Erik is FOUR!

I recently read something online (check out Bunmi Laditan, the Honest Toddler lady) that described the age of four as "...a handful, albeit a smart and funny one. Fours are threes with intensity and vision." This definition perfectly describes our "four-nado" and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Erik continues to be a big boy but also has done some impressive growing in other areas as well. He has plenty to say--a lot of things are "amazing"--yet he is also quite perceptive. Jon says that he is a good foil to his sisters' plans, and while he is becoming an expert at the annoying little brother role, he is also very sweet with all members of the family. When he's not wrestling with his dad, that is.

He has upped his preschool attendance to three days a week and seems to genuinely enjoy it. This schedule still leaves us plenty of time for adventure. Now that naps have become sporadic (and pretty much non-existent at home), we've had plenty of zoo and children's museum trips in addition to all of the digging in the yard and playing on the deck. I'm truly impressed at Erik's ability to focus and entertain himself in this way.

Erik has big plans. As his birthday approached, he eagerly shared all the things that he will be able to do when he turned four, most of which were pretty reasonable. I am a little worried for the future, however, as he claims that he will be able to use a nail gun at six and drive a car at eight.

Despite a rocky start of waking up with a bit of a cough, Erik's birthday celebration began in earnest at school as he partied with his classmates...and homemade donuts. We were so relieved that he rallied to enjoy the day at school as well as hunting for treats at the neighbor's and playing with a "car house" that Elsa constructed for him. The day was beautiful, so there was plenty of outside time before pizza for dinner. 

Don't worry--we still made time for the sheep photo

We came home for cake and ice cream, and then it was time for presents. Erik's expressiveness was truly on display as he exclaimed after opening every gift: "what I always wanted!" The joy on his face was, well, amazing. After all this excitement, we expected a big reaction to our gift: tickets to the Hot Wheels Monster Truck Glow Party (that just happened to be in town that very weekend). Jon showed him a video and told him that he would get to go see the show...to which Erik very matter-of-factly replied, "Yup." This kid.

In between his actual birthday and the monster truck show, we celebrated some more with friends at the park. It was a very low-key affair that took advantage of a beautiful day, the highlight being a piñata (filled with Halloween candy collected a couple of days earlier). Never mind that Lena nearly took him out with a baseball bat.

Erik finished out his birthday weekend with Jon at the aforementioned monster truck show. With a beginning like that, the fours are off to a great start!

Living the dream