The Boy is 4

Which we all knew he turned 4 this summer. But I am just getting around to blogging about his birthday. We had a party in Burlington on July 6th. We decided to have it there for a couple reasons. Reason one is G1 really really really wanted Ricky, Ginny and Skyler at his party. But with their due-date being so close to then I didn't want them to feel like they needed to make there way to us for his birthday. Reason two was so Matt's grandma and great-aunt would be able to make it.
We had the party at Perkins Park. There was a good turn-out. Pretty much everyone that was invited (with the exception of 2 households I think) came. The kids had a blast playing with water guns and also on the playground equipment.
Here is the cake:
Here is G1 blowing out his candles (he picked out super tall candles):
G1 got lots of fun gifts (and now as I am typing this I realize I did not get thank-yous sent out, OOPS!!). It is crazy all the things he is old enough for now.
Here he is playing with his Leapster2:
On his actual birthday (July 9th) we went to playgroup in the morning. Playgroup that day was at Kiwanis Park here in town, that is where the sprinkler park is. We took brownies to share with our friends. G1 was very excited to be turning 4.
After playgroup we had cupcakes and ice cream at home, with the 6 of us and Grammy.
Here G1 is blowing out his candles:

G4 eating her ice cream and cupcake:
G1 with a messy face:
G3 with a messy face:
G2, also with a messy face:
I can't believe my baby boy 4 already. The time has really flown by. He is loving preschool, although he will tell us pretty much nothing about it. His Sunbeam teacher came to the preschool on Wednesday to talk about butterflies (that's what she does as a profession). I think that was a lot of fun for him.

Here are a few things he told me about preschool:

Favorite things to do there: coloring and playing games
Favorite friend in class: First he said Mrs. Lozier, then he added Callie, Bryar and Briana
Favorite snacks at preschool: crackers, juice, applesauce and juice (I think he really likes the juice)
Has learned: how to walk in a line
Then he told me "Preschool needs two things...Me (Gavyn) and juice"
He told me there is nothing he doesn't like about preschool.

I found out today that G2 and G3 may be able to start going on Mondays and Wednesdays starting in January. That would make them so happy. We will have to see if we can swing that financially. That would be so strange to have only one child for those 2.5 hours two days a week.

G1 has preschool pictures next Friday (the 25th) and they will also do sibling pictures. We might have them take a picture of all the Gs and then G1's individual pictures. We just turned in his first book order this week. Man, being a parent with (a) child(ren) in school requires a lot doesn't it?!?

To be honest I wasn't sure I really wanted any of them going to preschool. I really would love to homeschool. But this has been a pretty good experience so far.* G1 is loving it and it is kind of nice to hang out with just the girls.

Onto some health stuff:
G1 got a tick on our vacation or right when we got back. We aren't too sure exactly. He has still had a red bump. I took him to the doctor a week ago to have it checked out. The doctor looked at it and said he didn't think it was Lyme's disease because there was no bulls eye. Instead he thought maybe G1 had a localized allergic reaction to the tick. So, he prescribed an antibiotic. Hopefully that does the trick.
While we were there I brought up G1 still pooping in his underwear. We talked about that at his 4-year check-up and doctor recommended giving him fiber gummies and something else I think. We've been doing that and it hasn't helped. So he gave me some literature to read that has suggestions of things to do. He also had us go down to get an x-ray of G1's belly. X-ray showed that G1 is pretty constipated. Now he is on Miralax and a laxative. He sure has pooped a lot, but still not in the toilet much. :-( Hopefully things will be straightened out soon.

*G1's behavior is not the best when he gets out of school for the day. That has actually been pretty hard for me to deal with. But every other aspect of preschool is great.