Fee fi FO(UR) Fum

Look out family, here I come!

Our sweet big girl turned four about a month ago!  

We donned party hats

Set the table for the birthday girl (and her Big Monkey)

Opened some presents

Played some "Feed the Monkey"

Pulled the Strings on a Pull-string Pinata

Pinned the tail on the Monkey

and had some delish Monkey cookies from Sue B Sweets

Here are some things I'll remember about our sweet Monkey in the year leading up to her fourth birthday:

• How she loves to eat grilled cheese and also to get "hangabers with Cheese, with pickles on the side" at Whataburger  (not to be confused with cheeseburgers)
• Her love for school (Mother's Day Out)
• her sweet voice singing along with scripture songs in the car
• Made up songs with nonsense words
• Conversations between her toys and all the times I answer a "Maamaaaa" call only to find that it was one of her toys calling its mama.
• Her mastery of the tricycle (man, she's fast!)
• Proclaiming which character "she is" in a story or tv show/video, then repeating "I'm [insert Character's name here]" over and over throughout
• the many sweet ways she helps us be cautious:  "Careful mama!"  "Abby just got my toy!"  "That could be dangerous!"  "Uh oh Daddy!!"
• Smothering (almost literally) baby Abby with sweet (but invasive) coos and oohs and ahhs, and trying to hug her.
• falling asleep or calming herself to the softness of her well loved, well worn Big Monkey's plush tail, and the times she's offered to share it with us.   "You wanna feel how soft?"
• saying fun words like "wollipop" and "goor"(girl, rhymes with poor), aunt Wicia, Mr. Wee, and Mrs. Awicia. 
• pre-emptive bloody-murder screams to warn that Caleb must be about to do something to her.
• hearing "Mama..."  or "Daddy... I like you!"
• sweet dinnertime prayers that would not possibly be complete if every person at the table was not included by name in her grateful "thank yous" to God.
• her love of the outdoors and willingness to pick up (just about) any bug! spiders not included
• how well she has done coming into the service time with the grownups on Saturday nights at church.

We love you sweet Anna!