Monday, 19 May 2014

The Excitement of a four year old

Tigger's Birthday was this weekend. We had a little get together with family, but nothing big. The highlight for him was getting a bicycle. He got to pick out the helmet. Tigger is a very excitable little boy on a regular day. Both his ups and downs. If he could pitch a baseball as fast as he could pitch a fit he would be set for life. Most of the time he is a very pleasant kid with bursts of happy excitement. It's not uncommon for him to come running into the kitchen with a grin on his face, wrap his arms around my knees and say, "Daddy, I love you" and then go running off. When he gets really excited he'll hold his fists next to his head and clench them until his whole body shakes all the while emitting a high pitched, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" It is really quite adorable.

Yesterday at church he was called up in Primary (the combined children's class) so they could sing to him and the other children with birthdays. Apparently, according to three different witnesses that told us about it later, when Tigger's name was called he jumped up and in his excited voice said, "I got a new bike!!!!!!!" all the while doing his body shaking thing. The bishop, who was present to give a few words, started his remarks with, "You know, Tigger, my wife and I went and bought a car yesterday and we weren't nearly as excited as you." The excitement continued when the Primary gave Tigger his birthday voucher (they call it something a lot more kid friendly) which they can redeem with the bishop after church. Tigger was anxious to cash it in, but the bishop wasn't in his office. We looked around for him and spotted him on the other side of the gym. "Go get it." I said to Tigger, who took off across the hardwood like a miniature sidewinder heat seeking missile with its target locked in (I'm relistening to a Clancy novel - can you tell). He accompanied the bishop into his office where they chatted for just a minute and a miniature bag of M&Ms was handed out. As the bishop opened the door to let him out I heard Tigger say, "Bishop, I love you!" The bishop couldn't help but smile. Tigger has that effect on people.

Tigger was a good sport with his birthday. Beyond the bike he got one toy and a bunch of clothes but everything he opened was, "Just what [he] wanted!!" Everything. Even the pajamas. Which he looked at for two seconds before returning to play with his new Bucky the pirate ship. He's a good kid who didn't mind that his birthday was dominated by his grandmother's graduation party. He got to play with his sister and some other kids at Grandma's most of the day and got cake twice. He's a pretty happy boy.

With his birthday comes memories of the day he was born. Three months premature and literally only 9 oz bigger than my current new shoes. It was a harrowing day. He has always had a pretty cheerful disposition. But we've always said that any day he didn't wake up in an isollet was a good day for him. He has had a lot of good days.

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