FOUR! 4 Birthday Celebrations for the big 4-year old

Julia,

I said this in a public Facebook post, and I'll say it again here: "Holly and I are in disbelief... Our baby is FOUR! She is strong, feisty, fearless, funny, sensitive, strong, creative, full of love, wise beyond her years.... Happy birthday to our amazing daughter!"

You are amazing. You are awesome. You are one of the coolest people I've had the pleasure to meet, and I can't believe I have helped make you. You are four. And many people want to celebrate with you.

For that very reason, you've had four - so far- birthday celebrations!

#1. With Mimi and Pops! Hot-tubbing and present givering! So sweet and magical...and regal! Once you had that costume on, you never took it off the whole night, and walked very royally, as if an imaginary book were being balanced on your head!

#2.  With Yaya, Baba, Aunt Sham, and Uncle Joe! Bike riding, singing, cake, amazing regal gloves and pearls and magical bell-balls. So sweet! We gathered to do a joint celebration for your birthday and Mommy's. There was a special dinner cooked by Yaya and Baba, delicious strawberry cake for you, lots of cuddling and hugging and playing, and some very sweet and thoughtful gifts.

Aidan helped mommy blow out her candles.

Yaya MADE and painted you a bed for your baby doll, "Strawberry." She made blankets and pillows and got you a few little outfits for the doll. Plus a milk and juice bottle. You were SO excited to go home and "set this up!"

Aunt Sham got you some very regal gloves and pearl bracelets along with some lip gloss. How sweet!

#3. With Mommy, Aidan, and Me! A Daddy-and-Kids day at the zoo, followed by dinner out with all of us, and dinner and presents the next day...

They sang to you at the restaurant which, as you can see from the video, totally freaked you out!

But I think they won you over with the sopapilla and ice cream and honey...

The next day on your birthday itself, following a celebration at school, just the four of us gathered 'round our kitchen table and sang happy birthday to you once more. Aidan was very pleased to give you the "Princess and the Pony" book you loved so dearly from the library. Mommy and I gave you flowers and a special diary with a plume pen. You immediately wanted to read the book and work in your diary!

Glitter Pens from Aunt Deborah

Shimmer and Shine Genie Gauntlets! Yes, Aidan was wearing pants!

We tucked you in that night by singing Happy Birthday once more, and by singing the song we sang when we brought you into the world.

#3. A Celebration of Life At school with your buddies! Mommy and Daddy got to come to your class room as you celebrated your birthday with your class.

You - the earth- held a candle and walked around the sun (miniature; not full size) 4 times, to represent the four years you've been on this earth. At each year, your mommy and me (and Aidan) got to share a picture of you at that age and tell a little bit about you!

Then you and two special friends- Matilda and Ella- handed out the treats Mommy made...

...you got to ring the bell and say "Bon Appetite, now you may eat!"

Yum!!!

Then it was play time!

#4. Family Birthday. With Mommy, Aidan, and Me! A Daddy-and-Kids day at the zoo, followed by dinner out with all of us, and dinner and presents the next day...

They sang to you at the restaurant which, as you can see from the video, totally freaked you out!

But I think they won you over with the sopapilla and ice cream and honey...

The next day on your birthday itself, following a celebration at school, just the four of us gathered 'round our kitchen table and sang happy birthday to you once more. Aidan was very pleased to give you the "Princess and the Pony" book you loved so dearly from the library. Mommy and I gave you flowers and a special diary with a plume pen. You immediately wanted to read the book and work in your diary!

Glitter Pens from Aunt Deborah

Shimmer and Shine Genie Gauntlets! Yes, Aidan was wearing pants!

We tucked you in that night by singing Happy Birthday once more, and by singing the song we sang when we brought you into the world.

"I'm gonna watch you shine, gonna watch you grow. Gonna read the signs, so you'll always know: as long as one and one is two, there could never be a father (and mother) loved her daughter more than [we] love you!"

One of my favorite moments to come out of your birthday week was what a humble, modest, thankful young lady it proved you to be.

You accepted gifts gracefully and gratefully. Later, in a quiet moment, after Yaya and Baba's house, you came up to me and said "That was so nice of them to get me those presents!"

That shows grace and style and wisdom beyond your years.

Later, on the way to your birthday party at the Little Gym, you asked me and mommy "Will I always be your kid?"

Yes.... you will always be our kid; but you are growing up to be such a remarkable young lady. Happy Birthday my darling kid. Happy Birthday.

Little Toy Trains

Aidan, you love to sing. You have developed a great interest in playing DJ with the ipod and speakers- sifting through songs and listening intently or searching for the one you want to hear. 

Sometimes you let an entire song play.

And sometimes you sing along.

I've heard you singing this song to yourself from time to time, and happened to catch it on video.

You have the sweetest voice; and the most earnest appreciation of music. There's something so pure about when you sing to us. It shows your brain and heart at work; and it's just amazing to hear you learning something no one has necessarily taught you. You just learned it yourself. 

Maybe that's why this makes me tear up. Maybe it just reminds me how far you've come and how much you've grown and how much you know and how you see the world around you.

I don't really know, and I can't quite put my finger on it. 

But I do know that to me, it is insanely beautiful. And I want to remember your song forever.

I hope that you will always find songs and music in your heart and in your life.

I love you...forever and ever.

Daddy-and-Kids Zoo Day

We woke up on Columbus Day with no plans. Mommy had to go to the school for Teacher In-Service. I had taken the day off since you guys had the day off school.

You both came up with a plan for the day: "Let's go to the zoo!" And since it was a day before Julia's birthday "Since it's my birthday, let's go to the zoo."

You can't argue with that!

So a hop, skip, and a jump later, the three of us embarked on a Daddy, Aidan, and Julia trip to the zoo. 

So we went! We watched flamingos, and we ate a lovely picnic lunch which you guys helped me make. We ate Dippin Dots (the ice cream of the future).

We looked at cougars, watched (and rode) some real (and fake) Tortoises. We joked heartily about some verrrrrrrrrry slooooooooooow tortoise races. 

You both made a special friend with the super friendly monitor lizard:

We checked out the children's area, of course!

We checked out the 'nature trading post.'

You guys splashed and swam and played and giggled.

I regret telling you how parent birds feed their baby birds. There was almost some inter-mouth-spit-swapping.

We pet the goats and brushed the goats and tunneled with mongooses (mongeese)!

As a reward for some amazingly good behavior, we all rode the carousel.

Julia you wanted to ride THIS horse; not just any horse...THIS horse!

Aidan you were so happy that you got to ride Gorilla Grod! :) 

We had a great, phenomenal day. The weather was crisp and cool. The attitudes and behavior was great. There were a few disagreements, only natural. But I was SO proud of how both of you behaved and listened. We had so much fun and shared so much love. After all, it's in our nature.