Dear Gavin & Lucas | You are FOUR!

Dear Gavin & Lucas,

I can't believe that you are 4 years old. You are such big boys, and often times very challenging. You have the best little imaginations and say the funniest things. I could just sit and watch you play together for hours, and you will play nicely for that long too once you start inventing your own little games.

You decided for your fourth birthday you wanted to go bowling, get a present, eat mexican food and have vanilla cake with chocolate icing and strawberry ice cream - so that is what we did! No party this year, you got to pick and said no!

At your 4 year old checkup Gavin was 43 inches tall and 43 pounds in the 90%. Lucas is 40 and 1/4 inches tall and 39 lbs, now the 75% (you had a growth spurt buddy!!!).

Lucas, for every meal you ask for a "snack" if I ask what you want for lunch or dinner you usually cry and say that you want a snack. It is pretty funny, food is coming but you want it labeled "snack" or perhaps you like snack foods better. This past year you were very animated and expressive. You definitely know what you want and more so what you DO NOT want. You are still easily frustrated (you get that from mommy) and will have a very short tantrum when something doesn't go according to your 'plan' or someone interferes with something you are doing and disrupts the 'plan'. We take a lot of deep breaths after your short outbursts and you usually calm yourself very fast and go back to playing. I can't get over how smart you are and how much you love to learn. You ask how to spell everything, and for us to explain things to you.

Gavin, you have gotten very emotional and explosive this year. You are learning your emotions and the best way to express them, it has been a work in progress. Lots of yelling and timeouts as a 3 year old. You tend to hold onto your emotions and take awhile to get over your frustration. We have found that you like to be heard and explain how you feel, validation is important for you. As soon as you calm down you are quick to say sorry and often say that you don't know why you acted like that. You will get it and become the nicest boy, I just know it! You do a great job of going and playing by yourself, and recognizing when you need alone or quiet play time. Buddy doesn't always let you but you sure try! I love listening to the stories you create and are such a chatterbox telling us all about your ideas and thoughts. I love that you still refer to Lucas as "you-cus" or "you-key" and have so much love for animals and your family. You are also super excited about becoming a big brother, and ask a TON of questions, so far the main ones are "when will baby Jackson get here" "can I feed him and what does he eat" and my favorite is "but HOW will he get out".

One of my favorite stories you each tell is about your imaginary "yellow house" and "orange house" (several times a day you refer to this). You each have a house, with a girl, dog, car and ask if I would like to come with you and if I know how to get there. It often sounds like "oh, Gavin, do you want to come with me to my yellow house and play that game? Ok I'll have my yellow girl make a yellow sandwich for you" - clearly Luc's favorite color is yellow. Gavin you say the same but the color is "orange". It is so cute and if I ask if it is pretend you will tell me no it is real, you really have an orange house and car. *love*


Favorite activities: painting, playdoh, legos, train tracks, play kitchen, baking, mazes, drawing letters and learning sounds/spelling, puzzles, bath play with glow sticks and shaving cream, going to the zoo: the walrus and sharks are our favorites! of course watching TV is a total favorite as is playing daddy's xbox (which you rarely get to do). Anything with an 'on' button is an instant favorite.

2012 firsts: first snowman and snowed in with power out. first pony ride at the fair! First trip to wild waves! First concert: recess monkeys and caspar baby pants! First time to the olympia fountain! First time fishing with live bait, worms! 

I love you both so much, and the third year has definitely been the most growth for us all!

Love,
mommy

Our highlights from 2012

Happy new year - we had a great 2012 and know we are in for lots of adventure in 2013, here are a few of the highlights...

1. Off to school - we go to preschool at Evergreen Christian School. Mrs. Reich is our teacher.

2. We are POTTY TRAINED - both day and night, no diapers in our house anymore! So proud!

3. A few firsts: trip to wild waves, pony rides, swim lessons... we love everything we experience.

4. We got a dog! Piper, which turns out to be Daddy and Gavin's dog - Gavin has taken most of the responsibility of feeding and letting her outside to go potty, he is such a big help!

5. Suprise - we are going to have a new baby brother, boys are loving being 'big brother' helpers and the baby isn't even here yet. They talk about what they are going to do when the baby gets here, and how they can help and are even trying to name him (maxwell and parker are among their favorites). Gavin often asks when and HOW the baby will get here and what the doctor does to help him get out.

6. Gavin has his second surgery - ear tubes come out for everyone but Lucas doesn't need surgery for this.

7. Lucas develops asthma and gets an inhaler. The doctor thinks it's mostly 'exercise induced' and he will out grow it.

8. Lots of learning about our emotions, and tantrums followed by timeouts. at the end of the year we seem to be much more in control of our explosive tempers. I think the 1/2 year milestone is a time of struggle in our house, at age 3 and now 4 we are much more mellow!

9. Gavin and Lucas learn how to spell their names, and mommy's phone number. They are also excellent navigators and will tell me, to go home turn left and next right. Or Gigi & Papa live "that way".

10. Lucas and Gavin get their first 'best friend' who they talk about ALL the time. He is in preschool with us, and his name is Alex. Often I'll hear, "oh I think that is Alex right there", or "look mom there is Alex's car" - it never is but it is fun to hear you talk about your friend.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas, hopefully everyone had a great time celebrating with family. We did! This year the boys got LeapPads which are like little iPads for kids, they are so happy!!! We are happy that we decided to get one big gift and be done. Last year we learned that if you get too many gifts it's overload and the toys don't get played with. So far this year was the perfect gift.

We spent the morning in pajamas opening stockings and presents and eating brunch, after we went to my parents and had a great afternoon (opening MORE presents) and a fabulous prime rib dinner with more family.

Santa Year 4 - 2012

Even though we live in Olympia we decided to take a trip up to Alderwood mall so we could see Santa at the same place we have gone the past few years!

This year we decided to go early and didn't have to wait in line. Everyone was excited to talk to Santa. Gavin kept waving at him, Lucas was jumping in happiness. When it was our turn the boys walked up, holding hands, gave him a high five and sat right next to him. All smiles, no tears or worry.

Right away Lucas asked for a "kids leap pad" but Gavin either couldn't decide or didn't want to say so he was quiet and shy while Santa went through a possible list of toys. Finally I walked over to try to help and we decided Gavin would be happy with anything. Santa said he is good at surprises so he will be sure to bring something perfect to our house!

Unfortunately their computers were down and we weren't able to get a photo, luckily I snapped a few with my phone camera!

We are very excited for Christmas... And keep asking "after this day is over is it Christmas???" I think our elf on the shelf, max, will need to stop by soon!

So happy the holidays are upon us!!!

We are here for the pumpkin pie!!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2012! This year we had a low key thanksgiving, since our plans to go to Spokane fell through due to my bed rest. Instead, we celebrated thanksgiving at my aunt's house on Friday. Thursday we went non traditional and saw a movie!!! We still managed to enjoy our fair share of pumpkin pie!