Theo Turns 4!

I wanted to finish our trip blogging before catching up on life events...so get ready for the many posts to come.

At the end of September we celebrated Theo's 4th birthday!  I can not believe this little guy is already 4 years old.  He's so special to our family and I just pray he always recognizes what a cool guy he is.  It thrills me to see all the changes that he is making on a day to day basis.

Theo's 36 lbs. 42 inches tall.  He's got a mop of thick sandy brown hair with the sweetest cowlick.  He's got piercing blue eyes and the sweetest smile.  He's in 4T clothes, and growing like a weed.  Up, up, and away he grows!

Theo started preschool this Fall and LOVES it.  He goes to the Children's Garden preschool here in Minot and I am so impressed.  His teacher is Mr. Shaun and his class has lots of boys who Theo talks about frequently.  The first half of the year they have themed weeks where they do various activities related to the themes and the second half of the year they will start out with letter themed weeks.  Theo goes to school two mornings a week for three hours and it's just perfect.  It's the right amount of time for him to be in school and it's nice to have the one-on-one time with Woodrow.  Theo's birthday fell on a school day so he got to bring cupcakes for snack (yay for no class allergies and for being allowed to bring a sweet snack).  He also got to be the class helper that day and wear a birthday crown.  After each child gets to be the class helper for the day, at the next class they get to bring a show-and-tell item.  It was Theo's best week of school yet.  He brought his stuffed alien (from Toy Story) for show-and-tell, after we told him he couldn't bring Woodrow, who was his first request after I told him he should bring something special to him.

Theo is also still in gymnastics once a week, and he's really progressed in the last year.  This past session there were 5 boys in his class, and were all boys we already knew.  Bless his teachers, but Theo has done really well and he likes having friends in his class.  We stopped doing swimming lessons at the Y for now because the times weren't ideal.  The base opened some up, and they've cancelled half the classes in this short session, so I'm not sure if we'll attempt another session...but this guy is ready to take off if he could just have the continuity.  He's also active with the Wise Owls Science and Lego club and he attends activities about 4 times a month with that program.  He's definitely my academic kid. 

We're starting to move into uncharted territory for me, and that's "boy things."  For example, my knowledge of Superheros was pretty much nothing.  Theo is trying to push those boundaries of really wanting to be into superheros but also pleasing my by not playing roughly and beating up on his little brother.  The two have sword fights, wear their superhero capes around the house, and play "bad guys" although I try to encourage "good guys."  Theo has a great imagination and loves to pretend.  He's also getting better building with his Duplo legos and setting up "scenes" and on special occasions he gets Mason to build with the little Legos with him. Theo is also loving playing games.  He likes card games, Candyland, a Nursery Rhyme game, SuperWhy game, and a Daniel Tiger game.

Theo's gotten excellent at riding his tricycle, and a bicycle upgrade may be in his future.  He loves to run around and play outside and dig in the dirt.  Tonight he was "cooking leaf stew".  Theo would read books all day long if he could.  He loves to read stories and at nap time and bed time he's always sneaking more books into his bed to read with his flashlight.  He likes to "read" to Woodrow too.  It's fun to hear his interpretations of stories we have read since of course he isn't actually reading yet.  Theo also LOVES to color.  He lost privileges for two days after coloring all over Woodrow's face and ever since he's been glued to the crayons and stickers.  He also likes to send mail to his friends and family, so if you ever want a picture from Theo, just let us know.  He would love to send you something.  He's getting better at writing his letters too, so sometimes he likes to add little notes.

This year we let Theo have a birthday party, on a weekend, with lots of friends.  It was so fun!  He ended up choosing Toy Story for his theme (with some gentle hints from me).  His friends came the weekend after his birthday for a lunch party.  They had pizza, cake, snacks, and the kids got to play pin the eye on the eyeball, make little noodle horses, and take home a goody bag, cowboy hat and bandana.  He had such a fun time and I'm grateful to all our friends and Mason for all his help and support.

I'm so proud of Theo and I am so proud to be his mom. I love him to pieces!