Christian is four and other worries

If you're attempting to steal his identity, I say his birthday is today, but for everyone else Christian's birthday was Monday.  This kid is something else--all imagination, passion, justice, boy, serious, silly, thoughtful and tender.

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I can't believe Christian is four.  I can still remember getting Bobo the bear on my 4th birthday from my Aunt Rebecca and to think my son could be having life long memories from what we do now is kind of a daunting thought.  From now on I have the feeling we need to start being real parents when it comes to holidays and birthdays.  Well despite not giving him any presents (I know terrible, right?), we did take him to the Please Touch Museum which we had won a pass to from our library.  We then came home and had his choice of birthday cake with our upstairs friends. My sister last year told us she was going to give gifts that allowed experiences instead of things.  As I try to find space in the closet for my kids' toys I start to think she might be on to something---but then I remember Bobo.

Here is Simeon with the baby doll he got attached to at the museum (the doll is suppose to be in a hospital gown) when we finally got him to nap at the museum:

 

and here are a bunch of other random photos needing to be posted:

 

Stephen is down in Atlanta presenting at a conference.  I normally don't post these type of things on the internet, but seeing that if anyone wanted to steal my children they would have to get through three different security doors---I think we're safe. (Plus with how loud and hyper my kids are these days, I think we could have signs up that they were for free and they still would be safe--ha!).  Last night I had to walk home from the church after 9:30, seeing that my kids were looking like they'd fetch a high price on the black market all bundled up and cute (and tired),  I decided to ask for the UPenn walking escort.  I've never asked before, but it was kind of nice to not have to worry about some of the more quiet streets.  Once home and in my apartment though, I realized that I wasn't scared like I use to be by myself when Stephen was gone or serial killers or the like.  No my main fear, completely justified, was how early my boys were going to wake up the following day.  

I'm attempting to potty train Simeon while Stephen is gone.  So far, so good. I might be bribing him with watching Piano Guys when he goes--I know, I know, what am I thinking?  But I'm totally taking advantage of Simeon's piano/cello obsession.   His favorite is

It has a cello and a train, what could be better than that?