four

I have been waiting to post this until I had time to do Ryan's 4 year-photo session.  Unfortunately, I haven't taken the pictures yet (but it is one of the 200 things on my to-do list).  I wanted to get some things written down before I forgot them completely though.

I did this interview with Ryan on his birthday this year and it is something that I hope to continue in the future with all 3 kiddos. 

What's your favorite color?  Brown, and yellow and blue

What's your favorite toy?  My marble run toy

What's your favorite fruit? watermelon

What's your favorite tv show? Little Einstein and Jake and the Neverland Pirates

What's your favorite treat? lollipop

What's your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? waffles

What's your favorite thing to eat for lunch? a turkey and cheese sandwich

What's your favorite outfit?  any clothes are good

What's your favorite game? car racing game (on the Wii that he has played maybe 5 times in his life)

What's your favorite snack? graham crackers

What's your favorite animal? Rhinoceros

What's your favorite song? Rocknoceros - Pink, Taio Cruz - Dynamite (he calls this the Pluto song) and  the Lightning McQueen song (Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts). 

What's your favorite book?  The Toy Story Book

What's your favorite cereal?  Fruit Loops (we have had these once when we made necklaces for Owen's birthday). 

Who is your best friend? Libby and Gabby and Daddy and Owen

What's your favorite thing to do outside? play at the park

What's your favorite drink? milk

What's your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Monkey and New Blanket

What do you want for your birthday dinner? Hot dogs, strawberries and broccoli

What do you want to be when you grow up? really strong. 

What's your favorite movie? Toy Story 3

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? A children's museum

What's your favorite thing to do with Owen? play with him.  Emily? Share toys with her.  Daddy? Play!!!!  Mommy? Give hugs and kisses.

You are such a good boy, Ryan.  You are very predictable and like to stick to your schedule.  You go to bed without any issues, you do what we ask you to do (most of the time), you are independent but still love to cuddle with us.  Your teachers described you as one of the most joyful children in class and said that your temperament was always the same and that you are one of the most even-keeled kids in class.  You are incredibly smart.  You love to sing and dance and jump around like crazy.  You like to climb and you have recently become fearless.  You are a VERY picky eater and rarely touch your dinner.  You love to make friends and get upset when people don't say hi or good-bye or respond when you talk to them. You no longer carry monkey and new blanket around with us everywhere we go.  They are now permanent fixtures in your bed.  You were a breeze to night potty train.  You fight with your brother quite a bit but you guys love one another so much.  You love Jesus.  You love school.  You are such a blessing and we thank God for trusting us to be your parents.  :)

Ryan with some of his best friends!

so focused and always trying to figure things out. 

everything is a competition with him and he LOVES to be first. 

I hope they are friends forever. 

you are joyful!

you are silly -- almost all the time. 

you love family time

you love taking walks to the playground

you LOVE to read

you always try to make us laugh...and your laugh is the best
you get the giggles regularly and cannot contain your giggles

somehow you have become one of the big kids at the playground

That's a wrap -- on preschool year 2!

I can't believe my big boy is done with his second year of preschool.  His school is outstanding, I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about the school, his teachers and our experience there so far.  In just a few short months, both of my boys will be in preschool.  Don't tell Owen that though.  He thinks he has been going to school with Ryan for at least a year.  HA!

1st day of preschool

last day of preschool

For the record -- Owen is now wearing all the clothes and shoes that Ryan wore on the first day of school last year.  I am guessing it won't be long before they are in the same size and it really won't be long before Owen is handing clothes down to Ryan.  

waiting for Ryan's performance

he spotted us!  So excited and proud.  :) 

the 3 boys on the bottom really got into the performance

the music teacher told them whoever sang the loudest would get a prize,
she was just trying to encourage them to participate.
These 3 little boys were so sad when they did not get a prize. 

Ms. Sherrie -- super teacher and my boys LOVED her.  Owen gave her hugs every morning.

Playtime!

One of the things I love most about this time of year is the extra sunlight!  It gives us time to go on walks after dinner and squeeze in a little extra play time at the playground.  

being silly with dad

he was not a fan.  not a fan at all. 

me and my girl! 

he loves his big bike and is a great rider but thinks he needs us
to hold the handle bar to make him go.  ;)

he rode all the way to the playground!!!

with her daddy, watching her boys

pure joy

First Swim of the Summer

On Memorial Day weekend our community pool opened.  We got everyone ready (which takes forever when you have 3 little bodies to sunblock from head to toe), got our bags packed (you need about 3 huge bags full for the pool, towels, toys, floats, diapers, etc) and headed down to the pool.  The boys were SO excited.  Ryan loves every second of being in the water.  Owen is still trying to figure it out.  It is so funny to me that he is cautious in the water.  He is a daredevil when it comes to everything and he is so outgoing but when it comes to the pool, he is really timid.  I was expecting the worst from Emily.  She has never really cared one way or the other about the bath and she isn't a huge fan of cold water so I thought the pool could go horribly wrong.  Much to my surprise she LOVED it.  She didn't get mad until it was time to get out.  She discovered a love for the water and has really gotten into bathing as a result.  She will crawl into the bathroom and go to the tub, pull up and start squealing and jumping up and down when she wants to play in the water now.  Her little personality grows every single day.  :) 

all smiles the whole time!!

curled baby toes!!!  love. :) 

water fight with dad

not too sure...

put me down!