Four!

Our little David John turned four last month. Seriously, where does the time go? We had a wonderful time spoiling him on his birthday. He is so demonstrative that it is just a joy to give him a present. As an added bonus, whatever switch that got flipped when David John turned three that made him extremely naughty seems to have gotten turned off or at least way way down. Ever since his birthday, his behavior has improved in leaps in bounds. He still has his exasperating moments (see my last post about shopping with football zombies- David John headed up that effort) but as a whole he is just adorable and so fun right now.
David John LOVES movies. He memorizes dialogue, talks about the funny parts and just cracks up about anything remotely amusing when he is watching them. Probably his all-time favorite movie is Despicable Me and his favorite thing about that movie is the minions. I need you to understand this so that you can try to imagine his over-the-top reaction to his (loosely) minion-themed birthday celebrations.
Earlier in the month, we took him to see Despicable Me 2 at the theater (Yes! We do have a theater. It only has 3 screens but it is really cute and offers the largest bucket o'theater popcorn I have ever seen.). Grandma and Aunt Gina had given all of the boys minion shirts before we moved so, of course, they all had to wear them to the show.

Uncle Marcus knew about David John's minion obsession and tipped me off about an adorable idea to make minion cupcakes with twinkies. My mom and I whipped them up the night before his birthday.
Aren't they cute?!?

When David John saw them the next day he exclaimed, "What the?!?! Minion cupcakes?!?!" He then fell into a disbelieving stupor.

We did finally get him to blow out the candles...

and sample a tasty cupcake.

David John loved his cupcakes and was baffled when Marc declined to eat one. "What?!? You don't want one? But Daddy, they have CANDY for EYES!" This expression came complete with his hands held up to his eyes like goggles.
David John was thrilled by everything he received. His one request for his birthday was a "prize bag" even though it wasn't gong to be a big party with friends. Grandma was able to get minion coloring books and stickers, minion keychains and minion figurines to put in the bags. There were also pencils, tops, balloons and little airplanes. His official presents contained movies- Wreck-it Ralph and Flushed Away/Shark Tale combo, "Pingo" book by Brandon Mull, minion goggles and stylin' new cowboy boots.

I should also mention that Oma and Opa gave him an early birthday present of a beautiful temple pop-up book. He loves to look at it and then put it reverently back on the scripture shelf where Benjamin won't get it. When asked what his favorite present was he thought about it, then diplomatically replied, "All of them." I think his statement is true. He is still enjoying "all of them".
This wouldn't be a post about David John without mentioning some of his latest sayings that just make us smile.

David John loves to shoot his nerf dart gun, but he needs help cocking it. He frequently brings it to us with the request "Cockroach this for me, please."
David John really enjoys playing on the "cruton bed" (aka futon bed) in his brothers' room.
He also is enamored of our nice dishes in the china cabinet. He keeps asking when we are going to have a "fancy chinina dinner".
We've received an abundance of summer squashes from our kind friends and neighbors. As a result, David John has been enjoying grilled "zukiwi" and "zukiwi bread".
We sure love you big four-year-old.