4 Years Old!

Ryan is so excited to be a big sister (and don't you dare call her little) in another month. I, on the other hand, wish she'd stay small forever! She has been a great mix of spunk and cuddle. She prefers to be at home pretending, building, coloring, cutting, pasting, dressing up--but she also finds a way to make life fun grocery shopping, at the gym, at doctor appointments, and helping me work. The job that she's best at is putting the silverware away. But if you ask her to clean her room--she'll basically let Izzy do it all unless she hears you coming then she'll quickly stop playing and act busy (obviously I've caught her in the act a few times).

Sample Ryan Prayer (picture a pretty good lisp on "s" sounds--I love it!): "Please bless Dad on his mission and Grandma on her trip...please help us not to say bad words like stupid and dumb and kill...please bless Dad to look both ways when he crosses the street...please bless the baby in Mom's tummy...I have a testimony of Jesus..."

I'd say her absolute favorite time of the day is early morning or after school--whenever sisters are around! Presently I hear her yelling "I beg for mercy, Lorin! . . . come on Izzy, we've got to run!"

"Dammits," Super Fluff Bunny, and Manipulation

So I was reminded by Kelli the other day that her favorite memory from our Christmas in Colorado was when Ryan called the other kids "dammits." Yes, angry. Yes, knew it was a name she shouldn't be calling kids. No, I have no idea where she heard it.

Ryan headed out of nursery and into primary this month. The first thing her teacher told me after the first day was "Ryan is very smart...and...very manipulative." I cringed a little knowing full well what she meant, but hoping Ryan hadn't given her too hard of a time. I guess Ryan had been using key phrases that she knew would work to get more Coco Roo snacks from the teacher like "I'm getting tired...I think I want to go to my mom." Then at the end when volunteers were asked for to say the prayer, she simply told the other kids "I'm the one that raised my hand, so I guess I get to say the prayer." And she did.
Meanwhile, every day is a new costume. When super batman is at library storytime, it's a big deal! And when Super Fluff Bunny is pushing her own small cart at the grocery store and saying things like "that looks disgusting...I would never eat that," people listen!

I'm happy to report that when she puts her arms around my neck and says "I like you mommy...and I love you too" and then gives me a nicely sucioned kiss on the lips, I don't give in to everything she wants every time :)