Dear Schuyler,

You are four years old now.  I've got memories from when I was four so I guess I should watch my step with you now that you might remember what happens.  We love you so much and love watching what you become each day.  You are a funny little girl and very into your art and music.  You love making up songs and singing to yourself.  When I play guitar you make me stop singing and just play chords while you make up a song.  You really dig ballet and a bunch of girly stuff like painting your toe nails, taking care of DeeDee and Alex, and wearing pretty dresses.  But you're tough.  You can take spills and barely notice it.  You're working on your manners (please and thank you!) and love practicing letters.   You definitely like boys - oh man, they'd better watch out.   You've begun really playing with your little brother and looking out for him and helping when we need to change his diaper or something.

We want you to have every opportunity to explore this magical world and get the most out of it.  We love you more than you'll likely know.

Happy birthday, little bear.

happy birthday to you

the bouncy castle is a hit (the rugs are there because bare feet don't like burr season!)

taking a rare break from constant, frenetic motion

 

Ayara, Bella, Oliver, Schuyler, Ellisa, Preston, Alyiah

blowing out four candles!

 

Jonah, Sky, Preston, Trystan

 

 

Charlie REALLY dug the cake... this is our attempt to capture on film his "I like cake" dance

 

the girls test the limits of their parents' health insurance policies

Schuyler's mummy regrets playing horse (by bouncing kids on the balance beam) as the numbers grew and grew

Daisy struts her new walking skills

Oscar, Isaac, and Sky helping deflate the bouncy castle (on loan again from the ever generous Carpol residence)

 

Clean up crew!

Charlie takes advantage of his lack of adult supervision!

 

Crushing leftover ice... maybe I could get them to crush grapes!

presents

 

 

clothes for Dee Dee and Alex

wrapping paper for Charlie

books for her brain

Tooth doctor

OK. So a number of great things about Schuyler's doctor visit:

1. (most important) They were playing the new Muppet movie which Jason Segel wrote, directed and starred in and Daddy's been secretly wanting to watch.
2. No cavities
3. Schuyler seemed to actually enjoy the experience
4. The Dentist's favourite colour is purple (evidence was everywhere) so Sky and she got along great

Prepping pretty party favours

Schuyler's mum had a great idea for the party favour bags - make it into a project for Schuyler! She coloured in outlines of balloons and cupcakes and glued them on the paper bags. It was a really sweet touch, I thought, and Schuyler loved it.

project!

 

Another Ardleigh touchdown in the endzone:  Schuyler received this wooden box and decoration kit from her dear Godmother and there really isn't a better gift for this little girl right now.  She spent almost a week of  post-prandial concentration doing it up in purple and pink with glitter trim.  It was also an excellent source of bribery when needed.

saturday night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ballet!

"daddy, I had a dream about ballet last night and all the pretty dresses and kids!". Schuyler was pretty gosh darn excited about her first ballet class after weeks of talking about it. Although a bit shy at first, she quickly got to the point where she didn't notice her dad leave to go study on the steps outside.

It turns out that her teacher Mrs. Woodley was her daddy's teacher when he was the exact same age at Peter Pan nursery! How about that!?

goofy guys

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is scene-by-scene of a game Charlie and I play (inconveniently, at dinner, in this instance).  Basically, he turns away and I hide my face behind his head and he whips his head around and says "boo".  Sure, it's a pretty basic game but he REALLY digs it.  By the way, the glasses are removed not for vanity but for safety since Charlie has a special interest in stress testing them with his grubby little hands!