life before five

David spent his last month as a four year old playing with his elder sister (who definitely is his best friend!)  They mostly don't pick at each other anymore but play well together--albeit a bit mischievously at times.

Playtime involved capes and crowns.

Racing across an "obstacle" course in the family room.

Wearing matching shirts.

Watching movies.

Dressing up.

Teaching sister how to do two thumbs up.

And just zipping through the house (often on matching little tikes trucks--pictures to come).

Laughter and nonsense is often part of this time with elder sister.  "Dog on your head." "Shoe on your head." "Banana on your head."  Everything is "on your head" or just plain "head" attached to any word at the moment. This sounds ridiculous and humorous until it is the response you get to every single school question. :)

There was a little bit of time left over this month, however, to spend with younger sister.

The rest of the time was spent just being cheerful (except for those moments when school became a few moments too long or when David was tired and the blanket and thumb appeared--both of which, we are encouraging less and less use).

PS:  He is through 3 1/2 weeks of school already and definitely learning!  Yeah!  He is beginning to regularly recognize letters and their sounds as well as many numbers.  We have learned about trees and flowers and different civilizations throughout the years.  We have read the Boxcar Children together and missionary biographies.  We have memorized 4 Bible verses.  He is regularly clipping my coupons (neatly) and generally becoming a bit more helpful all around.  I have discovered that he does well with teaching exposure rather than mastery and the mastery has come as we have continued.  Here's to the fun to come... 

PSS:
David: "Bye, Margaret.  I can call you that because I'm almost five"
Me: (let's just say I addressed it after laughing very hard at the thought of a five year old being grown up)

celebrating! Party on...backwards

(that title was a reserved version for you, ADW and MAW)

David chose what he wanted to do today for his fifth birthday.  He requested waffles for breakfast.  Then, he wanted to go to church to show his friends his lego star wars shirt (and no, it is not new).  This shirt just exemplifies him so well right now!  First of all, it is brown--his favorite color.  It is long-sleeved, but who cares if it is over 100 degrees outside???  He loves legos.  And currently he is loving playing the Wii "Lego Minia Jones" (Indiana Jones) and Lego Star Wars with his Daddy.

After playtime at church (and a brief workout for me), we went to Walmart to pick up some frosting for his cake--just did not feel like making from scratch this time-- as well as he got to pick out his lunch.  He wanted a lunchables.  He ate that with a banana.  Snooze time this afternoon and for the first time in a while, he just played quietly in his room the whole time until I called him downstairs to help make his cake.

He requested cupcakes instead of cake so we made 14 vanilla cupcakes with strawberry shortcake mix in the frosting.  The flavor was scrumptious (thanks 12 cent moneymaker from Duncan Hines!), but the color was not so masculine.  IT did turn the icing into a nice pink color.  We added some green food coloring to try and attempt his favorite brown but ended up with a dull gray instead.  Oh well...it was far more livened up by the colorful sprinkles on top.
 
When Michael got home we had a celebration.  We did everything backwards.  First, we opened presents.  David got a pirate book from Grammy and Grandpa. (we had fun reading tonight).  He got some McQueen cars from us, two lego bible DVDs, some Angry Birds fruit snacks, and then for good measure (for all the sweets) some kid's toothpaste, and two light-up toothbrushes.

Then we went outside for his last big gift.  A scooter!  He had been asking for this for about a year and we finally got him one about 6 months ago and then stored it all these months.  It took him a few minutes after rushing outside to figure out what his gift was, but when he did, he excitedly tried it out--rather skillfully too for someone who has never really driven/ridden one.

We came back inside for cupcakes.  He adeptly blew out the candle and we all digged in and enjoyed a cupcake.  (even Abigail--who was not pictured below)

After dessert we had David's dinner request, Macaroni and Cheese.  At least, he and I did while the girl's complained and Daddy left to go out to eat for Bible study.

Time to watch his new DVDs and then off to bed.  What a swell birthday!  Suddenly, you are well out of the toddler/preschool age and on to becoming a young man!