Weston turns 5!

Why does my heart just melt when I think of my Weston boy?? 

Oh wait, that's easy. Because he's as sweet, tender and lovable as a Care Bear. 

He snuggles on me, pushing his head into my lap, just like a cat. Which is appropriate, given his insane love of animals. I've started to think that his obsession probably stems from a desire to squish and love on them. They are soft and furry and just seem like they were made for Weston's hugs. And he still woefully begs for one on a regular basis. One day we were on a jog when I saw a cat lounging on a neighbor's wall. So mundane. But, I pointed it out to Weston since I knew he'd love just seeing a cat. Oh and he did. Like, pop out of the jogger with wild, happy eyes, pointing and exclaiming and begging to go back to pet it. Then, later that day he went with me to Michael's where he saw a picture frame with a stock picture of a dog in it. Clearly the coolest thing ever made. He begged me to go down that aisle 3 more times just so he could stare at it and then PLEADED with me to buy him the frame. That evening (while relishing the memories, I'm sure) Weston happily shared that he had had such a good day because, "Mom. I got to see a CAT and a DOG today!!!" These are the sorts of things that prompt me to coax him to never grow up and always stay my little boy.

His birthday fell on a Saturday this year. The week prior, he got to be the Star of the week at preschool. Which means he got to share some pages about himself and bring in his favorite toy and treat.

They made him a glittery crown that he loved and gave him a kite which was the BIGGEST hit. The boys spent an entire afternoon just running laps around the yard.

I felt really bad tricking him, but we told him his birthday was on Friday because our Saturday was so busy, there really wouldn't have been much time to celebrate. Since we were going to be at Amazing Jake's on Friday night, we did his special, family birthday dinner on Thursday night. He chose spaghetti and meatballs... I think because that's what older brother chooses. ;) And they loved to the Lady and the Tramp slurp with us when we have spaghetti. Trav just loves it too, haha.

That light up ice cube was a great take home from Disneyland 2 years ago!

Birthday donuts for breakfast!

And one gift to start the day. He was pretty happy with the nerf gun, I think. 

We went to Peter Piper Pizza for lunch because Karen invited us for Olivia's birthday. Collin had a half day so we all went. Trav got home from work early and helped Weston assemble another present... Batman Legos. 

Once Olive was up from her nap, it was Amazing Jake's time! It wasn't a birthday party year, so we just invited Lane and Rusty to enjoy they fun. They spent almost 4 hours riding everything they could think of. 

This made me giggle. Rusty was going to play this game no matter what. Olive took note and was doing it exactly the same.

When it was time for grub, the boys helped themselves while we were getting ours and Olive's food. When we walked to the table the boys were snickering and Rusty immediately cracked, "Lane has Diet Coke!!" 

To which Lane quickly refuted, "No! No, I have root beer." 

Then Rusty piped up, "Uh, yeah, me too!... 

I mean, I have Pepsi. 

Just kidding. It's root beer."

It was comical.

I probably wouldn't have checked, but Trav is a strickler and started sniffing. He affirmed they were both colas and took the drinks and told the boys to go get real root beers. They were really good natured about it and laughed and ran to get different drinks. What was really funny was watching Trav sit down with their sodas and drink them himself. We are suchhhh good examples.

We brought our own cake and sang and did presents. His cousins got him a new Gravedigger truck (his favorite) and a Ninja Turtle. Perfect.

Weston sleeps with his head at the foot of his bed. 

He still wears a pull-up at night.

He is now 5 but still wears size 2-3T underwear.

He loves Spiderman, Batman and Ninja Turtles.

He is really good to play by himself with his toys.

He still sits in a 5 point harness car seat.

He loves preschool but sort of struggles with his letters. I'm not even sure what to do about it. "H" and "Y" must have done him wrong in a different life.

He is actually surprisingly coordinated and does well in sports and games. 

I've noticed with his friends, his favorite activity is "playing house".

He is a GOOF-ball. Total clown and very silly.

He LOVES to sing. The Sunday before Christmas, the ward choir was singing an intense, opera-esque number. There were "Deio's" going all over the place and I notice in the corner of my eye, Weston. Completely focused. Eyes on the choir. With each "deio" his chin would lift and his eyes would raise as he mouthed the words and "sang along". No number we've ever heard before and certainly not one you'd be capable of just joining in with. Yet, here was my 4 year old, trying his darndest to get in on the action. Music is in his bones. Dancing is too. He's got a corner on this spontaneous, jerky, break dance style. It's great. ;)

He loves to snuggle. Oftentimes he'll come up to me and say, "Mom, we haven't gotten our snuggles in yet today." And that's my cue to stop what I'm doing and go cuddle on the couch with him. I don't mind it at all. 

I have this fear. That somehow, someway, he's going to fall in love with a non-affectionate girl and marry her. It seriously gives me anxiety. He NEEDS affection. It is absolutely his love language. I'm afraid I'm going to be all sorts of protective when this situation comes about.

He has been on this kick lately of wanting to know how everything is made. Really... everything. All day long I'm peppered with questions like, "But how is there electricity? How do they make fans? How do you make clocks? How do you make a blueberry?" It is endless. And you'd think the first 1,000 times I tell him, I don't know, would deter future questions. Nope.

OK, here's the BEST thing about Weston. If ANYTHING great happens to him, he wants to share it with Collin and Olive. He NEVER gets a treat, prize or candy at a birthday party, preschool or church, without saving it to share with his siblings. This is completely on his own accord. We don't make him share. He just wants to. And not in a guilty, begrudging way. It honestly makes him SO happy to share something he got with someone he loves. It just comes naturally. In fact, I've picked him up from parties before and the first thing he'll tell me about is all the party favors and how excited he is to go home and share them with Collin. And he truly is SO EXCITED and bursting at the seams that he has something great to give to his brother. It's so innocent and pure and I love him so much for it. It just shows how selfless his heart his. His brother isn't exactly the same way though, so when Collin comes home with treats, Weston usually gets his feelings hurt that Collin doesn't want to share. I feel like this is a drop in the bucket for how a harsh life is going to treat my soft-hearted Weston. 

Just writing this makes my heart ache because I never feel like I'm a good enough mom for Weston. I'm not soft spoken enough. I'M not affectionate enough. I'm not everything he needs from me. And I'm already stressed that my time is running out! He is growing up so fast! 5 is big!! 3 more of these and he'll be gone. I can't even handle it. I just thank Heavenly Father constantly for sending me this sensitive, caring soul to teach me to slow down and be more loving and thoughtful. Weston Travis Evans, you are a gift. Thank you for being mine.