Collin turns 5!

More and more frequently, I catch myself looking at Collin and thinking, "He's so big. When did his legs get so long? His face is changing. He's not my little boy anymore." It's with both sadness and amazement that these thoughts pass. I survived 5 years. We BOTH survived 5 years. Now that's something to celebrate! Haha!

He was relentless the weeks before his birthday. "How many more days before my birthday? I want an Ironman cake for my birthday. Can I have a superhero party? When are we going to hit the pinata? Is it 4 more days until my birthday?"

And then the day before his birthday he repeatedly told me exactly how he wanted to celebrate. "You're going to get the donuts, right, Mom? Remember to put the ribbons on my door. Don't forget to put up the Happy Birthday signs, Mom." 

OK, OK, OK!! I won't forget! Sheesh! :)

Then he woke up at the crack of dawn, while Trav and I were exercising downstairs, woke up Weston and came downstairs, so excited. I was so mad that he woke up Weston, who was clearly still so tired. So I yelled at him, which I shouldn't have. And he cried. So that was an awesome way to start his birthday. Mom of the year award right here.

He must have forgiven me when I got home with donuts. 

I think this face speaks volumes about how he felt about this tradition. 

In the end, his day wasn't exactly exciting. I think I'm going to start dreading birthdays. There's just so much riding on them. I want them to have a good day, but let's face it. A whole day is hard to knock out of the park. Plus, his party wasn't for two days so he thought it was just his pretend birthday. The night before, he said in his prayers, "And thank you that it can be my fake birthday tomorrow."

 He and Weston got to hit his pinata at lunch time. 

I spent HOURS. I mean seriously, hours, trying to make his party invitations. Arghhh!!! Screw Photoshop!! 

I finally just printed some pictures and words and let him chop them up and glue on some paper. Soooo WT. I don't even care. PS, we handed them out 2 days before his party on Saturday. I rock.

We went to the park that afternoon, but he got left out of the friend group and cried and was sad. So he chilled in the car for a good while. Rackin' up the awesome mom points. Poor guy.

For dinner, he got his favorite... "Germany" pancakes with bacon, strawberries and whipped cream.

He got a kitchen set with some play food and this fireman costume for gifts. He loooooves dress up.

Finally, on Saturday it was his bowling party! There really isn't anything to do in Gallup for a kid's birthday party, but you can go bowling! I meant to take a picture of the outside of the building. It was a seriously SERIOUSLY sketchy place. Inside wasn't much better. The kids didn't seem to notice. 

Lilly, Kabren, and Finn were invited. And of course, Weston. Finn is a friend from preschool that lives on the street behind us. 

The kids were mesmerized by it at first. After about 3 or 4 rounds, their attention started waning. I thought we'd bowl two games. Nope! It took nearly 2 hours to painstakingly finish one game.

The pizza break in the middle was very needed!

Brinn was so nice to take charge of getting pictures. I just still can't figure out my dang camera! Sadly, this is the only group shot I have, so even though they look like ghosts, it's staying! 

When Lilly heard he had an Ironman cake, she looked super intrigued and asked me how you make an Ironman cake. I said, "Oh, it's really easy. First you go to Safeway. Then you find the cake you want in a book and tell them to make it for you."  I don't think she got it. :)

Oh Collin, my Collin! The boy that asks a thousand a questions a day. Sometimes I just wish I could have a video camera on him to capture what can't be explained in words. He'll literally spit out 10 questions in 30 seconds and expect specific answers for all of them. And all I can do is sit and wonder at how his brain can move that fast. He will NEVER accept "child" answers either. He asks an impossible question so I give him a dumbed down answer because there's no way I could explain the real answer! But that's never good enough. I don't even know why I bother, because the second I've answered him, he's debunking what I've said and asking again more specifically. I can't even explain it, but it's exasperating! He just NEEDS to know the reasons behind everything. 

He has energy to span the ages. Always has, always will, I suspect. Sometimes I think of him as one of those annoying, Chihuahua dogs that just yips and yips and yips at you all day long and won't stop! But then, he has the sweetest moments. He's very observative. If I'm ever crying, he instantly turns soft and wants to know why I'm sad. If I say, "just because" or some other blase answer, he won't accept it. He begs me to tell him the real reason why I'm crying. I think he wants to fix it. 

He's terrified of getting alcohol poured on any cut he gets. So I switched to Hydrogen Peroxide and try to distract him with the bubbles, telling him that means the germs are getting killed. Then last week, after doing that, I was getting the band-aid with Neosporin ready and he was starting to hyperventilate all over about it hurting. I told him it would 100% not hurt AT ALL. Then he paused and said, "Oh. You mean, it will feel like walking in a breeze?" What the?? Where does he get this stuff?

He asks me what's for lunch and dinner 3,000x a day. He also constantly is asking me what day it is and what we do on that day. Like, is it Thursday and do I go to preschool on Thursdays? Then he wants to know what day is after today and what day is after that day and the day after that, until he's gone through the whole week. He does this multiple times a day, EVERY DAY. And wants to know what we do on each of those days. And what's for dinner. He never stops talking. :)

He loves to play "pretend" and it's pretty sweet to listen to sometimes. Lilly, him, Ruby and Weston will all take turns being the Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister or baby. When he was at the Shaheens once, Megan could hear him say he was off to go hunting and kill some deers for dinner. Then, Lilly and him would think up fun surprises they could give each other as husband and wife! 

He still isn't a good eater, but would snack all day if you let him! He likes spaghetti because he can twist it on his fork and eat it. 

He and Weston are best friends and do everything together. They spend hours out on the trampoline together and always love their baths together. They have a routine with taking turns to pick toys in the tub so they don't fight over them.  

He still looooves everything Superhero. Spider man, Ninja Turtles, Ironman, you name it. And acting like a superhero is even better.

Collin is going to be the child that will always keep me on my toes. Nothing escapes him and that is good for me as a parent. I just need to remember that. :) I truly love him with all my heart and already feel sad knowing in only a few years he'll be too old to cuddle and snuggle with. In some ways I want him to be my baby forever. Happy birthday to my silly, energetic, non-stop, 5 year old boy!