After weeks of almost not seeing the sun at all, we had a beautiful day and everyone was basking in the sun for hours. Once again, Mikayla was fortunate enough to have both grandparents in town. Of course Macy and Norah were on the invite list, and our Dutch friends the Houwens, who have joined us at the lake several times this past year. Scott fired up the Traeger at 6:00 a.m. to start smoking the ribs.
Daddy decided to play a bit of a trick on Mikayla with candles that wouldn't blow out. She was such a good sport! She had to blow them out about 8 times before they finally stayed out. These pictures capture all of her expressions throughout.
Hooray! One try and they are all out!
Wait...why did two more light back up?
If at first you don't succeed...
Wait for it...
Oh no it happened again!
This is a nail biting experience! Maybe my friends will have better luck.
Finally...tongue is out and life is good again!
The next day, we asked Mikayla if she had had a good birthday. Her response was, "Good, but my candles didn't go out." Oh bummer! She was pretty disappointed. To try and make it up to her, we put 4 candles in a leftover piece of cake, and she seemed pretty pleased that they went out the first time!
Mikayla got a new bike for her birthday. Within a week or so, she was able to start and stop on her own, which is a must if you don't want to stand there all day, having her ride between two people who can help her start and stop on each end. (Been there, done that.) She is now riding to the Y or to take the boys to school while we run beside her, and she is so proud!
She also had a birthday party at school on the day of her birthday. We got a good shot of her with her teachers, Ms. Monica and Ms. Geraldine, on this special day!
In between, we got to celebrate Grandma's birthday with a brownie cake and some random assortment of candles that somehow, supposedly, added up to some significant number that was not actually her age of celebration. Leave it to Scott!
Mikayla, you bring so much joy to our lives. From the minute you were born, we could tell you were going to fit right in. When the boys are around, your voice escalates, and you are rough and tough; you do what it takes to keep up with them. When they have their shirts off, so do you. And you have a magical touch when it comes to your brothers; with you around, it seems the three of you can all play together, whether it be wrestling, or doing a puzzle. This is not "normal" for our household. When your brothers are not around, you are sweet, calm, curious, and quite the jokester!
You know all your letters and numbers, in Spanish and English. You love the Berenstain Bear books. You want to do homework in your "PreSchool 123" book when the boys are doing theirs. You hold your own on the trampoline, even when it is you and 4 older boys. You can ride your new pink scooter way faster than you can ride your bike. You love to read, and you LOVE "T-bee." As you noted just tonight to me, "Mommy, I love T-bee, the Ipad, Netflix, and your phone!" I wish I had started counting the very first time you asked, "Mommy, can I pway on your phone?" You love to sing. All.The.Time. You have this really sweet high voice, and make up lyrics to all kinds of tunes. You always have music on at night when you go to bed, and no matter what the volume when we leave the room, you consistently turn it up loud when we leave, and promptly go right to sleep. Funny thing is, the monitor is usually on in our bedroom, and everyone in the house hears that darn Spanish Christmas CD that you choose every...single...night.
You are determined. If you fall down, you cry, and then you have to try it again until you succeed. You never give up, even when you fall off your bike. You are one tough cookie, and the bruises and scrapes on your legs back up that story. We are starting to work on saying our "l's" and "r's" and when we suggest you try to say "look" instead of "wook," you try until you get it right, unabashedly. You are working on swimming by taking lessons at the Y, and you enthusiastically participate each lesson. Hopefully this summer you will be on your own in the pool! You love gymnastics every Monday and get the biggest smile on your face when it is time to go. Honestly Mikayla, you seem to embrace life, and all the twists and turns that come your way. (I think your older brothers will have to take some of this credit.) This ability to adapt will serve you well!
When it is time for bed, you go, aside from the typical stalling tactics of a 4-year old. When it is time to get up, you simply get out of bed and say, "Can I have breakfast please?" Just yesterday, I woke you up at 7:30, we got dressed, and by 7:40 you had your helmet on and were ready to ride bikes to school. While you are always excited when you can spend the day with Daddy, you never complain when it is your day with Regina and everyone else has gone to school and work. On school days, you pack your backpack (without me suggesting it) and are ready to go. Who needs a daily routine? Not this 4-year old...
What's to complain about? Not much. A few notes here. 1) You still have a pacifier. We have been getting pretty strict about only having it at night in your bed, but you would suck on it all day long if we would let you. 2) You still can't stand to have your hair brushed. This continues to be a painful process. I generally let you watch 5 minutes of TV while I quickly try to get the wispies out of your face. (Note - still not sure I like the bangs, but out of pure functionality, it had to happen. Now I have less hair to deal with and to keep out of her face!)
Mikayla, your zest for life is contagious. When things get a bit rocky in the house, you start singing, and we all start singing along and laughing. When you are upset or need something, you might have 4 people trying to help you. You are a little ball of joyful energy that puts a smile on my face every single day. The best days are when, out of the blue, you look up at me with your bright eyes and say, "Mommy, I love you!" Mikayla, I love you to, #withallmyheart.
Happy 4th birthday Love Bug!
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