20,088

Four year olds are really weird. They are completely unpredictable and say the craziest things. It is so fabulous having one in the house that we planned very carefully to have one every other year from 2004 until 2012 when Lily will turn 5.

Jacob is four years old. Incidentally, I told him he is not old enough for Kindergarten and he wept bitterly until I realized that we homeschool and I can tell him he's started Kindergarten 6 months ago. He was very happy about that. We just don't use the labels that much around here. Heck, Ethan can say he's in Junior High for all we care. I digress.

Jacob thinks the biggest number in existence is 20,088. How high is the sky? 20,088. How much do you love Lily? 20,088. How strong is Daddy? 20,088. We are waiting for the day he realizes there is a 20,089.

Last week, Jakey had a hangnail and was bemoaning it's terrible affects on his wellbeing to the family during lunch. Emma, who always loves a bawth (that's a fancy word for bath) told him, "Just take a bath, Jake. Baths fix everything." Jake pondered on this assertion for a moment and dissented, "But Emma, water weakens wood!"

As we were getting ready for bed one evening, Jake told me, "I'm tired, Mom," then, "I'm really tired!" and finally, "I'm Superhero tired!"

Superman has Kryptonite, even so does our Jake have a downfall. Yesterday, he and Ethan were having some kind of Ironman competition being tough and strong or some such boyish activity when Ethan raised his claws and growled fiercely. Jake threw his hands in the air and hightailed it yelling, "MONSTERS ARE MY ONLY WEAKNESS!"

Yeah, we like having a four year old around.