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Levi Turns Four!

My eldest boy is now a four-year-old. 


I'm actually not feeling all that sentimental about it. One of the nice things about having children so close together -- which, incidentally, is also one of the horrible things about having children so close together -- is that I have yet to really "graduate" from any particular phase. Missing the sweet small voice of a two-year-old? No problem, still got one. Getting nostalgic for the combination cuddly/silly nature of a one-year-old? No problem, still got one. All the same, it is exciting and wondrous to watch my firstborn grow and mature!


Birthdays in our house begin with a special trip with Daddy to a local bakery for doughnuts. Levi, who I don't think has ever encountered sprinkles before in his life, went straight for them, and then picked out a boring twist for his brother.

Owen wasn't disappointed, though: "It has sugar all over it!"


We did the whole candles/singing/presents thing at breakfast, which I loved. It's super fun to have a big party with extended family, but I personally really like my celebrations to be small and intimate. Instituting a breakfast tradition might help us have the best of both worlds: just us for the morning, and whatever bigger parties may follow later in the day or week. 

Opening presents: the sequel to one of our favorite books, Caps for Sale . . . 

and a LEGO-type block calendar for him to assemble.

Later in the morning we Skyped with my parents, who were on vacation in Nevada, and then had lunch at Skyline, per Levi's request. After nap time, we headed to our church office, where we have semi-regular swim times and dinners for the children's ministry families. It was Levi's choice, to stay home or go eat with his friends, and he wanted to go. My little introvert is coming out of his shell! We brought along his birthday cake; he's been requesting a blueberry cake for months, but I took a little culinary license and made this whole wheat chocolate blueberry cake into cupcakes.

Eating at the kids' table with other two-year-olds.

More silly friends, including another recently-turned-four-year-old.

Brother silliness.

The grand finale of the day was moving the big boys into their new room (which I'll post about in more detail later). They were excited to read stories with Daddy in "the blue room," and then snuggle under new blankets in new beds!

Never mind my non-ironed, safety-pin-"hemmed" curtains. It's a work in progress.

Goodnight, birthday boy and brother!






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