Mason Turns 5!!

 Dear Mason,

Your birthday fell on a Friday this year. You had been counting down the days until you finally turned 5 and could conquer the world. The Thursday before your birthday you were able to celebrate with your preschool class. Sage, Jonas and I brought in M&M brownies (your choice) and you stood in front of your classmates while they asked you questions. They asked you what you favorite color was (black), your favorite food (pizza), your favorite ice cream (chocolate), your favorite show (Wild Kratts), and lots of other fun questions. You were so excited to be in front of everyone (but also a little nervous. But don't worry, only I could tell because you kept blinking and grabbing my hand. Sometimes you do that when you are nervous. )

That night after you were in bed I decorated you cake just the way you wanted it. You wanted chocolate cake with green icing (not frosting you said) and Oreos. I added a little mint layer to the middle since I know you like mint. Then I decorated the house and laid out your presents. You got a lot of presents and cards. There are a lot of people who love you and were thinking about you on your special day.

Daddy helped by helping Sage go to bed. She was worn out already from all the excitement. Daddy was too.

When you woke up you were so excited to see the house decorated for your birthday. You especially liked the balloon in Jonas' exersaucer. 

 You immediately got to work on some inventions in your new invention notebook.

 I let you open one present in the morning and you chose the Lego watch Grandma and Grandpa Kelley sent you. You thought it was awesome.

After eating some chocolate chip pancakes we got ready for the day and met Jackson and Jayne at the park. You and Jackson had so much fun running around like crazy kids.

You even crossed the monkey bars by yourself for the first time! You did it 3 times before you had to have me "rescue" you because your arms were too tired. You've been wanting to do this for a long time. Maybe all it took was turning 5 to give you that extra boost of strength.

Mommy and Jonas loved watching you play. Mommy was in her workout clothes because she was planning on going to the gym (which you love), but we got a better offer when Daddy called and said he was going to be able to come home for lunch. This is the only time he has ever come home for lunch, but he wanted to make sure he didn't miss out on your big day.

So we said goodbye to Jackson and Jayne (and Jackson gave you some cool Star Wars guys and some gummy bears!) and headed home.

Daddy met us at home with Pizza and after we ate you opened your presents. You got all kinds of books, a new game called HyperDash, and two Magic School Bus science kits (one from mommy and daddy and one from G&G KC). 

After presents we had some cake. You told me "the best part of birthdays was cake. Then presents. But the best part of anything is spending time with your family." I hope you always feel that way.

After we ate cake we had a little bit of time before Daddy had to go back to work. We opened one of your science kits and built a ball and socket joint. You got a human body kit and a microbiology kit. You think they are pretty cool.

 Here you are showing off you ball and socket joint.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with your new toys. You put this 100 piece puzzle together all by yourself!

Jonsie played with the balloons. This little boy adores his big brother and gets the biggest smile every time he sees you.

We decided a long time ago that we were only going to have "friend" birthday parties on the even birthdays. On odd birthdays we let you pick out something fun to do with the family. This year you wanted to go to Disney on Ice. It was a princess theme, but you said you didn't care and you were happy that because you knew Sage would love it. Sage got to wear a princess hat, so to be sure that you weren't left out, we made you an "It's my birthday today" hat. You wore it proudly and told everyone that it was your birthday.

This little girl also adores you. She wants to be just like you. Sometimes I find her trying to sit just like you, or play just like you. You are her best friend. Every time we drop you off at preschool and you disappear behind the fence she says, "I miss my Mason." If you are playing somewhere where she is not she says, "I need my bruder. I want to be with my BRUDER!!" I hope you two are always close. You both mean the world to each other right now.

This year has been a good year for you Mase. You have grown up a lot and have changed from a young kid to more mature kid. Sure, you sometimes throw a fit here and there. You especially don't like it when people don't follow the rules. You like things to be in order and you frequently "surprise" me by cleaning the play room or making your bed. Sometimes you even close all the doors in the house and go room by room and clean up for me. You are so helpful and try so hard to make me happy. And you do make me happy. Just hanging out with you makes me happy. You are so funny and so creative. You have really been into making inventions or art projects lately. Some of which I'll put on this blog (which will someday become a book.) You are also so, so smart. You are reading everything we put in front of you and you can do basic addition/subtraction in your head. You love science and ask questions about everything from space to weather to the human body to nocturnal animal habits to...well, the list goes on. I hope you are always this curious and eager to learn. You like to be quizzed, you like to be tested. In fact, today we went to your Kindergarten registration and you were so disappointed that they weren't doing you placement test today. You just love to learn. You also have a lot of energy. Since you were born you have had a lot of energy. I remember being in the hospital with you and we could "stand" you up and you would tighten you legs and hold your head up. You love to run, and although you don't run everywhere you go like you did when you were little, you still take every opportunity to sprint to your destination. We have been working on taming that at church and at the grocery store. You love to play soccer, you love to jump on the trampoline, you love to run around looking at bugs and collecting rocks. And you have recently figured out how to climb the tree in our front yard. Mason, you have the biggest heart. You have a "treasure chest" full of coins and money and anytime someone asks you what you are saving it for you tell them that you are saving it to give to someone who doesn't have very much money. You are so sweet with you sister and brother and Daddy and I are you best friends. Never forget how proud we are of you. We will always be so proud of you. You are such a good kid and we love you "to the moon forever times."