James had the "BEST birthday EVER" - his words. I love it when that happens. I'm one of those lazy moms who doesn't have a party and I don't do much decorating. I'm going this route as long as I can. So I was pleased as punch to hear those words.
We ended up babysitting a friend's little girl for the day. We tried to make that part of our celebration to have a fun guest with us. The boys loved her. They were devastated when they woke up from their naps and she wasn't awake yet. After we settled their tears and waited and waited she finally woke up and then her mom came and picked her up. So then we really got to party.
We got James 4 balloons and put them in the basement. He was thrilled. We had him sit on the couch and put his presents all around him. He was so excited and then we let him open them. He received a chocolate bar (his favorite treat), a sticker book, some knights and a ramming contraption thing for his castle, a camera, bubbles and his big surprise was going to the pet store to pick out a fish. This was pretty funny. We looked at all the beta fish available. To determine the price you look at the top of the cup that the fish are in. They are labeled with the type of Beta it is. Because we are just starting out we wanted a beta fish that started in the cheapest range. So we would look at the top and see what type it was. We were reading these to James. We gave him a choice of the ones he could pick from. He picked one and we headed to the register. I told him he could name the fish and he asked me what his name was. Obviously we weren't communicating well. I told him that he got to pick the name. He said well what does it say on the lid. I told him that it said Male Beta. He thought that was his name. We convinced him that he could choose a different name. So he chose BETAM. Said like Bait-em. So so funny.
We are loving Betam at our house. He stays in James room and so far we haven't had any issues. James says that he is quite so it is okay for Betam to be in his room. Unlike his brother who is too loud and not allowed to sleep in James room.
James also received some birthday money. It was so cool for him and he was so excited. He received some money from extended family and 4 dollars from us. I haven't had him pay tithing yet on any of his monetary gifts yet but decided since he is understanding that he can spend the money now that it was about time. So he and Rocky talked a little about tithing and he understood probably like .1% of the conversation but we start somewhere right? So after tithing he had $12.60 cents burning a hole in his pocket. The previous sunday his teachers had brought in small fishing poles that picked up fish with magnets on them. James thought they were the most amazing things he had seen and wanted one so bad. His teacher had mentioned that they were at walmart. I told James he could save his money and when he had enough we could get one. Well after his birthday gifts he was ready. We went to the store and he bought his own toys. It was hard for him because there were lots of other toys he wanted to get as well but he was able to settle on the fishing pole and a little squirt gun. He had some left over money so I think we will put that in his piggy bank (he is convinced he has hundreds of dollars in there, ha)
Now that James is 4 I have given him some responsibilities. Actually right now it is just two. We have been practicing making his bed for months and I told him when he turns four he will need to do it on his own. And guess what- he does. It isn't perfect but I am so proud of his effort. He is also supposed to make an extra effort to be kind and nice to others. This one is a little bit harder, but when I remind him that he is now four he seems to at least think about being nicer for half a second and then goes back to what he was doing before. Oh well.
Some fun things about James this past year are:
He started preschool (taught by me and a friend)
He has participated in swimming lessons three times
He says some words so funny - camera is cramia, pajamas is cajamas, machine is cachine, he adds CA to a lot of words.
He is now in primary and has given the scripture (which he memorized 2 Nephi 9:13 - super proud parent moment) He has also been the reverence example.
He can balance on his balance bike
He can do push ups and sit ups
He is fully potty trained and now starting to stand up like the Daddy's do. :)
He is so excited to grow up to be a daddy. (He thinks his daddy is pretty darn cool)
His dad reads him the illustrated classics. Together they have read; King Arthur, The three musketeers, Ivanhoe, The adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and are now working on Robin Hood. James loves it when his dad can put him to bed and LOVES it even more when mom isn't home for bedtime because dad will usually read more than two chapters.
He has had his first and probably last friend sleep over by way of the super snow storm here.
He thinks that toots and poops are the funniest things to talk about - EVER. He has also introduced Logan to these words. He asks Logan to say them and Logan usually will and then they laugh and laugh.
He loves to have his room clean and it is especially important at night time. He room is the cleanest in the house.
He is still very much a mommas boy.
He isn't much into candy but LOVES LOVES chocolate.
He also likes fruit, hot dogs, peanut butter sandwiches, chips, straws, chicken and juice
He loves to dance to music and jumping off the furniture is must each day even though he is asked not to do it each day.
His best friends are Finley, Lilah, West, Reagan, Logan, Eli
He usually starts out his day with milk and a show on the ipad.
He is growing and growing and I love to see him learning becoming and it breaks my heart - My first baby. I look forward to and dread the day when he doesn't want to be with me all the time. Being a mom surely gives you many love/hate things. I am so glad to be his mom.
Anyway we really lucked out last year - YES last year. Sometime one forgets that they didn't post a post on something they thought they posted on. 
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