st day of 2nd grade

Brian is now 7 years old and today started the 2nd grade at Stephens Elementary. In second grade he will switch between 2 teachers, one for english and history and one for math and science. Fortunately for us, we know both of his teachers very well. One was his 1st grade teacher, and the other was Aaron’s 2nd grade teacher. Both are excellent and we are looking forward to another great year!

Riding his bike while camping over spring break

This past year hasn’t been very momentous for Brian, but he’s done a lot of fun stuff. We tried to include him in many of the fun things Aaron was doing homeschooling and allowed him to miss school occasionally to do so. He got to go to the Toyota Factory with us and the Zoo and Children’s Museum and even took a day to try out homeschooling himself.

Inside the tram to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis

Brian is quite the social butterfly. He loves to talk and makes friends easily. He often got reprimanded at school for talking too much, but all the teachers love him and he still hugs them all (all the time!) He has lots of friends, mostly girls, but is completely friendly to everyone he meets, adults and kids alike.

Chatting with Tom Sawyer on a Riverboat ride in Hannibal, Missouri

The week or so before Christmas he was hanging out at our neighbors house when he fell out of their hammock and lost his front 2 top teeth which were both very loose. We teased him a lot about the song “All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth.” He has lost other teeth since then, but now, 8 months later, those top two teeth are FINALLY coming in! He has had the cutest little toothless grin for a while now.

Toothless at Christmas in Utah

Brian enjoys reading, and has read all the reading list books I’ve gotten him for the 2nd and 3rd grades this summer. He has recently gotten into comic books and super heroes. Similarly, he has become interested in super hero cartoons, and watches Iron Man and Spider Man and many others. He also still thoroughly enjoys video games and plays on the computer and Wii a lot. I’ve tried to limit the video game time this summer, and we’ve done “school” this summer and he’s had lots of chores he’s completed, but he’s still played way too many video games!

In a parade in Nauvoo, Illinois

Brian went on his first real amusement park rides this summer when we were at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. He was scared of a lot of them, but still went on them anyway!

One of the cartoons he started watching on Netflix this summer was BeyBlades, which is a Japanese animation show about these toys which are basically tops you spin by launching them with a ripcord. He and his brothers watched all the episodes of BeyBlades they could and he decided for his birthday to have a BeyBlade party. We bought 2 stadiums and enough BeyBlades for all the kids to play and battle against each other.

It was a great party and I think everyone had a great time. My boys are still battling with their Bey’s everyday and I get to host a new BeyBlade House Party next month and will get even more of their new favorite toy!

My cute little boy is growing up so much and I’m so proud of what a great kid he is becoming. I look forward to watching him continue to learn and grow. I love you Brian!