Coloring

Both the boys have really gotten into coloring lately. Bennett has always seemed to enjoy it since he could actually color without eating the crayons. Austin seemed to have little interest in coloring for a long time, but in the last month has begun to really enjoy it. Even a month ago, we had some very short "school" times in the morning and he seemed to have a lot of trouble drawing anything other than scribbles and trying to write letters caused lots of frustration (so we stopped). But in the past couple of weeks he has gone from scribbling to drawing shapes, stick people and some letters. He often says he writes (a B, a P, an A) a "drifferent" way...so they aren't exactly correct, but of course I wouldn't expect more of a not-yet 4 year old. But I was a little worried at first because it seemed like he couldn't follow simple directions about how to write a letter or couldn't get his hand to do what his mind knew it should look like. He still has a ways to go in fine motor skills development but I am impressed with what he is doing now versus a month ago. I still do not know if he is left-handed or right! He uses both so frequently it is really hard to know. I thought it was left for awhile, but in writing he uses his right a lot too. Chris says he seems to throw a ball better right handed but automatically tries to bat left handed. So the jury is still out.

Lately the boys (and Bree, Jesh and other friends) have really enjoyed drawing with sidewalk chalk in our backyard. It has become the post-nap default activity when the weather is nice (which it has been a lot lately). Here are a few shots- they especially got into tracing each other's whole body lately.