He had a birthday

 Jude had a birthday a couple months ago already here. On August 18th, my little guy turned FOUR! Wow. Jude's birth is a special marker for me since so much happened right within a few weeks that he was born. He is so full of joy and so good natured - he was just what we ordered! And he still is that same sweet goofy little boy. I love him to pieces! I tell him that all the time and he immediately responds with the fact that he loves me 'sooooooo muuuucccch' with his arms wide out. He is very affectionate!

Yet again, Jude's birthday fell right in the midst of an especially busy time for our family. His birthday fell during the week we were moving into our new place. And here we are a couple months later.

I am loving having Jude at home with me and he is the oldest in the house with Faustina off to school. He is doing a great job with his reading lessons, he is in Catechisis of the Good Shepard at the Cathedral (with his Auntie and cousins!), he does swimming lessons, and he plays  A LOT! 

A few things about Jude at the age 4:
- He has the biggest, bright-eyed, wide-mouthed smile
- He loves loves toys. He can play with toys for hours at a time by himself humming away
- He especially loved Legos! That has been his favorite for the past 6 months. Grandpa Gary let him take a box of small legos home with us one night, and he has played with them every day since. He even spent a day with our friend Lizzia building legos since that is her area of expertise
- Jude really likes cars and trucks. He takes regular note of cars while we are driving in our minivan. He points out all the 'cool cars' to me. He thoroughly enjoys riding in Dad's truck.
- Jude is very very sweet with his baby sister, Agatha. He will lay on the floor on his belly and talk to her in baby talk and stroke her face for 15 minutes at a time
- Jude is buddies with Faustina. Of course, sometimes they have their arguments, but they are fast friends
- Jude takes his role of being an older brother to Benedict quite seriously. He likes playing with him, but he also really seems to enjoy 'teaching' him and trying to regulate him. 
- If you get Jude alone, he will talk your ear off! Sometimes in a crowd, he tends to be quieter at this stage in the game. But he likes his one-on-one time with people. And let me tell you, he is quite the charmer
- If Mom and Dad let him, Jude could watch movies all. day. long. He is enthralled with movies - and he is pretty good at memorizing a good part of them
- Jude likes balls and games. He has pretty good form when kicking and throwing too!
- Jude is a man of detail. He likes little things and he won't forget little things. He is very precise when he plays with his toys.

This is on our way to mass in the morning. Dad got Jude the new Cars movie and this is a card from Grandma Mary.

Jude was VERY excited about his birthday present from Grandpa and Jeanne. They got him a 'Cars' bike. Before, Jude was riding a bright pink 'Jewel' girl bike. So, this is quite the upgrade!

This is an example of Jude loving his 'little toys' and detail. He is looking at the camera and lining up his car just right with it, I guess?

These two are happy campers. Both of them, from birth!