Dinosaurs and Birthdays

The last week and a half have been quiet, uneventful days,

 full of cuddling sick children, doctoring and trying to make comfortable those little ones,

 and bigger ones too, who have succumbed to strep throat. 

 In the midst of all this, Gabe had a birthday. 

 The little tiger is already 4 years old! 

 I was just explaining to a friend the other night

 how we decided to take the children window shopping before Christmas 

so that grandma would know what she wanted to get them, 

and also, we would have an idea of what Gabe would like for his birthday. 

 We did this, because the children, especially the younger ones, don't get out much.

  When we asked Gabe what he wanted for a birthday gift, 

he said, " a dinosaur!" 

 Well, he already has 47 dinosaurs, I said..

( a later count revealed that he actually only has 43).

  I thought that perhaps he doesn't know any better...

he doesn't know the scope of toys that are out there...

so we took them window shopping.

 In the middle of my explanation,

 he says, "Mama, mama...We should make window- shopping 

 BUYING- shopping!"

That one is going in my book of quotes.

  I love this age.

Smile.

 After hours looking at the seemingly endless variety of toys for his age, in two toy stores, 

guess what he liked.... 

The day of the Birthday celebration came. 

He was in great suspense.  

The anticipation of what was in those packages had his eyes shining, 

and fairly squealing when they were opened.

After the birthday, more children fell sick.

  So we had lots of lap time,

 lots of reading aloud

 or listening to audio books while coloring

 or cuddling with kittens.

Olivia has taken an interest in drawing.

Since her siblings all seem absorbed in drawing a good deal of the time,

this is a natural reaction, 

and a cute one to boot.

Most of her attempts so far look like amoeba.

smile.

  Gabe is feeling much better today, as is Bethany. 

He is back at his play, 

and it is looking like a bad day for

Tigger. 

But not in the mind of a 4 yr old. 

Today,  Piglet and Tigger are Ninja's with super powers.....

I know you've heard it before, but I will go ahead and say it again:

I love this age!