Last One. Promise.

Since my kids are pretty much orphans on party days, I was glad Holden's birthday party was over and done with on his actual birthday, so we could spend the day doing whatever he wanted.   Here's how a four year old chooses to spend their birthday...

Park.  Duh.  Loves it.  I had to bribe him to leave by reminding him that we were having lunch with Daddy at McDonald's after.  Poor kid.  We have lunch at the McDonald's by Reo's work all the time and every time Holden  forgets it has no PlayPlace.  It does have an abundance of homeless people.  

Children's Museum.  Duh.  Loves it.  That day was a bonus because Clifford showed up.  Holden did get a little closer, but you guys, children's museum moms are hardcore for the photo op.  I didn't want to lose a limb, so we snapped this picture and got out of dodge.

All the Clifford paparazzi left the construction area totally vacant, so we took advantage.

Then we came home and opened presents.  Duh.  Loved it.  Obvious reasons.

Cardboard castle--good idea in theory, got a big reaction, now resides in pieces in our playroom.  Boys are rough, man.

I asked Holden what he wanted for his birthday dinner.  He said Zupas and I ran with it.  I love Zupas, and really, it's all about me.

The next day Holden got to take a birthday treat to preschool.  He scoured Pinterest (no, I'm not kidding) and finally decided on Scarecrow Crunch.  He didn't seem to mind that what he took to Preschool in no way resembled the original recipe, but did resemble cleaning out my pantry.

Bonus--it was field trip day!  We have an in at the fire station, so Holden and his preschool birthday buddy got a little extra attention.

I forgot to get a good picture of Holden in his birthday hat, so I made him put it on the next day.    How do you people get your kids to look at the camera in pictures?  I give up.  We get lots of profile shots and artsy, staring off into space stuff.

There you have it!  Holden's birthday is officially blogged. Harper is alive and well, BTW.   Expect an onslaught of blog posts about her shortly to ease my second child guilt.  

Side Note:  This is my 200th post.  I know blogging is old news, but I won't let it die.  

More About Four

Three was hard on this family.  It was so super awesome, but it was hard.  Holden's third year brought a new baby, a new house, and new expectations on bladder control (I seriously don't want to jinx it, but you guys, I think he finally has it down.).  It's enough to make anyone act, well, like a three year old.
 
I was promised by many that my heart would grow enough to love a second child as much as I love Holden. This is true.  I was not warned about the fact that unfortunately, my patience would not automatically double in size along with my heart.  Holden most often takes the brunt of this, and he takes it in stride.  If I was half as patient with him as he is with me we wouldn't even have an issue, and I love him for that.  When I apologized to him after a particularly rough day, he told me "no harm done."  I really, really hope that's true.

All that being said, I could not be happier to have a four year old.  Although I still have days where I chain drink Diet Coke and text Reo cryptic "I Quit" messages, I am pleased to say those days are few and far between.  At least relatively.

Because really, this child is an angel.  40.5 inches (56th%) and 39 lbs 8 oz (78th%) of pure angel.

He's my sidekick.  He relays me my text messages and lets me know when I write something on the wrong day on my calendar.  He saved me from completely forgetting his preschool birthday treat.  Basically I have my own, much needed, personal assistant.
And also, he says funny things.  Some of these I've been saving up in the unreliable archives of my brain for awhile, so they desperately need to be documented before I blink and he's 15.  Plus, everyone likes to hear about funny things kids say, right?  Right??!?!  Here goes...

** "Either I peed, or I am just sweaty...Oh, good.   I'm just sweaty."

** "MOM!  Look at that cool van!  I have always wanted a van!"

** Me:  Look how well you drew that H!  Let's try another one.
    Holden:  (Draws a circle)  How about I draw a big rock instead, because I looooove big rocks!

**(Talking about holidays)
    Holden:  Do you know what comes after Memorial Day?
    Me:  Fourth of July!
    Holden:  No, Tuesday.

** Holden: (singing loudly)  Mom, this is a microphone I am singing in to.
     Me:  I know, I can hear.  It's very, very loud.
     Holden:  Yes, that's because concerts are very loud, mom.
 
** "This is a girl song....Let's listen to ABBA instead."

** "Mom, I am really impressed with that guy's beard!"

** Holden: Oh NO! A natural disaster just happened to me!
     Me:  What happened?
     Holden:  I spilled my milk!

Heads up:  You better believe there is still one more birthday related post heading your way.   You lucky people, you.

The Happiest Birthday On Earth

 Warning:  Ever since the untimely demise of Picnik, I feel like getting the photos from our activities under control and onto my blog is more effort than the actual activity.  So I am pretty much over this post already, and have just started writing.  Hope you don't mind  the glossed over version.  Since it is pictures of someone else's birthday party, I am going to go out on a limb and say no one will be heartbroken.  Here goes.

Holden has a nasty habit of trying to steal my sister's birthday thunder, so we decided a joint party might ease the blow a little bit.  Joint theme a 32 year old and a 4 year old will both like?  Not a problem when the whole world has Disneyland in common.  Please don't ever tell me if you don't like Disneyland.  I won't be able to take it.  Seriously.

The birthday kids.

Annnnnd, I just noticed the same picture is in here twice.  Pretend you didn't see it.  If I tried to fix it now this post would never get done.   Plus, the "Photo With A Character" Booth was one of my most inspired ideas, if I do say so myself, so getting to see it twice is a blessing, really.  See?

Also pictured:  Toy Story Mania Dart game (I got blisters on my fingers stuffing those darn balloons full of candy, but Holden was out there the whole time, so I'd say it was worth it); Souvenir stand complete with glow sticks and the infamous giant Disney lollipop; and Disneyland Monopoly...always a favorite at this house.  

My dumbed down version of Disneyland food.  

And it wouldn't be a party without my annual cake fail.  I don't exactly have a steady hand.  I've come to terms with it.  

Family Picture, or, why we didn't get family pictures taken this year.  We've always got at least one child on the loose.  Just squint really hard and use your imagination.  

Birthday bash first timers this year:  My grandma (who came from Alaska just for the event, I'm sure); My niece Kelsey (on Grandma's lap); my soon to be sister in law Annie (Yay!); and Harper.  

Not pictured:  Presents.  I figured you'd been through enough.  And it just reminds me that last year I was so impressed Holden blew out his own candles, and this year he read his own birthday cards.  And that just reminds me he is growing up way too fast.  

Phew...We made it.  More about four coming to a blog post near you once I no longer want to swear at my computer screen.  

Best Of: September

Number one indicator that I am officially getting old---whole months pass by without me knowing what happened.  Thankfully I took the occasional picture, or September would have been lost from my memory forever.  And it was a good month.  Here are some highlights.

Best Long Awaited Treat:  Peach Berry pie from the Farmer's Market.  I passed by this guy on my way out of the Farmer's Market years ago and hadn't found my way back to him yet.  Until this year. Totally worth the wait.  The cinnamon roll I bought as a decoy to keep the grubby hands of these two off my pie didn't work at all.  Lesson learned.  

Best New Activity:  Going to the Brigham City temple open house.  Holden loved being able to see the inside of a temple, and I have a secret crush on Brigham City.   Win win.

Best Activity That Makes The Most Frequent Appearance on our Blog:  Reo has a not so secret crush on the State Fair.   Now that I have officially boycotted the sheep and found a vendor that sells a whole bag of doughnuts, I can honestly say it's growing on me.

Best Way We Spend Our Tuesdays and Thursdays:  Holden started preschool.  He loves it.  He tells me to wait in the car while he walks in with his friends.  He's practically 13.  In totally, completely, related news, I have started having panic attacks.  

Best Turning Lemons Into Lemonade Moment:  Holden loves the children's museum.  He loves it like Reo loves the State Fair.  Me?  Not so much.  He finally convinces me to take him, and the day we decide to go is the one day a year the museum is closed for cleaning.  We decided a first trip to Build A Bear could ease the pain.

Best Annual Event:  The summer picnic at my dad's work that his grown children still shamelessly attend every year.  Mostly so Holden can participate in the sawdust hunt AKA, most fun activity ever.  Also, the food is good.

Best Example of How Harper spends her time:  Locked up in her carseat or stroller while we are doing all our business.  Poor girl will probably never learn to walk.  She doesn't seem to mind.

I Used To Think Babies Didn't REALLY Ever Do This...

Now I'm a believer.  Holden was never a "sleep anywhere" kind of baby.  Things are a little different with this one.