Sophia's Fourth Birthday Letter

My dearest Sophia (favorite nicknames from this year included: Sweetie, Chicken-Monkey)

Happy fourth birthday!

This year has been full of wonderful goofiness.

You started school at Campus Kinder Haus at ENC, and we had no doubt you would embrace it fully, as you are outgoing and love to hang out with any kid that is around.

You have reveled in learning about weather bear, caterpillars, and your friends in the school. You have enjoyed showing us your art work at the evening art show along with Glen, and telling us about all the songs you have learned. Working from home most days has allowed me to go to Donuts with Dad at school, and set up an occasional Daddy/Daughter date.

You have a thirst for learning whether working on writing your name, reading over 1,000 books when we tracked them for a library program, book tapes in the car, or just asking to be part of our conversation while your mom and I are talking on a road trip. You want to engage, interact, contribute and learn—and we love that about you!

Our travels continued with trips to see the Colorado Archambaults, which you looooved spending numerous days with them drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, playing with dolls and just spending time with them doing life.

You have spent nights in a historic house in Rhode Island where J learned to crawl, seen friends and relatives in a grand adventure of three separate stops in North Carolina (visiting the Larson's, Sentas' and Devan's) , and road tripped in Ohio and Indiana, with a great few days seeing Stan and Mary and fully taking in all that the Indianapolis Children’s Museum has to offer. 

This year we also enjoyed watching you play in the sand with J on the beach in San Diego in pure delight building a sand castle while the sun set, even if it was slightly chilly.

Your vocabulary has started, to expand for example learning words like “satisfied.” And then trying to figure out how to use it for the rest of the day. “I am not done eating my dinner, so I am not satisfied.” Followed by a belly laugh as we nod our head that you used it correctly. You love to laugh as much as possible, whether about something you have said, whatever we might be laughing at, or while running around chasing your brother or a friend.

You have a deep abiding love for your cousins, including the three you added this year with Aunt Becca and Uncle Mark getting married. You loved being the flower girl in their wedding, a role you will play twice more this coming year. You frequently ask when we will see Nana and Bop-Bop in PA and Grammie and Grandpa in NH next. And having Aunt Aimee over for playtime or special breakfast is a highlight of your week.

You frequently ask to draw in my office when I work in the afternoon, and make me happy by requesting that I drop you off and pick you up from school.

You seem to skip or run most places, and love “silly” wrestling whenever I have a few minutes of downtime and/or between books. You welcome the chance to dance in the kitchen or join a family hug. You are fiercely protective of your little brother J, and almost always intent to help him out, even if you might be the cause of his distress to begin with.

You did a great job with your first singing solo at Church this year on Mother’s Day.

Overall your mother and I have come to appreciate your enthusiastic attitude about even small things. You often will say things like “this is fun” or “I had a great time” or “can we do this again some time”. Keep that light alive and we will try our best to fan it.

Have a great fifth year, as the fourth was pretty wonderful.

Love,

Dada

Week of the Young Child

Sophia's school participates in the National Celebration of the "Week of the Young Child". I had never heard of it prior to this year and initially had a negative reaction that it was just one more "National something to celebrate day". However as I learned more about the intent behind it and have been increasingly aware of Sophia's tendency to 'grow while I'm not looking'; I have been grateful for this week. 

Through this initiative opportunities are created to spend intentional and specific time with your child. "No TV" vouchers are handed out with the encouragement to play a game as a family instead. Not officially sponsored by "Week of the Young Child" was a kitchen dance party featuring the hits of Harry Belafonte.

The formal events were Monday Muffins with Mom (as requested her beverage was 3 parts cream to one part coffee, mine was 3 parts coffee to one part cream):

Donuts with Dad on Tuesday:

And an opportunity for Sophia to showcase her artwork beside her classmates, complete with classical music and serving trays of cheese,crackers and grape juice to round out the week:

Each piece was being sold for $1 as a fundraiser for the school.

Sophia's Godfather Glen surprised her at the show. She observed, "there were lots of grandparents here tonight but I was the only one with a Glennie!"