Post-Christmas (Jan, 2016, OUT OF ORDER thanks to Blogger inadequacy--it used to work before where the post would be dated by when it was started, but now anymore)

James: protesting, not putting plate back, throwing books and toys on the floor just to make mess.
Put your hands up, mama!
Bad mama.
Finally started chatting and singing at school, to big surprise to the teachers (and that haven't seen half of it yet!)
He now requests to be read to instead of sang to before bedtime.  He actively participates in reading and chooses his books--at the moment, the favorites are any Cat in the Hat (like the one where the Cat entertains the boy and the girl on a rainy day), Clifford (especially the Halloween one, which was the other kids' favorite at the time).
He remembers things like 'don't look at the sun', and makes weird comments like, 'Mi ne jedemo cuku.' ('There is a dog.  We don't eat dogs.')

Nikolas is spending more time alone in his room, reading comics.  Every now and then he'll pop out to read us some funny lines.  Instead of Minecraft (which he still enjoys) and Legos, his new obsession is Pokemon cards.  He asked to spend his own money on new cards, and if I didn't have control over it, he would have spent it all to the last penny.

He is still very picky about what he wears and how his hair looks.  He has his own gel in the bathroom that he uses every day--he definitely gives more attention to his hair than either mommy or daddy does.  On the other hand, he constantly wears basketball/baseball outfits, quick-drying sleeveless shirts and shorts (no matter how cold it is), long socks in various colors, often mismatched on purpose.... I can't figure out where the 'style' is coming from.

Michael is copying him, although when it's time to look nice, he still looks all buttoned-up and polished, with perfectly matching colors.

Sonja loves skirts and dresses--she just needs to behave more girly to match the outfits!

Everyone is into Star Wars now.  James says 'I'm Darth Vader.' or 'I'm Star Wars!')