henry at four

It's the Monday after a busy birthday weekend, and Henry is delighted that it is FINALLY his real birthday. This is the first year he has really understood time in terms of days, so we've been counting them down, and finally the big day is here. It's been pretty low-key today, starting with singing over a birthday muffin, and ending with a big family dinner at Hacienda. It's been a nice, relaxing day after a lot of running around for the weekend.

On Saturday, we made a whirlwind trip to Chicagoland, meeting up with Barb at the Arboretum in the morning, then heading for a birthday lunch at the All Aboard Diner with Barb and Kevin and Johnny, Erin, Lucy, and Richie. When the train brought his birthday cupcake with the candle and everyone started singing, Henry was so excited! We capped off the day with a visit to the zoo, then headed back home. Sunday morning, we picked up Klaudia and headed to the apple orchard to pick some delicious honeycrisp at Garwood Orchards. We got a great haul, and sampled a few of the products along the way.

At four, our Henry is creative and funny and a real live wire. That's the nicest possible way to say that he is an outright terror most of the time, but in ways that make us laugh and shake our heads. Nothing in our house is safe because Henry creates tools from Legos and disassembles things (like the trim and plaster in our dining room!), or picks holes in the plaster walls I've just repaired for the millionth time, or tries to "fix" things and ends up making them worse. He is by turns determined to be just like his brothers and frustrated that he can't be, because no matter what, he will always be younger. He wants to play their video games, read their books, use their toys -- and he tries, only to find that he needs their help, which they are reluctant to give as often as he wants it. It's a pretty unsettled time for him right now, but I have to say that once he gets a little time and practice under his belt, the brothers had better watch out because he will give them a run for their money in any arena.

I know he can't wait to grow up a little bit more and be big enough to really compete with his brothers, but I'll admit that it's nice (more than nice!) to still have one son who is not too grown up to kiss or hug his mother willingly. That's the thing about Henry -- he is such a little destructive dynamo, but then he'll turn around and be the sweetest, most interesting and charming boy you've ever met. I guess that's what keeps him in our good graces, at least most of the time.

Even though the next birthday will be his fifth, Henry's birthday is just after the cut-off for school admission, so he won't be starting kindergarten until he is almost six (to the undisguised relief of the teachers and principal, who ask every time we attend a function at school). So this year and next, he's going to preschool, and so far at least, loving the chance to soak up every little bit of knowledge he possibly can.

So dearest Henry, we wish you a very happy day today, and we can't wait to see what each next day will bring. We love you!