Brady has a very busy 4-year old life and it has recently included some significant "firsts". This is a photo of him in front of his preschool. I have never in my life seen a happier version of this child. He was beyond excited and enthusiastic and so anxious to show me the drill.
He literally ran down the hall, quickly naming all the various classrooms on the way to HIS BLUE DOOR.
He put his backpack and helmet in the exact right spot (not to be confused with BrOdy's spot) then plopped down and waited for the door to open so he could be the first to choose the chore he wanted: Bell Ringer. BTW, those skinny legs can move at an alarmingly rapid rate!
Brady's legs move quickly until, that is, he gets on a soccer field. His overachieving parents signed him up for a soccer team and he did quite well until it was time to play in a game. All of a sudden he was unable to move at all! He was totally miserable and didn't understand why he was out there. He whimpered through most games and at one point he stood in front of the goal and exhibited a huge yawn while the other team kicked goals through his legs!
I worked with him out in the field on the days he was here, practicing and explaining the game. One day while I was stealing the ball from him, he said "but that's not very nice". All of a sudden it became very clear to me: his parents had spent nearly 4 years teaching him to be nice, take turns with other kids, share your toys (or soccer balls). Now on the soccer field all those rules had changed! GET OUT THERE, STEAL THAT BALL, GO GET 'EM BRADY!!! It's no wonder the little guy was confused.
He did like it that all the grandparents came to watch him. It also gave him alot of people to hide behind so the coach wouldn't see him or call his name. But he was stuck with six weeks of misery on Saturday mornings.
Another problem: his dad was the coach:)
He seemed quite happy on the day of the last game. Maybe because it was the last game???
In the meantime, back on the ranch, he had chores to do. He had to rake leaves.......
We had to take a picture of our rake-wielding shadows.......
He had to tend the chickens......
He had to BE a chicken:)
He had to gather the eggs..... Ok, Drewey, take these to Ter Ter. Now run!!
He had to teach Drew how to play "shower ball"
Dr. Brady had to cure all our ills (he can do that with his smile!)
He had to measure the depth of the first great puddle in the driveway
He had to make yet another batch of applesauce. He wanted to make applesauce every time he came to visit and it always turned into an all day job, and a lesson in the "life cycle of an apple":
Shake the tree
Pick up the apples
Wash them with the hose
Help cut them up
Feed the cores to the chickens
Cook the apples
Squish them (see above)
Taste for sweetness
Add white sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon
Eat warm. Feed to little brother after nap:)
And then........the birthday party! Fourteen rowdy kids came to Brady's Lego-themed extravaganza. (That's Jude, Ada and Drew with their backs to the camera).
I have to include this picture of the cupcakes. Jen outdid herself this time, making the little Lego candies on each cupcake.
Note the Lego crown above that awe-struck face. And it's difficult to tell, but his shirt is imprinted with a Lego person. This party took place several days prior to his actual birthday because he already had plans for the BIG day: The whole family flew to California to......just guess...... Legoland!
Brady, Brady, Brady. It's hard to describe him these days. He's wild and crazy and curious and busy and brave beyond his own good sense. He's sensitive and serious and imaginative. He doesn't like being left alone and gets lonely at night in his bed. One night when he slept over, he woke a half-dozen times for different reasons: my foot hurts; no, it's my leg; let's read a book; no, let's watch a video; how about some waffles? Finally at about 3:00 a.m. he told me he doesn't like to sleep alone. I was impressed that he was able to sift through all those other reasons come up with that pearl of wisdom. The next time he came for a sleepover, I made him a little sleeping bag sort of nest right next to my bed. Much better.
Brady frustrates easily these days, but this, too, shall pass. I have to mention it, though, because otherwise he sounds like the perfect child when in fact, he's been driving us nuts for the past few months! It's just a phase and, like my mother always said, the next one will probably be worse:) In the meantime while he's busy pushing everyone's limits, he can still crack me up more often than not..... when he sings (like an opera star), when he gets the giggles, when he names every activity (let's call this game "take things away from Drewey"), when he walks in the door. This kid had me at hello:)
Happy Birthday, Brady - I love my little buddy
