Rowan,

Now you're growing so so quickly!  Your 4th year has been a whirlwind.  We changed everything up on you.  New school, new friends, new houses (two of them!).

Preschool Graduation

It's been hard for you.  Especially letting go of your first home and those people that you loved there.

But you have really risen to the challenge.  You are suddenly a big kid.

You continue to be the best big brother to Cid, trying your best to help him. You don't realize it but he looks up to you so much. You are his courage.

Hugs for Brother

Helping Brother Out

Of course, you have your moments. When you do, they are very dramatic.

You wear your emotions on your sleeve.  They are completely transparent and all in.  All in happiness, complete with clapping and dancing.  All in anger, and I mean full blown screaming, kicking, trembling.  All in love, hugs and kisses for everyone.

Ladybug Love

You've been writing really well.  Some of my favorites have been your cat drawing on the white board, with the message "Rowan 'HEART' Cid in 100", and a letter to Abigail, our 3 year old neighbor, that said "Rowan 'HEART" Abigail"

Breakdancing is your jam right now. If a good beat comes on, your shoulders start moving.  You get out of your chair, or where-ever and bust some pretty awesome moves. Then Cid joins in with a couple graceful pirouettes and bows.

First day of Pre-K, September 9, 2015

You have an amazing ability to make friends.  Your ice-breaker conversation usually goes like this:

"Hi, I'm Rowan. R-O-W-A-N, Rowan.  I'm only 4.  How old are you?  Well, my brother is 3.  We live in number 6.  Do you want to come visit?"

Often these conversations are with 6 or 7 year old boys.  Other times, they are with lone, middle-aged men in the park or store.  If it's the latter, you continue your conversation with:

"Well, you're older than my mom.  My mom is 33.  My dad works all day"

(while I stand back and cringe on the inside, hoping that "we live in number 6' didn't give them any valid clue as to where we actually live).

But I actually really love that you talk to people.  It always brings a smile to their faces and afterwards, they ALWAYS tell me what a great kid you are.  They're right.

At the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Your insight amazes us on a daily basis.  We often forget that you are 4 years old, and we still often expect more of you because you look and seem so much older.  It's always been that way with you and this year is no different.  This is our biggest challenge in being your parents and we are sorry for our often unrealistic expectations.

When we tuck you in at night, you tell us "I love you 52 infinity.  I love everyone 52 infinity"

Well, Rowan, if it's possible to love you more than 52 infinity, WE DO!

FOUR!

Love,
Mom

Even though Rogér and I both grew up in rural areas, it's been a while since we lived that way and the boys have never lived that way, aside from vacations at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Petrolia.

We kinda got used to our city ways, so moving out (even though its really not that far out) is going to take some getting used to.

We spent our first few nights at the farmhouse and they went fairly well.  Rogér and I learned that we are too old to sleep on the floor.

As Rogér and I were walking the perimeter of our 23 acres, we saw one of our neighbor families and exchanged waves.  Shortly after those neighbors came over with corn, squash, and lemon cucumbers from their garden! Yum!  When they saw that my mom and dad were staying also, they went home and brought us even more.  Later, another wonderful neighbor brought us freshly made blackberry muffins.  The best I've ever had!

A few neighbors like to target practice...or shoot the ground squirrels...or something.  I'm trying to remind myself that we did that at my parents' house too and will probably also do it here.  It's still a little unnerving, not knowing our neighbors that well.

We got a lot done too, especially with the help of Grandma and Grandpa Dan who finally got to see where they will be living soon!

Not so much on the house, but we got the (temporary) goat area set up and hot-wired a corral and pasture for the horses.

And the boys loved their tractor rides!




~Sarah