Easy as A, B, C....

I mentioned a while back that Maddie is into singing the alphabet these days. It was intensified when a neighbor gave us one of those Leapfrog magnets for the fridge. The kids have it and all of the letters on their magnetic easel on the back porch. Whenever I'm fixing a meal and they're out there playing, Maddux can be heard pressing the button over and over again to hear (and sign), "A. B. C. D..."

One day the kids and I were in the car and Maddux started reciting in the back seat. As usual, she didn't start with "A". I think this time it was "Geeeeee!!" So Eli picked up right where she left off: "H, I, J, K". And then Maddux chimed in, "elemenopeeeee!" The two went back and forth like that for about five minutes. It was really neat to hear! Maddie's recitation of the letters is not always intelligible, but Eli was able to decipher which letters she said and fill in the blanks. Again and again. Even though the ones he was responsible for changed every time. So, in his head, he had to keep up with what had been said and what came next.... When did Eli get so smart?!?

Eli received a new drum last week when Grandpa Ed came to town. After a long morning of playing at the pool, the kids came home on Friday and made a beeline for the new AND old drums. By the time I had the car unloaded, this is what I saw; they had formed their own drum circle! Eli and Maddux love music!