Birthday Boy Bliss

Elliot is sooooooooooo happy and proud to be 5 today. I had almost forgotten what a big deal it is for kids to turn another year older. It is huge for them! He's now in the "group" with his 5 year old buddies. He even knows which of his friends are five, and which ones are "five and a half".

Despite most of the family fighting some kind of sickness going around our house this week, we managed to have a great time celebrating Elliot today! And he got lots of phone calls from family--even one from Haraboji in Vietnam! When kids are really little, the phone calls are really for mom's sake...and then something happens when they...grow up...and it means something to them too. Today he said with a big smile, "I'm getting so many phone calls!"

Here are the highlights...forgive the blurry photos:

• Cake for breakfast!

• A package from Komo..."AWEsome! My OWN Legos!!" And his multiple creations through the day. First he followed the picture on the front of the box to make the numbers. Then he was so proud that he could make his own things that were not on the box! A big deal for this child who wants to do everything right. You may be interested to know that he made a "talking color factory" (pictured below) and some sort of zoo animal carrier vehicle. It was so fun to see his creativity as he worked hard with his own teeny tiny legos. (And this kid loves tiny things of all kinds!)

• Out to eat at Max & Erma's, all for their ice cream bar!! (Make sure you don't smile for the waitress, kids.)
  

In their defense, there were tummy aches going on. I was so worried that Elliot's would end up as a catastrophe all over the floor before we left. Thankfully it didn't. But he couldn't even finish his birthday ice cream, poor kid.

• And of course, presents from Mommy & Daddy and Isaiah & Oliver. He loved all of them, even though there were no CARS 2 cars in the mix (his guess for almost everything). I have a feeling he might still get a couple of those :)

Now that he's 5, he is asking to do everything on his own...like pour juice. Hmmm...I'm probably a terrible mom for not allowing him to pour his own juice before 5 years old?!?

He announced that he's able to do a lot more, now that he's 5, because 5 is a really big number.

Oh, and since he's 5, all his shirts with a "4" in them are too small--he can barely fit them over his head. :) Ahhhh, the joys of being young and actually wanting to turn a year older.

I cannot relate. (sigh.)

* * * * *

Elliot, you are an absolute delight. You'll always be the one who changed our lives forever, when we became parents for the first time. And you'll always have a special place in our hearts as our "firstborn". My mom always said that to me...and now I finally get it. It's not that we love you more than the other kids...but that you've changed us the most. For good.

It is so fun watching you learn to read and spell words. I LOVE it when you spell on your own, especially when it's not quite right.

I love your creativity, like in this bug you drew. Even though it's quite a violent bug with three "piewers" on top, two gray "boppers" and one stinger pointing down, it makes me really happy.
I love your imitation of a Cheeze-It
I love learning with you, talking with you, and getting to know you.

I love your zest for life, and your incredible smile.

And I love it when you burst out in song, like today, "God LOVES us. He sent His Son to die for us...because of His great love."

May you know so much more of His great love this year.

I love you.