Where in Robert turns 4

Hard to believe, but we've just celebrated Robert's 4th birthday.  We had two parties, the "family party" and the "friends party."  I think next year we'll try to consolidate, because it really is all too much for everyone.

Blowing out candles at the family party-- with a little help from Grandpa.  The candles are considerably bigger than the cupcake.

The theme for the friends party was "Pirates."  We had a good time decorating!

Despite the serious look, he DID have a good time!

Four is proving to have its own set of challenges and blessings.  We are, thank goodness, past potty training, pacifier-less, and now sleeping in the big boy bed-- all in the last month!   And he is so much more independent-- dresses himself, gets his own snacks, etc.  It is really nice.  But also a bit sad.   It is also obvious that he is going to have quite a temper and a will of his own.  There are 9 little boys at daycare and they all are as wild as bugs... I pity their teachers!  Not sure why anyone but me would still be keeping track of this, but he's 42 inches and 38 pounds...  which puts him in about the 75th percentile for weight and the 95th for height... pretty much where he always is.  Clearly, "Moose" is going to continue to be appropriate!

Overheard

Robert (after having a song sang to him at bedtime): Was that my first song?  

Me: Yes.  What would you like for your second song?

Robert: That wasn't my first song.  It was my introductory song.

If you've never heard the word "introductory" come out of a 3 year olds mouth, it is really something to see.  It was bigger than he was.    

Anybody out there?

Wow, it has been a long time since I've posted.  Gesh.  Life got super busy when I went back to work full time and things like taking pictures, finding the cord to download them, and then writing blog posts and uploading them got prioritized somewhere under scrubbing poop out of underwear and finding missing puzzle pieces.  Anyway, as that we have totally given up on potty training, and now don't have to scrub underwear anymore, I'll try to get back a bit to blogging.

Robert is "free n quarters" now, or 3 3/4 for those of you who speak regular English.  I was reading in "Happiest Toddler on the Block" recently that tantrums peak at about 3 1/2 and hope that Robert reads that sometime soon, because we are still having some doozies when he gets tired.  He's been home all week with a sinus infection (+ virus?) so I was totally blessed to have Mom and Carol come not only once, but twice!  So I got some work done AND 4 free meals prepared AND tons of laundry and ironing done.  Hmmm... maybe Robert should be sick more often? (Not that that would even be possible....)

Ok, I know what you all want, and here you go...

Robert on Ralph Bell's bird walk... He was a bit young, but Ralph is 96, so we decided not to chance it, ya'know?

There's Ralph, in the middle, leading the bird walk.  He held up much better than my cranky 3 year old.

Robert and his girlfriend Lili, on a hike at Frick Park this Spring.    They pretty much are that adorable together.

Rob took Robert to the PA Farm Show this year.  Think that will be a permanent date for them-- not sure who loved it more?

Robert feeling VERY brave standing that close to cows.  

First trip to the Dentist.  He was a CHAMP!

Anyway, sorry for the delay in posting, and I'll try to be better for the rest of the summer anyway.  

So what if it's almost Christmas?

Ok, so they are selling Christmas trees accross the street and I don't have Halloween pictures up yet.  I'm not sure if I should continue the blog, now that everyone is on Facebook, or not?  Thoughts?  Anyway, here is our Firefighter at Halloween:

He had a great time trick or treating with Lili next door.  This was the first year the kids made it up all the way through Trick or Treating and had a blast playing out in the driveway.  It was a bit cold, but they didn't seem to mind.

Robert is very, very chatty these days and is starting to understand grammar.  He corrects himself sometimes and is mostly saying "you and I" instead of "you and me"-- very cute.  We had a rough transition to the Preschool Room at school, but he seems to be settling in and they are doing lots of pre-reading work.  He knows all his letters and is starting to associate the sounds that some of them make with the letters.  

Friday we take him to see Santa-- maybe I'll get some pictures up from that before Valentine's Day.

Why you little...

Last night, Robert related this little gem:

"When Daddy puts me to bed, he sings LOUD songs and then I laugh.  When Mama puts me to bed she sing quiet songs, and then I laugh at her."

He's a charmer, that one.

In which Mama turns 35 and take some pictures

Robert and I were goofing around Wednesday and took some pictures.  I should hold onto them and post again later on this week, but, let's be honest, I won't get around to it, so here we go:

Visit!

So this last weekend my cousins Catherine and Rachel, with Rachel's two boys in tow, stopped by the Farm on their way to Indiana.  Robert had a great time playing with Ellis, and loved having a "big boy" to play with.  They especially had fun on our ghetto version of a waterslide, which involves duct taping a running garden hose to the top of the Little Tikes slide that is set in the baby pool.  Classy.  But, apparently, fun.

Not that it was all fun and games.  We made sure to get some work out of the boys.  Here they are helping Rob put away the hoops from the raspberries...

Finally, it was interesting to watch Robert interact with baby Maddox, who is 6 months old.  He was very good with Maddox, and didn't even mind when Mama held the baby... too much.

He's kissing Maddox, not biting him.  I promise.