I Need to be Six...Now!!

We had a great and yet busy summer. H was very keen to be 5. He went to several summer birthdays including his best friend's birthday and was sorely disappointed that he wasn't five yet.

We began making plans for his first birthday "party" with friends. It began as an affair for maybe 4 kids with a Pa* Patro1 theme. Then dinosaurs, then animals, then zoo, then PP, then "just birthday" then....well, he fretted and worried for several weeks. Summer was ending and he was going to spend a couple of weeks at my parents. Our goal was to have his mind made up by the time he returned.

"I don't know mom, I just don't know what kind of birthday I'll have."

I tried to play down the fretting mostly so we could reach a decision and I could actually plan.

In the end, he opted for a dinosaur party with 11 friends a nice mix of friends from his two schools. A pre-question for a possible date was sent to the parents on the list - all good. A texted invite - reminder was sent the week before. Actual invitations were made (and signed by H) and mailed set to arrive a few days before with address and details....

We went shopping for dinosaur items, Pinteres* was consulted, and online shopping considered. In the end we didn't do too badly with several items were easily available at the dollar store and party store. One item on the must have list? A piñata. Yup. Thank goodness for party stores. Two other requirements?

1) It had to be a surprise (well, um ok that was hard to explain to the parents why they had to be punctual and H wouldn't be here yet)

2) No one could sing Happy Birthday (he did acquiesce that his friends could sing but only grudgingly - of note he has requested to never be sung to again - that is his least favorite part of birthdays.)

The goal was to have an outdoor party with garage central for food, gathering, games, crafts, and in case of bad weather. So, a good thing came from all the sweat and last minute running to the store...we had a cleaner garage than we have had since we moved in.

All in all the party was successful although there were a few moments of doubt.

Only 5 of the 11 kids actually showed up, while I was a bit stymied as to why that was, it turned out to be a good thing and the group was just the right size.

"I came because my mom said there would be fun and games...but there's not."

One child running slightly amok - his mom was around to herd him around.

Moments of pure chaos towards the end of grabbing too many little dinosaurs and moms yelling "No, one, just one, put that back!"

We had beautiful weather, well received cake with "lava" in the middle and dinosaurs abounding on the top (home made cake out of a box - was actually awesome and we all ate it.)

One child afraid of the dinosaur mask (see above child running slightly amok).

One child wondering where the "Dinosaur Train" was as the use of all the big boxes escaped him until the others showed him what to do.

Chalk paint was a great hit and I made so many bottles I had it down to science - tip to parents do not make up "extra large bottle" batches the night before in hopes that you can simply add color and mix the following day - those didn't work out so well but the squeeze bottles were great from Sam. (nod to the new photo on the blog -we have a good sized driveway that was covered in chalk paint.

Pure astonishment at the "hatching" foaming eggs (again have the recipe down to a science - thank you internet and Pinter...)

So, how did the day end? Well, after two solid hours of relatively successful entertainment with perfect weather, we headed off to the piñata. Our yard does not have the best trees for hanging one so we were a little off in the height. None of the little guys could get enough whack behind it to break it down. One big sis came to the rescue and was able to gain height and strength for a successful break when immediately upon the success...

H burst out bawling...Yup, you know it's a good party when all the 5 year olds end up crying at the end from exhaustion and sugar. We said our adieus and headed off for a well deserved nap.

I waited for weeks for H to come up with a saying about his next birthday. Finally, after two months of waiting....

"Mom, I need to be six...NOW!"

Mom, mom, mom

Mom, mom, mom....there's something I've wanted to tell you.

What is it honey?

I've wanted to tell you but you've been working....(EGAD guilt trip at 5)

Well, I'm not working now.

Mom, you're the sweetest mom!

Ah, thank you honey, that's very kind.

Love that boy!

Future travel plans

When are we going back to Hawaii?

I don't know but probably not with me and daddy.

Who will I go with?  Grandma and papaw?

No, probably not.

With E?

I doubt it.

Maybe I'll go with my Kaz mom and dad.

Sisters

I want to get a girl when I go get my baby in Kazakhstan. Or maybe two. 

There is a girl I met in the baby class at school. I named her sister. Well, there's two actually.

Why can't American's get a baby from Kaz any more? How about San A? 

How do babies get in mommies tummies.

Why wasn't I in your tummy.

Can I call my Kaz mommy?

That's Sad....

Mom, what does a destroyer do?

Well, it's made to blow things up.

No, what does it do?

It's made to blow things up.

No! WHAT does it DO?

( Obviously mom is now trying to determine just what the question really is....as quasi not quite five year old teenager is getting very frustrated at not getting the answer to his question....)

Do you want to know why it blows things up?

Yes. Why?

Well, sometimes people fight each other.

With destroyers?

Yes.

What happens to the other destroyers?

It gets blown up.

That's sad.....

Yes, honey, that is very sad.

I Want to Get a Baby

Mom, when I'm your age will you take me to Kazakhstan?

Oh you'll want to go before then.

Okay when I'm a big boy and almost adult will you take me to Kazakhstan?

Yes, when you are a big boy before you are adult we'll take you to Kazakhstan.

Ok. Cause I want to get a baby. I'd let him play with big boy Legos and stuff.

You would get a baby?

Uh huh. Maybe I'd get two.

What if you got a girl. Would you let her play with big boy Legos?

I don't know.

(Daddy steps in)

How would you take care of the baby? All by yourself?

No. I'd get me a mommy. Maybe someone I really like.

A girl?

No, probably T. He'd help me.

Not S or S?

No. I think T. 

Interesting Things

I brought home a front page of a newspaper a few weeks ago for H. Summer school had a fireman visit and he mentioned a big fire that had just happened a few days earlier. I happened to see the picture of that fire in the paper. H loved the picture and took it to school to show everyone.

H asked me if I could bring home more newspapers so I brought him a couple last week. He didn't really pay much attention to them I didn't think. Saturday we were getting ready for a birthday party and H found a front page picture of a car and semi truck wreck.

Mom, what happened?

A semi truck and a car ran into each other. it was a bad accident but no one was hurt thankfully.

What happened? Look I can see the front of the truck. It looks like they were on the interstate at a bridge ( he knows his transportation modes and routes.)

Yes, they were on the interstate. I don't know what happened. The paper doesn't say what happened exactly. 

But why did the car and truck run into each other? Where were they going? Did someone do something bad? Did the truck hit the car? 

I don't know the answer to any of those questions. Most often the drivers don't really know what happened.

I'm going to cut the picture out and take it to show T today at the party. he would really like it.

(After the party)

Mom, I left the picture at T's house because I thought he would really like it. Yeah, I showed it to everyone.

(After supper)

Mom! No! Dad! Those are my papers! Mom, daddy put my papers in the fire .

Oh, I'm sorry honey I thought you were done with them.

No, they were my papers. 

I'm so sorry. Daddy didn't know and  I gave him the papers for the fire.

That's ok mom. I'm not mad. I'm not mad at you.

Well, I have more rappers at work. I get one everyday. I will bring some more home for you ok?

Ok. I just really like to look at interesting things. 

Mom, will you really bring me more papers?

Yes, honey. I apologize about the others.

That's ok mom, I'm not mad. I just like to see what's going on in the world.

Parental lesson of the day: never assume a pile of ignored papers has no value or interest to the person who is seemingly ignoring them but seems astute enough to tell that the pile is his pile from a distance of 20 feet or more as they are being wadded up for fire starter....AND be astounded that your not quite five year old really pays attention to the larger world around him....and then realize that of course he does...he has since he was a baby. Dumb mom moment.