Letter to four-year-old Emerson

Dear Emerson,
You have been four for over a month now and it is really fun to see how you have grown.

You have always been fun to talk to, but now even more so. You have a very interesting mind and I enjoy hearing you tell stories or ask questions.

We have been swimming in the pool a lot lately and you have been especially interested in jumping into the water. You continually launch yourself off the side of the pool (from the designated jumping spot down by the 'deep' end) announcing if the jump will be a cannonball or a jack-knife or one of your many new creations like the pencil or the gingerbread man. I really enjoy swimming with you and making up new games. I'm looking forward to swimming together a lot over the coming summer.

You have also become very interested in golf, perhaps because you now have a few 'real' golf clubs that you can take to the range with Dad for practice. You certainly seem to have the focus for it. It was amazing to watch you play the golf simulator at Dick's (killing time while Dad got some supplies for his trip to Italy) where you carefully set up each ball and hit it at the big 'screen.' You had some good ones!

As I write this, I find myself listing all so many things you are interested in and I am aware of how much fun it is for me to be exploring all of these games, ideas, activities, skills and imaginary worlds with you. You are seeing the world through older eyes and your observations and interpretations of what you see can be refreshing and sometimes quite staggering.

I love you so much, dear Emerson. I am a very, very lucky mom to have you as my son.

Love,
Mom (the Bomb)

Good day for the beach!

Emerson at the driving range

Eric took Emerson to the driving range today to practice some golf basics. They had fun and Emerson did very well, though he was disappointed to not make any holes in one. The only hiccup was when Eric looked up and Emerson had run out into the danger zone (the area into which everyone was hitting their balls) to get a ball. He escaped unscathed.

Ethan the Robot

Horse Power

We went back to Horse Power yesterday with friends Robin and Jonah and had a great time riding the train, petting many animals (snake, some kind of dragon, bunny, baby chick, mouse, goat, llama, sheep, pony) and Emerson and Ethan went double decker on the tire swing. We also enjoyed the peacocks who do make a lot of noise!

And this time Emerson rode the pony! I didn't get a photo but he really enjoyed it. "She was a nice pony," he told me.

Emerson turns 4!

Emerson turned 4 on March 27th! He is such a big boy.

We celebrated his actual birth day at home with a family dinner. Emerson chose the menu: homemade pepperoni pizza and, for dessert, vanilla ice cream with colored sprinkles.

 

Emerson also had a lovely birthday ceremony at school. While Emerson wore his birthday crown and cape, his teacher told the sweet story of Emerson choosing to come down from heaven and be born to his parents. As she mentioned highlights from each year (in his first year, Emerson loved listening to his dad play the guitar...) the teacher lit four candles. Emerson got a birthday book with a picture made by each of his classmates. His teachers gave him a knitted wool cat and a gem on a string to hang in a window. Here he is handing out his special birthday muffins to his classmates.

Finally, today was Emerson's "friend party" in our front yard, complete with a bouncy castle and pinata. It was a special treat that cousin Lucy and her dad Brett were able to make it to the celebration.

More strawberry picking! (with Gama, Uncle Dude and Brin!)