Happy 5th Birthday, Eli!

Birthday breakfast

I think it's the kid's favorite tradition we have.

He's five. FIVE.

Maci wanted in on the number display.

More junk food....this was for his school celebration. He said, "it's really fun when it's my birthday at school!"

The second time he was serenaded with the birthday song.

Mika was really cute singing.

Mommy and Daddy with the birthday boy.

Mika eating a gummy worm. Again, cute.

Shy smile. 3rd serenade.

Cute cousins.

Gotta lick the candle on your birthday.

PRESENTS!

He's happy about them.

Maci is explaining her card and present...there were many details.

Birthday loot!

The little's turn with Dinosaur Train.

New book and new stickers being explained by Gigi and Pops.

He likes the stickers :)

And just because I can hardly believe it...this is my boy the first morning we ever spent together.

Five is a big deal. Any parent (well, the ones who've had 5 year olds) will tell you this is a huge transition in the life of any family. School starts this year - SCHOOL! Like 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, has for real homework and field trips and mandatory attendance. Maybe this not-so-distant change that's looming around the corner is causing me to be so emotional, or maybe it's just because I now see more big boy in Eli than I do toddler or baby (no baby, let's be honest) and I feel like he's going to be driving away for college any second. I don't know. But what I do know is that I'm so excited, and yet, so not ready for this next phase. Eli still amazes me with his huge heart and tender feelings and hilarious jokes that are only funny because he's laughing at them so hard - I am just plain excited to get to know him better. That sounds silly when I type it out. I know him better than any other person on the planet, but he's still evolving and learning so much that he changes - he GROWS UP - right in front of my face almost on a daily basis. I've always thought that the transition from baby to toddler is the fastest, most obvious one, and maybe it's just that it's the most obvious to everyone because of the physical changes that take place. But the transition from toddler to kid is pretty stinking rapid and I think any mom can give you a book-long list of things their kids said or did (or sang) that just froze them instantly in a shocked state of "what just happened?"during this new kid transition. I look at the picture above, the one where Eli is chewing on a yummy yellow S, and think about how much I miss him as a baby - and I want him back. But then I think of how hilarious he was for the last 4 hours running around the Science Center, cracking jokes with Maci in the back seat, taking silly pictures with DJ at the pizza place, and dancing in his new Lion King shirt and I really love the Eli of today. Guess this is every mom's struggle...the battle with time over who gets more of your kid. I'm just so glad I get to wake up and spend my days with this amazing boy. He is the best son I could have ever imagined.