Peter Turns 4!!

Dying Easter Eggs 2013

Peter's 4th Birthday Interview

N is for Nonagon

Reading Time

This was our one calm moment this morning.  

Peter is, as always, thrown by change, uncertainty, excitement, unusual happenings or the idea thereof...you know, LIFE.  This leads to the most appalling behavior.  He is exhausted, but he screams through rest time and tears books into millions of pieces.  He gleefully hurts Elliot.  He angrily screams NO at the world even if nothing is being asked of him.  

Yesterday evening we tried to go on a family walk to Peter's favorite rock except he just COULD NOT for love or money listen to the simplest safety instructions.  Doug and Elliot ended up going on the walk and I dragged/carried a tantruming 3.99 year old home.  What would I have done if it had been just the boys and I?  Last week we went for a walk and Peter took off running away from us and Doug had to chase him down before he ran into the street - like a little toddler, but stronger and faster and more dangerous.  How do Elliot and I cope with the fact that Peter's atrocious, unsafe behavior means we can't safely go for a walk around our neighborhood?

This morning Peter broke into angry, whiny sobs three times before 8:30am.  First, because I wouldn't let him hang from one of Elliot's legs...as Elliot sat in his high chair screaming in pain.  Second, because I said he could have banana chips...after he ate some of the peanuts and waffle he had just asked for.  Third, because it was time to brush teeth...after breakfast, while reading a story like we do pretty much every day.  Each time he was calmly sent to his room to cry because otherwise I would have throttled the child.  

I am so frustrated with the hours of crying that Elliot and I are forced to listen to every day.  It grates on every one of my nerves and makes me want to lock Peter out in the garage just so we get a break from the incessant, pointless, infuriating crying.  Crying because he isn't allowed to hurt Elliot.  Crying because I refuse to get him orange juice when he already has water and apple juice that he asked for and are sitting untouched.  Crying because he has to spend two minutes doing a chore.  Crying because I buckled him into his car seat in the wrong order.  Crying because he needs to get shoes on to go to school.  Crying because we stop in the bathroom at a store so I can go to the bathroom.  Crying because I have to check on dinner before reading him a story.  

Crying because he can't have his bathrobe in his bed because he ties the cord to his bunk bed and hangs himself by wrapping the other end around his neck.  This isn't normal, is it?

Sponge Painting Swimmy

N is for Noodle Necklace

Our new unit is about the letter N.  Our proverb is Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained and we are reading the book Swimmy by Leo Lionni.

Peter and Elliot worked with stickers.  Peter made his letters N and n for the bulletin board.

We made noodle necklaces.  Peter did not want to tie his into a necklace, so Elliot posed with his.

Doug and Peter did some reading...

and some logic puzzles.

And then Peter glued together a Narwhal puzzle and added glitter and google eyes to jazz it up.

Preschool "Art"

All the shapes were precut.  The teacher's helper taped on the wings and glued on the teeth and ears.  Peter was allowed to glue on the eyes and nose as long as they were in the right places.  He says the teacher's helper moved the nose because it wasn't "right".  Peter's name was written for him even though he can write it himself quickly and legibly.

They only paint a few times a year because the teacher says it is too messy.  Even then, they are only allowed to use one color and they can't go off script with it at all.  A few weeks ago they were given orange paint and told to paint a paper plate...the whole thing, do not stop until it is solid orange.  Then, the next class when it was dry they were given preprinted, precut tiger eyes to glue on their orange plate.

I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed. 

Spring Sensory Bin

On the right is the "dirt" along with the worms and critters that live in it.  The boys and I stood in the fishing aisle at Meijer and debated long and hard which were the right worms.  I vetoed any that were packaged in slime, Peter lobbied strongly for ones that looked real, Elliot was in favor of any he could reach.

On the left are the gardening tools.  I included sunflower and pumpkin seeds so they will (hopefully) be big enough that the boys can plant them over and over.  A bonus is that they are edible if Elliot decides to explore the bin with all five of his senses.

Peter's "New" Room

It's not really that new...he has been in the "new" room for a few months.  But, I'm just now getting around to taking pictures for posterity.

His submarine wall with water-themed curtain...

His big boy radio and color changing clock...

His fish pillow cases, kid clinic aprons and wall o' books...

And, currently, his birthday countdown chain.  13 more days...

Soon Elliot will be moving to his new big boy room and I will start getting the nursery ready for its new occupant.

Brothers - Then and Now

Prepping for Summer

The boys and I planted our Marigold and Zinnia seeds for the garden.  Much to Peter's dismay the seeds have been in the dirt for 90 minutes now and they still haven't grown.

Then the boys tried out their new bedrolls for camping.  We have a camping trip planned for early in the summer and it will be a whole new adventure for us -  a toddler and a preschooler and a heavily pregnant mom.  

Peter is holding a rag to his mouth/nose because he has a cold and REALLY doesn't like his nose running.  Any nose leakage leads to frantic screaming, sobbing and panic.  Unfortunately, after holding a rag there on and off for a few days he has taken to chewing the rags (for comfort?).  This is gross because he is chewing snotty rags and it is annoying because it further exacerbates his articulation issues and makes him impossible to understand.  I'm firmly trying to break this habit.