5 Years Old

It seems like we have gotten in the habit of stretching birthday celebrations out over several days at this house. Abby’s birthday was no exception. The fun started on the Tuesday before her birthday when she got to take the treat to preschool. She was so excited about it and every day for a week would ask me how many more days until she got to take the treat. I gave her 13 different choices of what to take. She decided on Rice Krispy Treats. She also took a little miniature gumball machine for each of her classmates. She came home from preschool in her paper crown just beaming. She loved being the center of attention at school and was so happy with the fun birthday prizes from Miss Jamee.

Abby’s actual birthday got off to a shaky start. She had somehow got it into her head that turning five meant that she would be bigger. She was super disappointed when she woke up and she was the same size as a five year old as when she went to bed as a four year old. She kept saying, “It doesn’t seem like my birthday. I thought I would be bigger.” She eventually got over it and moved on to saying “Um, it’s my birthday” in her best don’t-you-think-you-should-give-me-my-way-about-everything-that-I-want-because-it’s-my-birthday voice. She certainly thought that the whole world should revolve around her. It pretty much did. After we got the kids off to school with their crazy hair (luckily Abby forgot that she wanted crazy hair too), she spent the morning watching episodes of Dragon Tales on YouTube. Then we headed off to meet Nate at T.G.I. Friday's for lunch. She got a coupon for a free kids’ meal at her last doctor’s appointment and has been dying to go ever since. The three of us had a fun time together and Abby thought it was great that she got to go to lunch with us while her brother and sisters were at school.




Once we were home, she couldn’t wait for them to get out of school so she could open her presents. She got lots of fun things. Grandma Reatha gave her a new Barbie movie, a hula hoop, and a light-up tracing desk. The kids each gave her a new puzzle. Nate and I gave her a watch, some Squinkies, a mini leatherman tool (random gift for a five year old girl, but she has been wanting one forever), a felt owl mobile (she wanted one just like her sisters have and luckily Nate found the last one in stock at Michael’s), and a ladybug habitat complete with some live ladybug larva. Oh, and a clear mylar balloon (which she thought was the coolest thing ever).

Just as Abby was finishing up with presents, we got a call from our neighbor saying that his wife was in labor. So, their four kids came over. Then Korbin and Maddie came. Then Abby invited Tess over to play. It was a bit crazy with eleven kids at our house, but Abby didn’t seem to mind.


After all of the neighbor kids were returned home (or to another neighbor’s house . . . thanks Claudy!), we headed to McDonald’s for Abby’s birthday dinner. The kids weren’t thrilled with the super mini portion of fries or the lack of caramel dipping sauce for their apples (Thanks Michelle Obama), but they had fun playing.

We finished off the night with strawberry cheesecake. It took Abby about 24 attempts to blow out her candles. It was hilarious to watch. She was sure trying, but just could not get the knack of moving enough air to blow them out. After cheesecake, the kids headed to the movie room for Barbie: Princess Charm School and a slumber party.



Abby chose Crystal Hot Springs for her family activity (after I scored a great Groupon deal and told her it would be fun). We were planning to go the Tuesday after her birthday and then discovered that the water slides aren’t open Tuesday-Thursday. We didn’t really make it up there until Saturday. Nate and I wanted to bail when we saw a full parking lot and even fuller campground, but there was no convincing the kids that it would be better to go back on a different day. It was CROWDED and the water was abnormally gross with dead bugs and leaves floating around, but we still had fun. The slides were super fun and it was relaxing to sit in the warm water once we got over how disgusting it was.