Who's Excited to be Four??

Not this girl, if it involves shots!

Tennyson had her four year old well-check today, and I told her there would be no shots at this appointment.  Since they do them at five years old, right before Kindergarten.  Well, someone forgot to send me the memo that they have changed the policies!  Guess who got three shots today and sounded like someone was water boarding her?  Wow does this girl have a set of lungs on her.  As I mentioned to her father, if the bed had restraints attached, they might have been used.  I had to drag her over to the seat/bed/whatever and then I had to pick her up and put her on it.  Not as easy feat, but we managed.  Tennyson has a tendency to...over react?  lol  Before the nurse had even picked the needle up, she was screaming, "NO NO NO NO NO"  Oh it was crazy.  Poor Truman had no clue what was going on.  But we managed through it and now we'll be safe from MMR, chicken pox and pertussis (which apparently is making it's way through our county).  On the bright side, no more shots (except flu) until she is 12!! Phew.  Maybe by then she will be able to deal with it.  Even if I had known there would be shots, I have no doubt the reaction would have been the same.

Anyway...on a brighter note.  She is the picture of health.  The questionnaire the doctor uses goes up to age 6 and Tennyson can do everything on it.  So, can I just put her in school this year instead of preK?? :o)

Her vision and hearing are great.  Her blood pressure is too (88/50).  Her reflexes work, no monkeys or princesses riding elephants in her ears and as strong as an ox.

Here are her stats:

- weight: 46lbs (96.25%)

- height: 44in (99.14%)

Given what her weight was in her first year, I am surprised she is in such a high percentile.  But I guess since her height is as well...it makes sense.  

Tennyson is a very active, curious, inquisitive four year old which is wonderful and hair pulling, all at the same time.  Her imagination keeps on growing and the things she comes up with amazes me sometimes.  She is very observant, nothing ever gets passed her.  While she can at times play on her own, she much prefers to have a friend, whether that is her brother, parent, cousin, or random kid at the park.  She will be best buddies with just about anyone.  Her eating habits are still great.  She is always hungry, always wanting a snack and she will eat 99% of what we give her.  If she doesn't think she likes it, she will try one bite and usually says mid way through, "I like this!"  She won't eat lettuce or mushrooms, but that's about it.  I don't think we will have to wait until the pre-teen years for attitude.  She seems to have perfected the face scrunch and the growl in response to things she doesn't like.  Oh so looking forward to the years ahead of us! :o)

We love Tennyson and the personality she brings to the family.  She is a great sister to Truman and I know she will be a big help to, and love her new little sister coming soon.

Happy 4th Birthday T!!

Father's Day

We kept it low-key this year...not out of necessity, but probably more due to my laziness.  Mark cooked most of dinner, but he gets a little funny about grilling steaks, and I am sure he didn't want me cooking his anywhere near as well-done as I like my steak.  I did make a nice breakfast, so that makes up for it, right?

I know he was beyond excited to open his gifts.  A Father's Day pin to wear, a pony bead necklace from Tennyson and some lovely polo shirts.  What more could a father ask for?  Sometimes practicality just has to win out over excitement.

Tennyson's Dad survey.  Apparently, according to her, Mark's favourite food is peas, if he had more time he would like to go out for lunch and he is so strong that he can lift a baby!!

 Truman wasn't too interested.

 SHIRTS!

I think Tennyson wore her new helmet from the moment she got home from church until bed.  She did play nicely downstairs while Truman took a nap, so that let Mark watch Lonesome Dove and Survivorman.  I suppose in the end, that's what it all comes down to.  Happy Father's Day Mark! We love you!

A, E, I-dah-O, U...

This year Tennyson was able to celebrate her birthday with all of her Idaho clan cousins and most of her aunts and uncles, and Grandma and Grandpa, of course.  We had gone out for the Smith Family Reunion 2012, but she just thought all the fun was for her!

Since pictures are worth a thousand words...here we go!

She was SO excited to ride a horse.  I'm surprised she got off without a fight.

 Truman was more interested in the water jug.

 He did not enjoy the horse so much.

 But he did LOVE the "tractor/wagon" ride.

 Reunion Day Two meant four wheeling.  Another activity Tennyson LOVED.

 Truman preferred to throw rocks in the water.

Saturday meant BIRTHDAY!!!  We set up the night before since Tennyson was dead set that her Aunt Katie was throwing her a surprise party...not sure where she came up with that one.

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY Tennyson!!!  Doesn't she look older?  That morning, she woke up, stretched and told her Dad "Look! I'm bigger!"

We spent the day in Jackson Hole, WY, swimming, eating candy, pizza, watching a shoot out.  She wore her Birthday Girl pin all day!

 Apparently, she and her cousin Bryan found something VERY amusing.

 Her Aunt Mary...not so much!

 Since we got home late, we let her open one gift before bed, and saved the rest for Sunday.

 The rest of the presents...

 The Happy Birthday/blowing out candles...right before she threw up all over two cousins and the kitchen floor.  Sadly she went to bed without a piece of her cake.  Luckily she was fine and ate some a day or so later!

 How quickly things change....thankfully she waited until the singing was over and I didn't catch the vomiting on film!!

Monday, we continued the partying with a swing through Bear World.  A world of Bears!!  And other animals as you can see.

 Truman's most favorite thing at Bear World.  This and feeding the duck/fish.

 Most of the cousins.

Tuesday we spent the day in SLC, while Mark had work/lunch. So we went to the Discovery Museum...they had fun.

 After dinner with friends, at The Cheesecake Factory.

A few days after we got home, we figured we should give Tennyson her birthday gift from us...she was a little excited!

Grandma and Grandpa F gave her a flashy new helmet and bell for her bike.  She can't wait until it's not raining or deathly hot to go out for a ride!! 

We had a great time in Idaho.  A lot of fun, food, late nights and thankfully not too many tears.  Here's to the Smith Family Reunion 2013!