Our Boy is 4!

Seth turned 4 on the 26th of September. We had just returned home from Loa and the quilt retreat two days earlier, and we decided to do have another pancake breakfast party like when he turned two. I had the idea of an airplane theme, and I asked a flight attendant on the way home if they had extra barf bags (unused, of course ;-P) that I could have for goodie bags at the party. She said, "Certainly!" and brought us huge plastic bag filled with those plus games, activity books, cups, napkins, pilots' wings, pretzels and peanuts. I love Southwest!

I underestimated how exhausted I would be after returning home from our trip, so the cool airplane-themed games I had planned kinda went out the window, and instead the kids had fun running around the playground while taking an occasional break to gulp some pancakes, juice, apples, bananas, and hot chocolate. It was a picture-perfect day for our perfect (most of the time *wink*) boy.

.

Lydia loves parties too! Thanks to our neighbor, Cassandra, seen to the side, for being a good little mother's helper!

.
After a huge amount of running, the birthday boy taking a break to blow the propellers on his plane to make them spin. And no, he's not red from the sun - he works hard at having fun!

His actual birthday was Sunday, and he felt pretty special when the Primary children sang Happy Birthday to him and he got to pick out his birthday pencil. That day was Family Day at Boeing, where once a year, the company opens up the factory to employees and their families here in Renton where they make 737's. We also got a sneak peak at the new Navy aircraft Poseidon...not much of it, though, as it's pretty top secret. No photography allowed, but we had a fun afternoon together, after which we came home and celebrated with pizza, chocolate milk and birthday cake.

Seth also received a new bike for his birthday. It's a balance bike without pedals so that kids (as young as 2 years old) can learn to ride a 2-wheeler from the get-go without training wheels. The idea of "balance first, pedal second" is a smart one, and he's already starting to get the feel for it. Thanks, Grandma Diane and Grandpa Rex!

Engrossed in the task of pumping up the tires:

Watch out, world, here I come!

We love our special boy. Here's some randomness about our newest 4-year-old.

• He's hilarious! I've been writing down funny or insightful things he says, and I find something to write about nearly every day. One day it's, "Mom, even when I get in trouble, I still love you." And another day it's "I like spaghetti, meatballs, sauce, and ingredients." It seems like he's always had a big vocabulary stuffed in that little body.
• He's very inquisitive (like his dad) and observant (like his mom).
• He loves preschool and is eager to please his teachers.
• He's still skittish around loud noises. Fourth of July was spent with him inside the van covering his ears and us just outside the van enjoying the show. And he doesn't like balloons because they scare him when they pop. But he seems unphased when I cut his hair and there are buzzing, moving blades inches from his ears. Go figure.
• He loves Lydia and is starting to figure out that she likes to be his little shadow. This Monday's Family Home Evening lesson is going to be about being an example.
• He has the slightest lisp. His dentist said it may be because he used a pacifier at naptime and night time as a baby and should grow out of it by age 6 or 7. By that age, I imagine it kinda stops being cute, but for now it's pretty cute to hear him introduce himself as "Theth."
• His head is the eighth wonder of the world. Seriously, we should hook that thing up to a generator. He loves to run and run and run until his face is bright red (see photo above) and steam is practically coming off the top of his head. But, his Charlie Brown-like melon is part of what makes him so darn squishably adorable.
• He is eager to please and slow to take offense. His overall demeanor is so easy-going and even-tempered (he has his moments, like all kids do), and he makes friends easily.
• Instead of addressing the women at church as "Sister (last name)", he says "Mister."
• He loves puzzles. Within a couple of days of receiving a 48-piece puzzle, he was putting it together himself without any help.
  

Happy birthday, little dude! We love you very much!