Nate is 5!

Wow, that's hard to believe....but my little kid is now a Big Boy.  I think 5 is going to be a good year.

He has been saying for months that he wanted to stay 4 forever, he didn't want to be 5.  As much as I felt the same way, I was a little concerned about why he felt that way.  But I realized it was because we read a book about being 5 and I guess it sounded like a lot of pressure (big school, behaving properly, etc) so he didn't want any party of it.  But something changed in him because he is very excited to be 5 and "big" now.  He even said tonight "I think I am going to like being 5".

He woke up this morning and came to our room, excited about his big day.  He said "I don't look any different?"

So we started the day with our traditional birthday hat and pancake breakfast.

Then the nanny took them to Monkey Joe's (Nate's choice) to play for a few hours.

For dinner we went to our Mexican restaurant...our waitress picked up on the fact it was his birthday so she brought him a piece of cake.  Matthew basically climbed over the table to get to it...Nate took a few bites and, since we had already talked about Menchie's for a birthday treat, he decided to save room for what he really wanted.

So, next stop Menchies!  He basically gets a little bit of yogurt and loads his cup with gummy worms, cookie dough balls, and sprinkles...since it was his birthday I let him choose.  Little brother likes it as well - can you tell?

Have I ever mentioned how much love these kids??

Then it was time to come home to open presents from mom and dad.

Nate at 5 is such a great kid (we always seem to derail around the half birthday but hopefully this will last!).  He listens, he helps when I ask him to (sometimes he even does things without me asking and reminding), he is more patient...he is really a good kid.  Here are his favorite things (from his mouth):

Favorite Color - Red
Favorite Toy - Remote Control Lightening McQueen & his LeapPad
Favorite Food - Pizza
Favorite TV Show - Bubble Guppies
Favorite Movie - Puss in Boots
Favorite Lunch - Cheese Sandwich with Mayonnaise
Favorite Snack - Goldfish
Favorite Animal - Dog
Favorite Book - The Lorax
Favorite Thing to do Outside - Play Soccer
Favorite Holiday - Easter
Favorite Thing to Take to Bed - Stuffed Animals
Favorite Breakfast - Pop Tart and Toaster Strudel
Favorite Restaurant - McDonalds
What do you want to be when you grow up - Astronaut

Nate's Drive-In Birthday

This weekend we had a pre-celebration of Nate's 5th birthday by throwing a fun outdoor movie party.  It sounded like a fun and simple idea when Nate and I first started talking about it but once I started planning I quickly realized logistics were a little more challenging than I thought they would be!  We obviously had to have it late in the evening to be able to see it so I was worried about everyone having the kids out late...and would the kids even sit still to watch a movie!  But, I have to say...it went off better than I had hoped.  I wish I had a photographer taking pictures for me because, once again, I have missed so many details and photo ops just by having fun at the party!

When the kids got there, they found their "car" and went to town with the stickers and markers decorating them.

I had a "concession stand" set up and my only mistake was putting the movie treats - popcorn and candy - out with the hot dogs...the kids went straight to the scoops of popcorn and M&Ms and Twizzlers before they got dinner in, but I think most of them eventually were forced to eat a little food!

We were actually pretty fortunate that there was a threat of rain because the overcast cloudiness let us start the movie a little earlier than I thought we might have to.  I made the boxes really to have an activity to kill some time before showtime and wasn't sure if they would care anything about them, but most of the kids actually sat in their boxes for the movie and almost all of them insisted on taking them with them when the left.  I was so happy! :)

So all of the kids pulled their cars up and we started the show - Nate chose "Up" a couple of weeks ago and never wavered from that decision so we obliged.  It had their attention for a while and then it got dark enough for the bucket of glow sticks to come out so some of the attention shifted.  But they came back and, for those that stuck around, even started a 2nd movie afterwards!

Nate looks a little crazy in this pic but I think it was because he was trying to watch a movie and the paparazzi was flashing cameras in his face.  I just loved the two of them laying on the beanbag together....

Given that the party date fell in between Michael and Nate's birthdays, I tried to include Michael in on the celebration...I admit to him that I got caught up in the kid stuff and faltered on making it special for him but we did have LOTS of barbecue and beverages for the grown ups and we stayed up (too) late enjoying ourselves so I hope he knows we were celebrating the last of his 30's as well!

The Graduate

Nate's Pre-K graduation was a few weeks ago...and him in a cap and gown was pretty darn adorable.

After much debate and consulting with his teacher and other parents for perspective, we made the decision to keep him at his current school for a 5 yr old Kindergarten class next year (and then probably repeat Kindergarten in Elementary School the following year).  So, since he will be back in the fall, it didn't feel like a true ending.  Which is good...I wasn't ready. :)

But it was sad to say goodbye to both of the boys' teachers.  Fortunately, many of Nate's buddies from his class will be in the 5 yr old class with him next year...which has really helped to put me at ease with the decision.

Nate has come so far this year - his writing (and motor skills in general) has improved, he can count to 100, he can add and subtract really well, and most impressively he is reading really well.  He knows sight words and can sound out most words...it is so exciting to watch him "get it"...and he loves to spell, so our days of spelling things we don't want the kids to pick up on have ended!  I love to brag on my smart cookie - so I am obviously not keeping him back due to lack of smarts!

At the graduation ceremony, they asked each of the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up and Nate excitedly said "An Astronaut"...there were lots of policemen, firemen, and doctors but only one little Astronaut!