June 14, 2009

Four Years and a day

Ever since I was mentioned in Entertainment Weekly, I have been struck with the biggest writer’s block in the history of the world.  I have several half-finished posts in my drafts folder – each one being questionable to being EW worthy.

But there’s nothing like a life milestone to jumpstart the writing.  Yesterday, Swee’Pea and TheMonk turned four.  First, I need to start with the most obvious question.  A question that I’m sure every parent faces when one minute they are wandering the halls in a sleep-deprived daze to suddenly contemplating some Christian pre-school, even though you’re Catholic, because it’s right down the street.  The question, of course, being…

HOW THE IN THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?!!!

Once I got over the shock of having kids who can now climb up on a barstool, clamber over to the fruit bowl in the middle of the kitchen island, grab a juicy nectarine and eat it while Daddy is in the shower, I realized that “four-years-old” happened while I was busy trying to figure out “three-years-old.” And that happened when “Two-years-old” was only half-figured out. At this rate, I’m beginning to think I will never figure my kids out. Maybe when they’re 38.

To illustrate how badly three-years-old messed with my mind, I thought it would be a good idea to throw a birthday party for the Swee’Pea & TheMonk. We would invite over 8 to 10 of their closest friends and we’d party like it’s 1999. It would be great! I’d bake each of the kids a cake while making cupcakes for the party goers. We’d give out caramel apples as party favors. But it would be small, intimate and downright cozy.

Well, it turns out that caramel apples aren’t as easy to make as it seems. And baking cakes (even though we do it every year) must be like pregnancy. You forget the pain so much that you think doing it again would be a good idea.

Luckily we had help. Grandmother and Great-Grandmother (who’s old and quiet but will slap you upside the head if you get out of line. I just know it. I can see it in her eyes.) arrived to help set-up and, more importantly, clean-up. Grandmother also took Swee’Pea and TheMonk out this morning to buy candy for the treat bags (I couldn’t give out our poor little apples. Think… the caramel apple version of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.), buy Swee’Pea underwear (Don’t ask. Apparently it was an emergency.) and get haircuts (not on the agenda I sent her out with so she’s darn lucky the hair looked good.).

Anyway, the party was short and sweet. The kids had fun and the party goers were on excellent behavior. We even enjoyed chatting with the grown-ups. But even as I write this my legs are aching from all the work that went into this party. I’m already dreading next year. Except the cakes. I’m looking forward to that.

Oh, and just as I was lamenting the fact that my babies are growing up, TheMonk looked up at me today and said, “Daddy, being four means I’m medium-big.” Okay, maybe I can live with that.

Happy Birthday my not-so-little ones. Your Daddy loves you with all of his heart. May your fourth year be filled with love, happiness and a complete weaning of Pull-ups.

13 Comments

  1. They look so darn cute and slightly grown up! Good job on the cakes! I know what you mean about how exhausting kids’ parties can be. And all for an hour and a half of fun!

    Comment by Lynnie — June 14, 2009 @ 4:10 am

  2. TheMonk and Swee’Pea already turned four? Wow! Time does fly. It never ceases to amaze me how much work goes into prepping & having a kiddo party. Good for you on being brave enough to have that many kids and parents at your house. Looks like the kids had a blast!

    Comment by Grace — June 14, 2009 @ 6:41 am

  3. You made it! Good luck with four. Snort. (Sorry Matthew, I’d lie to you, but I try not to lie on Sundays. Lets just say, four is an experience.)

    Medium big, now that is freaking cute.

    Comment by Issa — June 14, 2009 @ 9:06 am

  4. Wait a minute. They were just in baby carriers…

    Comment by Busy Mom — June 14, 2009 @ 9:18 am

  5. OMG Medium Big… love that!

    And they are getting so big, they were so little when I started reading you here. They really look like kids now, not babies.

    And those cakes? Amazing.

    Comment by Fran — June 14, 2009 @ 9:29 am

  6. Happy birthday, Swee’Pea and TheMonk! You are a couple of my most favorite Medium Big kids EVER!

    Good job, Dad, on the cakes and the party. Hope you get to enjoy the rest of the weekend. (and the cake!)

    Comment by debra — June 14, 2009 @ 10:12 am

  7. I can’t believe that time has gone so quickly! What do you mean, they’re not babies anymore? :)

    If you figure out four, let me know. Thumbs-up on the birthday cakes – especially the flower stem. Very clever.

    Comment by Deanna — June 14, 2009 @ 3:13 pm

  8. Happy Birthday to the cutest 4 year old twins we kinda-sorta know! LOL!!

    GREAT job on the cakes and effort on the party! AND AMEN to Grandmother and Great-Grandmother for all of their hard work! Your family is just AMAZING!

    Hugs & Blessings!

    Comment by MamáChanga — June 14, 2009 @ 10:52 pm

  9. Woohoo! 4 yrs old! I can’t believe I’ve been following your blog for so long. It’s been so lovely going through their lives through your blog.

    (a belated) Happy Birthday, Swee’pea and TheMonk!!

    Comment by Julie aka Pixiemom — June 15, 2009 @ 7:47 am

  10. Ohhhh. How fun! You are a brave man. I’ve never once gone “I want to try and make caramel apples…” LOL Slow them down! I don’t have kids, but my little sister just graduated high school, and my other little sister is about to turn 18. I remember cleaning their poopy butts like five minutes ago. I was eleven at the time. How the hell do we get old so quickly? THank you for my age crisis of the day. ;)

    Comment by Kellee — June 16, 2009 @ 8:21 am

  11. You are such an awesome Daddy. Love the cakes. Happy 4th Birthday! Four is a great age! The terrible two’s finally wind down!

    Comment by Kila — June 18, 2009 @ 9:04 am

  12. That cake looks good – I am a sucker for blue icing!

    Comment by Eric — June 24, 2009 @ 11:45 am

  13. I’ve really been slacking on the comments. A very happy (belated) birthday to Swee’Pea and The Monk! Four is when the really fun years start.

    BTW, I’m also a Catholic who went to a Christian preschool because it was down the street. After that I went to Catholic school for about forty years.

    Comment by Darren — July 7, 2009 @ 7:43 pm

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