I Have a Semi-Independent 4 Year Old!

A few weeks back, I noticed my four year old would wake up, wake his brother up, and together, they would start their morning party.  This would continue until, baby brother started to get tired (usually an hour before nap time) and start having a melt down. I believe this melt down would also be a result of being woken up too soon. As I would like to get MORE sleep, I started threatening the four year old against waking up his baby brother, unless he was already awake.  This resulted in waking up even earlier for some reason, and sneaking stealthily down the stairs, to watch TV. I discovered him one morning, at 6:15, watching PBS. I think Arthur was on (never understood the appeal of that show). I told him he has to tell me before he turns on the TV, he can't just do it himself (also I hide the remote at night when I'm done watching to prevent him.)  So this is the new morning drill. He wakes up approximately between Arthur, Martha Speaks, or if I'm really lucky, Curious George. (Don't judge me, he's watching PBS and I'm sure everyone else knows the local listings for their kids' favorite cartoons.) He'll come into my room and announce A. He didn't wake up his brother, his brother is still sleeping, or some variation of that statement, and B. Can he watch a cartoon?  I tell him A. Good job, and B. Yes he can. I go back to sleep, and think "YES!!! More sleep! He can take care of himself!" 5 minutes later, I hear him running up the stairs, he can't find the remote. The remote is ... where is the remote? My brain's foggy, oh yeah it's on the counter. 10 minutes later, he runs back up, "I'm hungry." "Go eat a granola bar." "Okay!" 15 minutes later, "I'm finished, here's the wrapper!" "Go throw it away please." "Okay!"  5 minutes later, "I got granola everywhere, it's a big mess!" "Okay" "Can you come clean it?" (My kids are a little obsessive about cleaning.) "No I'll clean it later." "Okay."  10 minutes later, "I'm hungry again." "Go grab some tomatoes and wash them off." "NO! I want cereal, or a sandwich!"  At this point, his dad is either still in deep sleep, or begging me to get him out of the room, and I think, "What's the point? Might as well get up."  So I sneak downstairs to make myself a bowl of cereal, just as I pour the milk, I heard the unmistakable voice of my second, "Mama??!! Mamaaaaaaaa!!!!" Yup it's great having a semi-independent 4 year old.