Saturday was Kato’s 4th birthday.

The day began (as birthdays have a habit of beginning around here) with a clue. Found under the pillow.

It said:

Kato recognized the mixer from Robbi’s spot-on likeness and raced to the kitchen. He relishes any opportunity to get up on a stool.

There in the Kitchen-Aid, he found the next clue.

For those of you who can’t read sideways, it says “frog potty.”

This clue, lacking a picture, took a little more rumination.

 

But using his mad readings skills he’s been picking up at Friendship Montessori, he figured it out.

 

There, beneath the seat, he found another clue.

 

Another reading challenge.

 

But one easily sounded out. He sprinted with all due haste.

 

And there, at the top of the tower, was another clue. He was unimpressed. Clearly, the considered hunt was unequal to his newly acquired four-year-old skill set.

  

He peered into the collection of pottery tubes and…

 

…found another clue. For those of you who don’t know, “Oba” (Japanese for “grandmother”) is what the kids call Robbi’s mom Seiko.

 

Kato raced over to the butsudan (the shrine we keep for Seiko) and found the next clue.

 

This one was a little tricky. He got the “dog” part of it, but was stumped by “food.”

 

But after a little consultation with his sister…

 

…he was off and running.

 

To the final clue.

 

The combination of Robbi’s drawing and a little bit of sounding out did the trick.

In the drawer was a present!

 

When it came to opening the package, there was no shortage of willing helpers.

 

Inside: Kato’s first Lego set.

 

I’m not sure which of us was more excited. Ok, I am sure. It was me. But I say this not to underplay Kato’s enthusiasm. I was just really excited that the prospect of building Legos with my kid.

 

Legos were my very favorite toy growing up and I’m so excited to be getting another crack at them. We built legos for a while, but then we had to get changed for our…

 

…father/son bowling outing. Truly, it was a banner day. Legos and bowling are both among my top-five pastimes, along with writing, running, and eating burritos.

 

In general, Kato bowled about as well as you might expect a four-year-old to bowl. But he did get one spare. A fact which did not fail to delight him.

 

There is a unique pleasure in going out and doing something with just one of the kids. I get so little one-on-one time and have to remember to do it more often.

Helpful little dude that he is, Kato helped me make his birthday cupcakes.

And birthday jello.

He was up to the challenge when the time came to blow out his candles.

It was not until I witnessed the truly savage hack he took at the pinata that I fully realized the meaning of four. My little guy is getting big. Not tall, mind you. But big.

Though Alden reminded me (to my relief) that even almost-six-year-olds aren’t too big to wear the butt end of a paper mache donkey on their heads.

Being four has not diminished Kato’s spirit.

Not one bit.