4 years old!

                                     

                                

Sorry for so many pictures in one post but just be glad that I controlled myself!  I think I had a dozen more picked out but I'll save those for another day.  Calvin went to school this morning so I sent a special snack for the class.  Gone are the days of cupcakes so I sent cheese, sausage, and crackers.  Dan took a half day off of work so after school we went out to lunch, played at home with Calvin's new fire truck, painted a pinata, went bowling, and played outside.  Phew!  After dinner Calvin played with his cake. 

New school and tractors

 Calvin's first day at his new school!  He is loving his new school, teachers, and all the really cool activities that they have been doing.  This year they are focusing on science so each week they are learning something science related.  He still talks about his old school but is quick to tell me that he likes his new school better.

 Out in public people comment that Calvin is very quiet and wonder if he ever talks. Short answer: yes.  The real question is when does he stop.  I can't remember what he was telling me as I was taking the picture but I'm sure it was part of his running commentary. 

 Calvin and I went to the John Deere Pavilion to look at tractors.  Well, we spent about 1.5 hours in the play area and 30 minutes actually looking at tractors. 

 While Calvin played I was able to look around a bit at the tractors and other machines near the play area.  I don't think he even noticed when I was in this bulldozer.

 Calvin loved this little green tractor that was designed and built exclusively for customers in India.   I think he liked it best because it looked like a regular tractor.  Not like the giant combine he is driving below.  The cab of the combine is roomier than the interior of our car. 

Making a sharp turn while driving the tractor. 

amusement park

 For Dan's birthday we took Calvin to an amusement park.  We all had a lot of fun and were all exhausted by the time we got home.  Above is Calvin riding in a race car (not sure why he wanted to sit in the back but he did).  The first time he rode the ride it lasted over 5 minutes. 

 Waiting for the train ride to begin.

Calvin's favorite ride of the day was the roller coaster.  Later he was taking pictures of us and we had to say roller coaster.

Boats and animals

 The Nina (above) and the Pinta (below) came to visit our little town recently.  Both were built in Brazil using 15th century boat building techniques.  Both were much smaller than I thought they would be considering they (well, the originals anyway) were used to cross the ocean. 

 Don't you just love pictures of signs?  Because I'm horrible at remembering key details I thought it would be best to just take a picture of the sign.

 Calvin and I visited the zoo, again. 

 Feeding the giraffes.  He loved, loved, loved, doing this.  Who wouldn't? 

 Calvin was playing with the camera on the drive home.  At first I was told to say "cheese" and then later I was told to say "giraffes" when he took my picture.

Calvin playing with the camera still.  He thought it was so funny that he took a picture of himself upside down.  He also had fun telling his feet to say "giraffes" and then taking pictures of his feet. 

Bike

Calvin loves his balance bike and is so good at it.  Dan has clocked him going 8 miles an hour down a street near our house.  Too fast for my nerves so it's better if I don't watch and just hear about it after the fact.  In the video he ends by riding into the garage and running into the door leading to the house.  Not sure why he decided to do that but I'm not sure why he does 90% of what he does.  Yesterday Calvin and I went to a nearby trail so he could ride his bike and I could walk/run.  More walking on my part because he tends to stop and start a lot.  When it was all said and done Calvin rode for about 3 miles which is really far for him and his little legs.  He was one tired little boy last night!

County fair

 Waiting for the draft horse pull to begin. 

 He's happy because he just had light green ice cream.  Calvin doesn't usually go for flavors rather he chooses food based on color.  Not a bad way to live your life but sometimes he's not very happy with his choice.  Today was a good decision based on him devouring his cone, repeatedly telling me that he ice cream was really good, not asking to try mine, and not offering to share his. 

 Calvin got to choose two rides at the fair and this was one of them that he chose.  I was able to take 3 pictures before the tears started.  The bull wasn't going very fast at all and he had a death grip on the handle but he just got scared.  He did receive a large round of applause when he hopped off the bull at the end of his turn.  While helping him put on his shoes he asked if I was going to take my turn.  Ha! The announcer/ride attendant was very nice to the younger kids but would turn the bull on high/fast for the teenagers and adults.  No thank you!

Calvin and I spent two afternoons at the fair this week.  Tuesday was opening day so of course we had to go before all the animals were sold or taken home.  Calvin told me his favorite animals were the goats, sheep, pigs, cows, pigs (really liked the pigs!), ducks, and roosters.  Pretty much all the animals we saw.  We also watched a trapeze show, played bingo, ate too much fair food, looked at tractors, watched the cattle auction, and looked at my blue ribbons.  I entered two items in the baking contest and earned two blue ribbons.  I didn't win best of show but there is always next year!  Calvin has already claimed my ribbons for himself and his stuffed lion.  Maybe next year he can make something for the kids corner at the fair so he can earn a ribbon too. 

Summer fun 2.0

Calvin is loving his bike right now.  He has a balance bike which means it doesn't have pedals and the goal is that he can go from this bike to a pedal bike without training wheels since he'll already know how to balance on a bike.  It didn't have a brake so Calvin had to use his feet to stop but for those of you who have been to our house know that our neighborhood is full of hills which means Calvin gets going really fast.  Not having a brake led to a few tumbles off the bike so Dan added a hand brake.  Calvin got the hang of it quickly and was tickled pink to have a brake just like Mom and Dad's bikes. 

Since Calvin takes swimming lessons for most of the year we decided to take a break this summer.  He needed it and I think Dan needed it too since he takes Calvin most of the time.  So instead we've been filling our time playing outside, bike riding, having picnics with friends, playing in our little pool at home, and swimming in one of the city's outdoor pools.  Calvin is also playing t-ball at our local YMCA.  I think he would like it more if he could just bat the entire time and didn't have to practice throwing and catching.  We've been going to the river museum a lot to look at turtles and other water creatures.

Okay, I think everyone is now officially up-to-date on our lives.  Or at least Calvin's.  

Summer fun

 Calvin and I have been busy, busy, busy so far this summer.  One favorite activity was riding the Fenelon Place Elevator.  According to their website this elevator is the world's shortest, steepest scenic railway.  Whether that's true or not we both enjoyed the ride.  After about 2 minutes at the top Calvin was ready to go.  Apparently he's not much into beautiful views of Dubuque, the river, and the tri-states.  

 New (to him) race car!  Grandpa PK (yes, like the cat) was such a trooper running along side Calvin on a hot and humid day just because Calvin wanted him to. 

 Calvin turning the car around.  We tried to teach him to swing out wide so he didn't have to get out of the car but he wasn't having any of it.  We also tried to teach him how to to a Y turn but again wasn't having any of it.  A few days after getting home Calvin and I were playing race car and he told me to turn around.  So without thinking I just stopped in my tracks and turned around.  I was promptly scolded and was then accurately told how to perform a Y turn. 

 Mid-June we went to Green Bay for A Day Out with Thomas.  Above is the train car that we rode on and below is Calvin right before we departed from the station. 

 Calvin after the train ride trying to smile.  Don't let the grimace fool you, he had a great time on the train ride.  Pesky sun was in his eyes.

 The observation tower and Dan forcing Calvin to pose for a picture.  It's hard to tell but Calvin is actually laughing.

 Calvin with Sir Topham Hatt.  Sir Topham Hatt is the railroad controller of the North Western Railway.  He is known (at least in our house) for saying "What really happened is what really happened."  I officially know too much about Thomas the Tank Engine. 

 Calvin is obsessed with school buses.  He likes to tell me that when he gets older and goes to a bigger school he will get to ride on a school bus.  Poor kid is going to be so disappointed when he finds out that he will have to walk to school.  Hopefully he'll get to go on a few field trips!  Anyway, after we had our fill of Thomas we were facing a long walk back to the car when we saw the shuttle bus about to take off.  To Calvin's delight the shuttle bus was actually a school bus.  I'm not sure if he had more fun riding on the train or on the school bus.