Four is the magic number...

Jacob Jingleheimer turned four years old this week. Jake has many 'o nicknames: Tenacious J, Poli-bear, Mr. Bacon, Willy and Snake. Jake is a multifaceted boy wonder. I could wax poetic for-e-ver about my boys but to keep this short I will condense my praise to under 500 words. (you're welcome).
One of the coolest things about Jake is that he is indeed tenacious. He has to have a skill mastered yesterday once he sets his mind to it. Having an older brother I suspect fosters some of his tenacity but most of it? Self-imposed. Last month he was in the backyard putting a golf ball into a red party cup with a plastic putter for over thirty minutes; he wouldn't stop until he could get five in a row. No tantrums, no throwing of the golf balls; just a wee one out there, in the rain, until he got it right.
Another great thing about Jake is that he is so damn fun to be around. He's up for most anything. He's fearless and enjoys taking risks. We went to Hawaii in October and he had no problem going down the "Volcano Express" at the water park. ( youtube it!) No, he wasn't quite tall enough, don't you judge me! Last weekend Jake rode over 20 miles on his bike ( no training wheels) on the Vernonia-Banks trail. He's ridden crazy roller coasters at Six Flaggs, skateboarded down our steep driveway on his feet and tubed down Mt. Hood sans parents.
The "thing" that impresses me most about my second born though is that Jake, at age four, knows exactly who he is. He never hesitates in words or actions. Like moths to a flame, people of all ages are drawn to Tenacious-J. His laughter is infectious, he's sunny, he's...magic.