Jack's turns 4, in pictures

We finally got to celebrate!!
It was a lovely day, very low stress and simple, the kind of sweet and easy celebration that is just enough for a four year old. We took cupcakes to a homeschool group park day....here's a bunch of random park pictures in no particular order...








Maria and Kain were there, of course, but they were running around with their friends and not often in camera shot.

That was enough to wear Jack out a bit...


And then we came home to open presents. Jack got some new books,

...including this one, Zin Zin Zin a Violin, is his new favorite and he knows it by heart already because we've checked it out from the library so many times.

And a new piece for his train set,


This character from his favorite PBS show, Word World. The letter pieces are magnetic and come apart.


How long do you think it took the older kids to do something gross with it?

Ok, that's a lie, I did that. What can I say, I'm a giant 8 year old. But they laughed! And they would have thought it up eventually, believe me.

He also got his first little scooter, which had to be put together and tried out right away.

I did get him a helmet too, sized for kids 5 and up, and it was way too small for his giant head. I have to exchange it. I figured the helmet was kind of overkill for such a little three wheeled scooter, and he would certainly be fine to ride the thing until I replaced the helmet. But of course, he immediately slipped off of back end of the scooter and cracked his head on the pavement! Oh, reckless mother!

We ended the day with dinner at the McDonald's playland, his favorite place on earth, and ice cream cones for dessert.


It's amazing to me, always, how different the kids are, their interests, their personalities. Maria loved arts and crafts from the time she was tiny. Jack could care less about such things. But he loves trains, cars, airplanes, and just about any type of vehicle, he loves books, loves letters and numbers, and he loves, loves, loves music. My parents got him this dvd for his birthday. I thought it was kind of an odd choice for a four year old, but he LOVES it and watches it every day, usually with his drum at hand so he can play along.


Jack is sweet, serious, quirky, and very bright. He loves to be outdoors more than anything else and he's always very busy when he's outside. He's a typical four year old, fiercely independent one minute and clinging to Momma the next. It's been a joy to watch his big boy personality evolve from his baby self.