Just like I did for Reed and Lena this year, I made a video of Gus answering his birthday questions. I also typed out his answers to the questions, but I really, really recommend that you watch the video. It’s so very Gus.

1. What is your favorite color? Tractors? “Like, is your favorite color green or red or yellow?” Black

2. What is your favorite toy? Cars

3. What is your favorite fruit? Food! “Like bananas or grapes or strawberries or watermelon?” Watermelon

4. What is your favorite tv show? Ummm… good sister

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Quesadilla

6. What is your favorite outfit? Underwear

7. What is your favorite game? Presents? Playin’ with my ball! And birthday and presents!

8. What is your favorite snack? Crackers

9. What is your favorite animal? Cat. Cat. Meow! Meow! Meow!

10. What is your favorite song? Old MacDonald had a farm e-i-e-i-o!

11. What is your favorite book? Elmo

12. Who is your best friend? “Is it Lena?” Yeah.

13. What is your favorite special treat? Ice cream

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Jump-aline

15. What is your favorite drink? Water… no… juice.

16. What is your favorite holiday? “Like Christmas or Halloween or Fourth of July with the fireworks?” (talks about how he was scared of the fireworks)

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? “Maybe Doggie?” Yeah

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Muffins

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Lollipop!

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Funny cake

I thought I only started the birthday questions for him a year ago, on his third birthday, until I discovered this video I recorded on his second birthday, where he scarfs down cake and answers almost every question with “no”.

Here’s the post with his third birthday questions— only typed, no video unfortunately.

It’s pretty great being 4.

Gus got a pretty laid back 4th birthday. We got some winter weather today, so we hung out at home.

We played on my bed.

He opened gifts.

I made him a jib-jab birthday card. And it was funny the first time.

But, it only seemed to get funnier and funnier to him the more he watched it.

And of course, there was cake…

Gus’s birthday is always a special one for me. We committed to adopt him right around his first birthday and met him just 13 days later. The other thing that’s so special about his fourth birthday is that this is the first birthday we’ve celebrated with each of our kids. Reed was almost 4 when we adopted him, so it’s fun to see how they’re all different at 4 and also see some similarities, too. Here’s a post from Lena’s fourth birthday and here’s a post from Reed’s fourth birthday.

Happy Birthday, Gus!

While we’ve had our outdoor trampoline for a few weeks now, Aaron and my bed has long been the indoor trampoline.

Last week, Gus and I came up with a new game. He would jump and I, playing the part of monster, would tickle him. Every day, he’s been asks, “can I jump on a bed and monster can get you?” We also added another twist where he “kisses monster”, but instead of getting a kiss back, the monster grabs him and tickles him. So, his other question has been, “can I kiss monster?”

Aaron had to run out for a bit this morning, but when he got home, Gus wanted Aaron to play the part of “monster”.

These are close to the last photos taken of Gus as a 3 year old (there’s one more recent one on Instagram). Tomorrow is his birthday!

So, my desk. I wanted my desk space to be perfect. I work at least 30 hours a week for my real job + many more hours editing photos, blogging, etc. I’ve sort of “managed” for the last couple of years, making work spaces where I can, as needed. But, I wanted a very useable and also attractive workspace. I decided it needed to be in our bedroom, because it was the best location for being central to the house, but also offering a door to hide behind when needed. This is really necessary if the kids are home– I need to be able to keep an eye on them, but also close the door if I have to jump into a quick meeting.

But, who wants a desk in their bedroom? Especially a desk with a computer + extra monitor + backup hard drive + notes? I really didn’t want to be reminded of work when I didn’t want to be working. Plus, I can find it hard to sleep with any bit of extra light and both my computer and my backup harddrive have lights on them, even when in sleep mode.

A computer armoire seemed like the natural solution, but in our already small bedroom, I thought another big piece of furniture would seem clunky, plus what a pain to move and generally on the more expensive side.

Then, I saw a pin on Pinterest…

And a table on Ana White’s amazing blog…

And, the wheels started turning…

On Saturday evening, I explained my whole wild idea to Aaron. I think I even started it, with, “I have this crazy idea and I don’t know if it’s even feasible or if it would be too difficult…” And by late Sunday afternoon, he had built it…

The top folds up, revealing my second monitor. The front flips down, so I can pull out my keyboard and mouse, as well as have a bit of space to put my notebook or a drink. Splitting the top in half gave me just the right height to set my laptop on one side and mount the external monitor on the other.

I really love it.

I love that I can hide my work stuff, computers, notes, and all, in just seconds.

But, it also has great function for working. I have everything in one place.

With the door that opens to our dining room directly to my right, it makes it very easy to keep an eye on homework time and just know what everyone is up to, without being right in the middle of it.

I’m thankful that my awesome husband didn’t just understand my idea, but also acted on it and built me something totally custom that is perfect to me and our house.

28/365: Yesterday was the perfect weather. 70 degrees and sunny. When I saw how nice it was going to be, I scheduled a dog park date with my friend Amanda. A trip to the dog park is always more fun when she’s along.

We played on the round bales again. Here is Gus, asking for help jumping across from bale to bale.

Then he started to throw hay at me. And, I encouraged it.

That is one of those iconic bits of a Midwestern childhood for me, at least seeing it through my kids’ eyes. Playing on a hay bale with a big blue sky above.

“Can I carry Margo, please?” If you bring your tiny dog to the dog park for exercise, make sure Reed is not around to baby them. 🙂

I don’t think Margo minded, though.

Then, we found another set of hay bales and this happened.

Until Gus decided he was done and started pulling on my arm. “Mama, it’s time to go!”

But, I’m not sure it’s ever time to go when the sun is still shiny and it’s 70 degrees out.

Yesterday, was just gorgeous and even once we came home, the kids play outside until it was totally dark and I called them in for dinner. How I love days like that.

29/365: Today, the winter temperatures were back, still a mild 40, but we also had the bitter wind. The wind made being outside feel brutal.

I barely left the house all day, and realized at about 7pm that I hadn’t picked up my camera all day either. Gus said, “Mama, is it dark outside?” “Yes” “It’s spooky out dere.”

I don’t know if I’d call it spooky. The stars are lovely.

Copying my photo from Saturday. This is my ideal for a day like today. Curled up in bed, reading. I finished the Hardest Peace over the weekend and I decided to do a bible study. I wanted something really simple and I ended up downloading the Bible in One Year app. I love how the scripture is right in the app and the commentary is short.