kennedy grace is 4

Seriously, if there is one thing that people will tell you about having children is 'how fast the time flies'. This has proven to be absolutely accurate. Telling Kennedy happy birthday for the fourth time yesterday seemed impossible. The days are long, but the years fly by. 

October 18, 2015: "Can we take a picture with this around my head?"

The third year was a really fun one. Great speaking skills, reasoning skills are coming into the picture and understanding rules, her memory was a little TOO good if you ask me, and you really get a feel for their personality. It's great to see that recognition in their eyes when you can see them processing a joke (or making one) and understand something like humor and being funny; getting laughs not solely by dropping an F bomb during dinner, which is only funny the first five times. And no, I don't only value my kid being a comedian but it was a really cool thing to witness her working it out in her brain to be funny.

OF COURSE I didn't wrap her presents til the morning of her birthday (or make her a birthday cake: bad mom point #1), but I'm glad I didn't. This way they stayed hidden in our closest and she couldn't beg me to let her open them for days on end. I hired Piper to help with the wrapping, but she was much more interested in trying to wrap herself up than actually helping me. Guh, toddlers! You mean, you can't hold the tape for me and rip it off when I'm ready?

Piper stealing the thunder with this hand-me-down shirt for the day.

Eventually we got the job done and I literally cannot tell you how many times Kennedy asked to open them. Brendon and I picked out really practical things for her since toys were the major item given at her party (yes, I didn't even order her gifts until Sunday 10/18 for her birthday on Thursday 10/22). Some winter clothes, shiny silvery ankle boots (tip about Old Navy/Gap: if you are shopping online and they aren't running a sale, check back in a day or two. I refuse to buy anything full price because of how frequently they have 30-40% off sales), and two really awesome wooden puzzles.

For her birthday dinner she requested hot dogs and a Coca-Cola all to herself. Pop is her current obsession and she is really convincing when she tells you Orange Crush isn't pop, "it's wemonade." Whatever helps you sleep at night, but it ain't working on me. Initially we planned on taking her to Mongolian BBQ a.k.a. the tiny corn on the cob place (baby corn is Kennedy's favorite thing to load up on there but does anyone else find baby corn creepy? WHY DO YOU EAT THE COB?! You aren't supposed to eat the cob. Creeps me out. Rant over, sorry.) to have a double celebration for her and my sister who's birthday was on October 20 since it's her favorite, but everyone sort of decided we were too pooped and hey, she did ask for hot dogs anyway. *insert bad mom happy dance*

I bought these to try them out because when I saw they were 'fast food fries' I actually scoffed in the frozen aisle. LIES! Nothing store bought could be as good as fast food fries. I was happily mistaken and I will forever keep these on hand. Score one for Ore-Ida!

 

 When I went out to get the fixin's for chili dogs I picked up a platter of mini cakes. I was a little upset with myself for not making her a cake for her actual birthday but she looooved these and I would never be able to decorate a cake like this. On occasion I may try something cool with frosting or dye the cake itself with food coloring, but colored white chocolate shavings on top of a maple pumpkin cake? Nope.

Act like a cat by sitting in the window? Sure, even if it's only long enough so I can get a picture and then proceed to yell at you to get down. MOM POWERS ACTIVATE!

Then for her final birthday wish she asked if she could stay up late and watch the hockey game with dad. I'll be damned if he didn't shed a tear over this. She even fell asleep snuggled up to him without her blanket which is basically unheard of. So, all in all I think she had a great time turning 4 but she keeps asking me if she'll still be 4 tomorrow and why will her birthday always be in October.

Here's to 364 more days of 4.

Leia