Four Years Old!

Nathan Wilson, you are FOUR, and the best four year old around. You are loved by so many people and such an asset to our family

You have the most tender heart and the most genuine apologies. You convict me to use a gentle tone and be patient even in my frustrations, because if I have a moment where I'm harsher with you than I intend, you immediately apologize with the sweetest voice (even when you've done nothing wrong). You certainly desire to please others and those qualities make it relatively easy to discipline you. A firm "no" is (usually) enough to prick your little heart and spur an apology and obedience.

You have a vivid imagination and love to put on a show. You set everything up on the stage including seats for your audience and then you sing and dance and tell stories. You're such an animated performer and always make sure that we are always watching and paying attention to you during the show.

You are such a kind and thoughtful boy, and I notice it most often with your brother and sister. You recognize their needs and seek to meet them. I hear you singing to your sister when she's upset and bringing Samuel books you know he loves.

You are organized and imaginative in your play. You like to set up scenes or plays with your toys, so you like your toys like your castle and fire station. You take a lot of time getting ready to play and getting everything set up just how you want it. I think you spend longer getting ready to play than actually playing sometimes. You like to dress up and pretend to do different things. You have a plan for what you're going to play and get upset if you get stopped in the middle of your plan. That's the biggest struggle with discipline we've had with you because you throw a fit if you can't finish playing and doing everything you thought about. I understand how you feel because you are so similar to me in that aspect of your personality that I hate when I have to interrupt your plans.

You are a rule follower and very concrete in your thinking- as in, there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. I've noticed your rule following tendencies in some funny ways. Occasionally, you'll have a Lunchable for a meal and it includes two cookies. When you eat it, you assume the cookies are for dessert and always eat everything else before eating the cookies (I've never told you, you had to wait to eat the cookies). Also, a few weeks ago we went to a park that has a little kid area and across a sidewalk/grassy area a bigger kid area. I saw you running to the other end of the park and you started to jolt across the grass (the most direct way), but stopped yourself, turned around and ran back to the sidewalk to get across. 

You are friendly and love to play with other children. Maybe it's because you're a big brother, but you seem especially good with/enjoy younger kids. You're happy to play with them at their level and to love on them. We went to an open play at a gym a couple of weeks ago, and for close to the entire time we were there, you played with a toddler and raced him around in his walker. It's so sweet to watch you love on Little Ones.

You are such an affectionate kid and I just soak up all the hugs and kisses. You reach for my hand whenever you're excited about something or feeling loved by me. We went to Muffins with Mom at your school this week, and as soon as we walked into the building you grabbed my hand and told me how much you loved me and were looking forward to spending the morning with me. I mean, seriously, you're the best kid around. I catch you holding hands with your friends (even on the soccer field), and your huge full body hugs are the greatest feeling. Your teachers at school comment often about your awesome hugs.

You are cheerful and always have a positive attitude and a smile on your face. That's one of my favorite things about you. I notice it especially during your soccer games. You're usually close to the back of the pack of players, but you are ALWAYS smiling and everyone can tell you're having a great time! You just have an optimistic attitude about everything and are always looking forward to and excited about something. Your cheerfulness is contagious and draws people to you.

You are helpful and always cheerfully obey when I ask you to clean up your room or other chores. Sometimes I'm actually astounded with how compliant and helpful you are and how diligent you work on completing the task. You make it so easy for your Daddy and I to parent you!

Your favorite foods are manicotti, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, apples, grapes, peanut butter toast, yogurt, ice cream, and apple juice.

You watch a lot of different TV shows right now, but your consistent favorite things right now are Paw Patrol and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. You enjoy playing with those toys and still like to play fire fighter and kitchen. Your interest in trains is starting to wane a bit, but I still catch you playing with them some. As you're getting older, you are more interested in craft projects that involve cutting, gluing and stickers.

You can write your name (if I've written it for your first so you can copy) and know almost all your letters, but you aren't very interested in practicing them. If I try and work with you, you say it's boring and you want to do something else. I'm hoping to find some creative ways to engage you this summer.

We start our bedtime routine (night, night show, brush teeth, read books, prayers) around 7:30 each night, but it's usually between 8:30 and 9:00 before you're asleep. We've limited you to coming downstairs with three questions before you have to stay in your bed at night. You wake up between 7:00-8:00 each morning and almost never take naps.

You love school and look forward to it every week. You enjoy music class, playing on the playground (or in the play room) and playing with your friends.  I can't believe we are gearing up for Pre-K in the Fall. I'm going to miss you so much during the day! You're the greatest little Buddy and Sidekick.

When I think about you at age four, the word I always come back to is delight. You are such a delight to me and everyone that is around you. I just enjoy being with you so much. I love our sweet conversations, your cute laugh, and your positive attitude. It is such a joy to spend my days with you.

I love you and your siblings equally, but you, my Precious First Born, will always hold a special place in my heart because it was you that made me a mother four years ago and introduced me to a love like I've never known before. As you grow that love evolves and grows too. I'm so proud to be your mommy and watch you grow up into such an awesome kid. You are a priceless gift and I thank God for you every day.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

We had a busy and fun weekend celebrating our birthday boy, but his actual birthday couldn't go unnoticed, so we celebrated even more on Tuesday. I told Nathan he got to "be in charge" for the day, and he thought that was pretty much the best thing ever. He kept asking if he was still in charge all the way until bedtime.

The first thing he was in charge of was breakfast. He decided he wanted pancakes (with chocolate chips, syrup, and whipped cream). Sounds like a great birthday breakfast to me!

Little Brother was pretty pleased with Nathan's choices for the day!

I kept back a couple of presents I'd gotten Nathan and didn't bring them out for his party, so he would have a little surprise on his birthday.

He was excited to open more presents. It's funny how the littler gifts brought just as much joy to him. I think smaller doses helped too. It's easier to enjoy and savor your presents when you don't have ten more unopened ones staring at you, I guess.

After he opened this book, he told me that he got everything he wanted for his birthday (Whew, that's a relief!)

Nathan's next decision was that he wanted to go to the mall, so we got dressed and headed that way. We stopped by Grammy's work to say hi and get some money from her to ride the carousel at the mall.

I hadn't actually taken all three kids to the mall by myself before, but everything went really smoothly. They all had fun playing. We played for about 45 minutes and then rode the carousel before heading home.

Nathan requested macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets for lunch. I was interested to see what he would decide he wanted to do during nap time, but he's such a routine focused kid, that I don't think he even realized he could have chosen something not naptime related. He just said he wanted to watch shows on the kindle during nap time, and since Mommy was tired from our busy morning, I was a little relieved that he chose that activity :).

While Samuel and Elisabeth napped and Nathan watched TV, I rested for a bit and then baked cupcakes for Nathan to take to his school the next day. Then he wanted to go upstairs and do some crafts. He worked on Mother's Day cards.

Nathan's biggest plans for the day were Chick-Fil-A and Cherry Berry. He had been talking about going to those places for weeks leading up to his birthday, so when Matt got off work, we met him at Chick-Fil-A for dinner. Nathan ate his entire dinner and played on the play place for awhile. He was so funny talking about ice cream. Normally at Chick-Fil-A, we trade our toy from the kids' meal in for ice cream, but he was adamant that he wanted to keep his toy this time because he was getting ice cream at Cherry Berry afterwards.

So of course, after Chick-Fil-A, we headed to Cherry Berry and let the boys load up on frozen yogurt and toppings.

Nathan came home and chose his night night show and picked out his pajamas. His brother crashed hard after such a busy day, so we had some alone time just me and him to read books at bedtime and snuggle with my favorite four year old. I think he had an awesome day. I hope I always remember how excited he was to "be in charge" for the day! I had a great day spoiling him and telling him yes to whatever he wanted. We sure love birthdays around here!

Nathan's Paw Patrol Party!

 We had a great day celebrating Nathan's fourth birthday on Saturday! Seriously, though how can he be four?!?! He's the best kid around! He's wanted a Paw Patrol birthday for several months and never once changed his mind. He and Samuel were both really excited leading up to his party, and it was a great day celebrating our sweet boy.

 I always look forward to planning birthday party for my kids, and this Paw Patrol party was fun. After three transportation themed parties for my first born (airplane, train, firetruck), it was fun to do something a little different. We kept things a little simpler, but still really cute and special for a four year old.

 I made two paw print cakes for his party. Nathan picked the colors and which pups he wanted on the cakes. He loved the cakes, and he was the only person I was trying to impress with them, so I considered them a success.

 I tried to come up with some clever pup food for the party, and I bought dog bowls from the dollar store to serve the food. The boys laughed about eating food out of dog bowls. We served pupcorn, puppy chow, pups in a blanket, grapes, paw-berries, and graham cracker dog bones (Scooby snacks) with Paw-berry cake batter dip for dipping.

 I think Nathan and Samuel's favorite part were the Scooby snacks. They giggled whenever they ate their dog bones. For favors, each child got an individual bag of Scooby snacks and a pack of Paw Patrol crayons.

Our family was ready to party the morning of Nathan's big day! He had been looking forward to and talking about his party since Samuel's birthday. That jealousy bug hits him pretty often when Little Brother is the center of attention. He was so excited that it was finally his turn!

 I just bought store bought decorations: banner, table cloth and scene setter. It seemed easier and just as cool to a four year old.

Nathan told me he wanted everyone that came to Samuel's party to come to his too, so our guest list remains pretty standard for our birthdays. I know we're not too far away from all "friend" parties as he gets older and starts school, but for now it's usually family and close family friends.

His favorite guest at his party was Cousin Amelia! We were so excited when they told us they were planning to make the long drive to Iowa to help celebrate Nathan's birthday! We had the best visit with them, and I know this was Nathan's favorite birthday because he got to share the fun with his cousin. Those two are the sweetest friends. It's such a special thing watching them play together and love each other. I'm just so grateful for the weekend we had and that Jeremy, Anna, and Amelia were here for Nathan's special day.

We played Pin the Badge on Marshall. It was the first time we've had a game at a birthday party, and it was really fun, and the adults had some laughs.

I really had a hard time coming to grips with putting FOUR candles on his cake.

The kids at the party always had to be sitting next to each other. I thought it was the sweetest thing when Emma pulled a chair up right next to Nathan.

Waiting to open his presents was the worst part of the birthday party. He had a hard time being patient. He had started asking to start opening them as soon as he woke up Saturday morning!

He got some fun new toys (And how come after every birthday party, I want to do a total toy purge in their rooms and the play room?). He had asked for all the Paw Patrol vehicles. He had most of the them but was missing a few, so he was excited to get them. He got a Jake and the Neverland Pirate Ship from his Mommy and Daddy. He also got Tinker Toys, puzzles, coloring books and several other fun things too.

It was such a great morning with our dear friends and family. I'm so thankful so many people love our sweet boy.

We relaxed that afternoon while the kids napped/rested and then headed over to my parents' house for dinner and more cousin time!

Precious, precious memories! We've got more celebrating planned for this week. Birthdays are the best!