Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Blake's 4th Birthday

I can't believe I am posting about Blake's Jan birthday in June - but there is so much I want to remember about this little charmer it must be done!  The day started with breakfast in bed, of course.  I love his little toe poking out of his jammies.

He wanted a space birthday party, which was so fun and easy to plan (especially compared to Egypt last fall for Trenton - that was something else).  Here is the crew all ready to go!  Cameron's astronaut outfit from Halloween still fit, so he was our little mascot.




The kids and I made all the different planets on paper plates, and when the "astronauts arrived" they got their space packs and began astronaut training.  I made these out of cereal boxes and duct tape.

Oh man we love this little Cameron!

A few things about our 4 year old Blake:

*He is the loudest child I have ever met.  In the past month, I had 3 friends ask me if we have had his hearing tested.  We have, but we will do it again.  He only knows one volume and that is loud, SO very loud.

*He is also the fastest child I know.  He runs everywhere he can, include away from us as fast as he can when he is in trouble.  Which is more often than my other 3 children combined.  I keep telling myself after a long day of chasing him all over the house/store/neighborhood, someday I will watch him on some athletic field and be proud, very proud.  But right now he exhausts me.

*He is incredibly street smart.  He can make a friend, charm anyone, manipulate a situation, sneak a treat like I've never seen.  One of my favorite looks is his little wink, smile and nod.  Then a triple eyebrow raise.  Watch out world.  One morning Anna came down and couldn't find her keys.  We questioned all the kids, called a locksmith, AAA, searched high and low, gave her rides....no keys.  Finally one day Steve checked in between the BACK seats of the Honda and there they were.  Blake had snuck them out there and laughed about it for days.  Three days later Steve's iPad was missing.  We check there right away and sure enough, he had hid it from Steve!  He finds people's buttons and boy does he hit it right on!

*He loves to run into the street at full speed.  Loves it.  Ever since he was walking.  He sees those double doors at Walmart (Target, church, you name it) open and he dashes full speed ahead.  Hence, he is the first child I have purchased a leash for.  We call it his 'special' backpack.

*This is the year his little feelings started to get hurt when we called him "The Master of Disaster" (the name Trenton's Kindergarten class gave him when he was 2, which is actually quite fitting).  His little eyes would well up with tears and his chin quivered, so I put a quick stop to that nickname.  Even though he fits it so very well.

*He is so sensitive and loves so deeply.  He is the first one who RACES into Daddy's arms when he comes home from work and throws his arms around his neck so tightly.  Over this past year he has had to have & give a "Kissing Hand" at every separation.  And he watches you when you walk away saying, "Don't drop it!  Did you drop it?!"  He also does this little thing Anna taught him - blowing a kiss with one finger...lots of them :).  So precious.  He loves to be rocked, held and snuggled.  He is also our little guy who will start crying if he sees anyone else crying.  He is so sensitive.

*He is a most loyal friend - in preschool I got many a phone call that biggest issue with Blake was that he wouldn't play with/sit by/include friends unless it was/included William.  Oh how he loves that little William.

*He has to know the plan for every day.  And have it repeated about 10 times.  It is unwise to tell him about an event ahead of time, unless you want to describe it 200 times in the 2 days leading up to it :)

I can't wait to watch this little guy develop - if I can channel all this energy, love, smarts and speed the right way.  He'll do great things!!!!