4 Year-Old Birthday Party #1

Matthew has a weekly play-date with his two best friends from church -- Halle and Emily.  So, for our last play-date of the school year, we threw a birthday party with the 3 of them.

We did face-painting, pin the tail on the donkey, bubbles, a treasure hunt, and decorating cupcakes.  They each got to pick one color to make the icing, and then we had a frosting/sprinkles extravaganza. Then, of course, the present insanity began.  It was like a hurricane of tissue paper!  We broke out the bubble machine immediately!

Decorating for the Parties

I've decided that since you only turn 4 once, we had better celebrate big.  But celebrating big to a 4-year-old just means getting lots and lots of balloons, preferably in rainbow colors.  So that's what we did!  I was so happy that they now make balloon bags, which contained all 24 of them on our ride home.  I don't know what I would have done without them!

Also, our dog puts up with a lot.  Good thing she's a good sport about it.  Matthew decided that she needed to be festive, too, and put a birthday cone on top of her head.  She reluctantly complied (for about 2 minutes, when she shook it off her head).

Soft Kittie

Andrew had his 4th grade recorder concert -- and we survived!

Our proudest moment was when he was picked as one of 2 kids to do a solo.  One cute little girl played "Amazing Grace".  Andrew played "Soft Kittie" from Big Bang Theory.  That a boy.

Can you spot him -- he's wearing yellow!

 Found him!

Matt's 4!

Matthew turned 4 this week!  I thought it was fitting that his birthday landed on garbage day, one of his favorite days of the week (he owns a front loader, a side loader, 4 mini garbage cans, and 2 full size garbage's).

I also thought it fitting that he gave himself a great big black eye for a birthday present.  He was being silly right next to Andrew's bed, and hit his eye right on the edge of it.  Perfect.

Matthew is one of the best little kids I've ever met.  I love him, and I really like him, too.  He's funny, smart, and helpful.  He loves everybody and everything.  At night, he prays to Heavenly Father and thanks Him for "the beautiful rainbows, for butterflies, and for lovely songs."  He also asks Him to let Mojo and Shoji sleep in his room.  Every. Single. Night.

He reads books and can count to 50 (then he needs a little help to get to 100).  He is extremely busy, and is always willing to help.  His Sunbeam teacher says that they learn A LOT about me during class, which makes me want to spy from the hallway.

We're best friends.  I ask him what I'm going to do when he goes to school, and he replies, "You'll just come with me, Mommy."

Happy birthday, buddy.

Matt's favorite food is macaroni and cheese (probably because I never make it).

His favorite person is Mommy.

His best friends are Zach and Emily.

His favorite TV shows are Ninjago and Power Rangers (oh yay).

His favorite colors are purple and red.

His favorite animal is a giraffe.

He loves to draw, eat, do garden work, jump on the trampoline, and do schoolwork with Gracie.

His favorite place is the zoo.

He loves gymnastics, Grandpa Day, and garbage day.

His favorite song is Mother, Dear I Love You So.

Sweet (?) 16

Haley made it to 16!! It's a miracle.  It's a miracle WE all made it to her 16th birthday!

We took her out of school to go have lunch with some friends, and then surprised her with a trip to the shooting range, which she thoroughly enjoyed.  But rest assured, that is the only place she will ever be allowed to have a weapon.

Almost Made It

Ben and I went with some friends to watch The Avengers the other night (it was awesome, and I want to see it again, by the way).  I called Haley to tell her we were on our way home, and she said that Matt was waiting up for me.  But this is what I found when I got home.  He almost made it, but just couldn't hang on at the last minute!

It's Baseball Season

Well, baseball has begun. Our lives are over. We spend half our week at the baseball field, and the other half listening to Joey beg us to come play catch outside.

He's been loving coach pitch baseball this year.  They let the kids try to hit 4 balls, and if they can't, they give them a tee to hit off.  Joey hasn't needed the tee at all, and is always put in the infield, usually at first or third base, because of his mad skills.

Warm ups with the coach before game time -- don't they look like little ducklings?

Stretches and warm ups.  My favorite is when they try to do jumping jacks.  It's pretty funny.

Team huddle

Sitting on the bench is one of the toughest parts. Most of those kids have a hard time paying attention.

Joey's first at bat of the season

He got it!

Joey usually sits really nicely on the bench and watches the game.

Sometimes he gets a little distracted.

First home run of the season!

 And this is what goes on behind us.  Wrestling, running, tackling, doggie piles.

That's Andrew under there.

The league hosts a hit-a-thon, and for every $10 raised, the kids get to try and hit one ball.  Joey hit 8 balls, and one of them landed on this sweatshirt, so Joey got to take it home.  Too bad it's a men's extra large.  Maybe he'll grow into it... in 20 years.  (He was just excited he won something -- he also won a t-shirt and a new baseball gear bag for being 5th place in the fundraiser.)

Dear Matthew

Dear Matthew,

Oh, boy... I just love you.  Someday, maybe we'll know what goes on in that little head of yours, where your ideas come from, and why you do the things you do.  It is probably pretty tough fun being the 5th child in a busy family.  I'm glad you find many thrilling things to fill your time.

I am always amazed at the things I find when I come back from the bathroom, getting the mail, grabbing something from another room, or after taking a shower.  Those prescious few moments you have to yourself must be invigorating.

This little soup you made for Shoji was just the thing I needed to make my day.  It will be so much fun digging those hot dog parts and wet dog food out of the slurry.  You were so thoughtful to make something so delicious for your best canine friend.  She loves you.  And so do I.  I remind myself several times a day.

Another Joey

Sometimes Matt reminds me a lot of Joey...

When Joey was 3, he had a best friend, Kourtney.  They did everything together, including sitting in the front row at church holding hands.  Now, nearly every day after school, the girls line up to say good-bye to Joey.  Just today, two girls passed me, and I heard this conversation:

Girl 1: "There he is."

Girl 2: "What's his name?"

Girl 1: (lovingly) "JJJJJooooossssseeeepppphhhh."

Girl 2: "Ooooohhhhh."

His teachers have even commented on his effect on girls, and on his sweetness to them that only exacerbates the problem.

Well, we may have another Joey on our hands.

This is Matt and his best friend, Emily.

All Matt ever talks about is Emily.  When she's not around, he calls Grace "Emily", probably just to say the name.  They draw each other pictures, give each other gifts, and have playdates.  They are best friends, and I just love it.  She keeps him in line, and he actually listens to her, so I love it when she's over here.

Being 3 is just so much fun!

Besties

Matthew and Shoji are best friends.  Probably because at about 8:30 every morning, everybody is gone, and I'm not that much fun.  So they hang out together.  All day.  Matthew "tickles" her ears (they're soft, and he does the same thing to his Deedee -- blanket -- to go to sleep).  He feeds her weird things.  They traipse around the backyard doing who knows what.  And they watch the world go by out the front window.  It's good to have a best friend.