Four!

Beginning in August, and for 6 months straight, we have constant celebrations in our home:
August-my birthday, September-Jonah & Micah's birthday, October-Halloween, November-Josh's birthday, December-Christmas, January-Ammon's birthday, and February-Kanyon's birthday.

Kanyon's birthday is the tail-end of all the back-to-back celebrating. And because there's 6 months between his birthday and the next person's birthday, he hasn't been able to fully understand what his birthday even means until just this year. This past year, he finally caught on to the concept that when you have a birthday, you turn one year older. So in September when Jonah and Micah had a birthday, he thought he also had a birthday, and he told everyone he turned 4. When Ammon had a birthday in January, Kanyon said he also had a birthday and that he turned 5. After that, there was a couple of weeks where he told us that on his next birthday, he would turn 6. Finally, after lots and lots of convincing, when his birthday came he announced his age, and it was the right number--#4!
Because I was substitute-teaching that entire week, I wasn't able to spend his birthday at home with him or take treats to his pre-school class to celebrate. And I felt really bad about that. All day long on his birthday, I thought about him and couldn't wait to spend the evening with him. But right before I got home from work, he fell asleep on the couch. Josh made his birthday dinner for him: steak (he LOVES anything beef) and potatoes. I tried to wake him up from his nap so he could come eat his special birthday dinner with us, but as soon as he saw me, he said "I don't like you. I don't like you. I DON'T LIKE YOU." Then he rolled over and went back to sleep. That pretty much summed up how I felt about myself after missing out on his special day with him! So, we ate his birthday dinner without him. And he missed out, because it was delicious!

The older boys helped me pick out a birthday cake for him (I ran out of time to make one since I was working), and the boys and I wrapped up his gifts and put up decorations around the house for his little birthday party that we were going to have that night for him. But he slept past the time we were going to have it, so we postponed the party for the next day. So, unfortunately on his real birthday, he didn't get to do a single birthday thing!!!

The next day, we treated it like his actual birthday since he had no idea he slept through the real thing! We invited Josh's parents over, and Kanyon opened up gifts, and then we ate the cake with his favorite ice cream: raspberry sherbet! He loved all of his new gifts! And best of all, he was SO happy to finally be FOUR (since for months he'd told everyone he was anyways!)!

At the age of 4, these are Kanyon's favorites...

TOP 4 TV Shows:
1. Tom & Jerry
2. Dora the Explorer
3. Max & Ruby
4. SpongeBob Square Pants

TOP 4 Games:
1. "Yanna Johns" (Indiana Jones) on the wii
2. "Dar Wars" (Star Wars) on the gamecube
3. "Monster Trucks" on the wii
4. "Fighting Game" (Smash Bros.) on the N64

TOP 4 Foods:
1. bread w/ranch dressing on it
2. vienna sausages
3. hamburger
4. cheese w/ketchup

TOP 4 Possessions:
1. "Thomas the Train" blankie
2. Pink binkies
3. Sippy cups filled with his lactose-free milk
4. his toys (all his trains, cars, trucks, & bouncey balls)

TOP 4 Phrases:

1. "It was Jonah and Micah. They did it." (Anytime he's mad)

2. "What the heck" (Random times)

3. "Please you play with me." (Whenever he's lonely)

4. "But I don't want to." (Anytime we have to go somewhere)

TOP 4 Activities:
1. following along with whatever his brothers do
2. being alone in the afternoon when the boys are at school
3. learning new things at preschool
4. playing board games with the family

Happy 4th Birthday Kanyon! We love you!