Four years of parenthood... it seems like a lifetime. It's hard to remember what it was like before the pitter-patter of little feet running around the house. Actually, it more like it's hard to remember what it's like before the stomping of little feet, screaming of high-pitched little voices, squealing of laughter, cries of outrage, singing of silly songs, whining, viewing of Princess movies- over and over and over again....
We've made it through four years. The years have been challenging- switching from being kids to adults with lots of responsibilities, going without sleep, trying to maintain patience, trying to pick the right fights with the kids. However challenging it may have been, the rewards of parenthood are so much greater- unconditional love, hugs, smiles, getting to see your children bloom into amazing people... and seeing the potential that is there for the future adult they will become. I wouldn't trade a second!
Alas, though, they are growing so fast. Cairo is four! FOUR! I still remember patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for her to finally take her first steps and here we are, the last year before she steps into Kindergarten.
Meet Cairo at 4.
- She is a girly girl to the core- pink and purple are her favorite colors. Anything that is fancy is her game. I think that she put it perfectly when she was on the swing yesterday- "Look! I am a flying fairy princess!"
- The singing- oh, the singing. She likes to sing songs in gibberish to the tune of the ABC song or Frere Jacques... and she likes to repeat it over and over and over and over again, each time singing louder and louder. (oh joy!)
- A decent eater, typically willing to try something. Cairo will sit at a table and finish her food if there is a promise of a treat at the end (though, like last nigh, this can be an extremely SLOW process).
- On the taller side for her age, but not too tall.
- She loves art. Any type of art project will do. She especially likes cutting up tiny little pieces of paper.
- She could care less about learning her letters. She can say them all, but has a very limited knowledge on what they look like.
- She loves to tattle on her brother... or anyone at that- even me!
- Her favorite playmates are her cousins.
- She laughs, smiles, and giggles constantly- I'm so glad to have a genuinely happy child.
- She loves to be helpful.
- Cairo is cautious and careful. I only need to warn her once about something being dangerous and she listens. She has a high level of self-preservation (something I WISH I could say about her brother).
- Cairo loves to run around and play and scream, but she trips and falls down a lot.
- She appreciates alone with and relishes in the opportunities she has to sit alone and play.
- Cairo can make anything talk to anything else. Sometimes it's silverware having conversations with each other, sometimes it leaves or strings. She sees a character in all objects and gives them all distinct personalities.
- Cairo keeps her head up in the clouds, but still her feet are planted on the ground.
- She is slower than a seven year itch- it drives me CRAZY! It's like living with my brother and sister again. Having said that, I am more and more convinced that Cairo is the reincarnate of my sister.
It was only appropriate for my girly girl to have a Fancy Nancy (a children's series of books) birthday party. I decorated the dining room super fancy (it was a lot of fun to do). Mei, Koko, Lili, and Deja came over to have a fancy lunch of finger sandwiches and fruit skewers. We used a variety of stickers to make photo boxes (containing fancy dress up jewelry and a fancy nancy book) extra fancy. We went outside and decorated our cupcakes, then ate them. The party finished at the playset where Cairo opened presents and the kids swung on the swings and from the monkey bars. We had a great time!
 |
| I made all the signs. |
 |
| I made these puff balls, too. |
 |
| Dress up stuff. |
 |
| Reading Fancy Nancy. |
 |
| Jonah got to open a present, too. |
For Cairo's actual birthday we had a quiet and relaxing day. Cairo started the day off with a cupcake for breakfast (she said she needed something special for her birthday). Throughout the day there were a few rounds of opening presents. Around 2:30 Mei came over for a sleepover. While Jonah was down for his nap, Cairo and Mei helped decorate more cupcakes and Cairo's birthday cake, they got their nails done, and they helped make dinner. Ba-Chan and Grandpa Lee came over for cake and gave Cairo a fun Calico Corners trailer. Eventually, the kids made their way to bed. Though Cairo and Mei went to bed at 8:30, they didn't get to sleep until almost 10.
 |
| Birthday breakfast of champions! |
z
 |
| Cairo and Jonah playing together- nicely. |
 |
| Cairo and Jonah playing together- not so nicely. Look at Cairo's face. |
 |
| Still not playing nicely. Cairo's smirk shows who was causing the problems. |
 |
| Opening presents- round 2. |
 |
| Decorating cupcakes |
 |
| Cairo helped do the lettering on the cake. |
 |
| Teamwork! |
 |
| Mei was helping her toenails dry by blowing on them. |
