Lendon is FOUR!

Lendon turned the big "4" this year!  Everyday for the last six months he asked me about his birthday so when the day finally rolled around I can assure you everybody was so excited!

Oh my goodness, I feel like I was just holding his precious little, newborn body in my arms just yesterday.  What a difference four years makes!  Now, Lendon has grown into an independent, witty, determined, adventurous, smart, little man that thinks he can do almost anything and can do most things that he wants too!  

Three was the not best year for us because he was really trying to define himself in this world and and asserting his strong willed personality a little too much and a little too often.  Amazingly, he turned four and turned back into the sweet little boy that I always knew he was.  We still have our occasional ups and downs, but definitely more ups than downs!  He has a new confidence in himself and has really learned rights from wrongs.  Lendon, I am so proud of the little boy that you are becoming and can't wait to see how you grow and develop this year.  

So what is he into now?  Well, he loves learning- numbers, letters, shapes, colors.  A craft or art project makes him so happy.  His attention span is lengthening and he likes to focus on projects.  He loves painting, drawing, stickers, dancing and doing tricks.  He wants to know the how and why behind everything and has become a movie buff!  Though we don't watch a lot of television, when he does, he loves watching "new" (ie: nothing he has seen before) movies so we are regularly going through our arsenal of Disney movies to stimulate him.  He also loves books and being read to.  We have even begun to read chapter books and he can not get enough!  He is still an outside boy and his imagination is always running wild with new ideas that he can concoct.  He is the typical big brother, loving and protective of Collin, but at the same time always trying to get his little bro into trouble.  Collin is his best friend (partner in crime) and now that they are older, I can not imagine a more perfect age difference between the two.  Did I really just say that?!  It is so true!  

On Lendon's birthday eve, the  "birthday fairy" came in the middle of the night and decorated his bedroom door with ballons and streamers and got the kitchen "birthday ready'!

 Now, that we have such a big boy, it was time for a big boy bike and that is what Lendon got for this birthday!   And, look who else celebrated with us on birthday morning- Sally!!!   Sally stayed with us the night before so she could go to a conference in Birmingham so we were so excited that she was able to celebrate with the birthday boy!

Since we took Lendon on a "BIG" birthday trip this year we did not throw a big party for him, but Gran, Popa, Gracie, Mary Ann and aunt Holly came to celebrate with us on a Saturday following his birthday.  We ate plenty of cupcakes and the held several Easter egg hunt for the kids.  They love each other so much and had a blast!

I also threw a mini party for him and his MDO class.  Collin joined of course and because he is an official "pirate" now, Lendon decided that a pirate cake with be perfect for him!

  

What a year!  Lendon, Happy Happy Birthday!  We love you more than you will every know!