Captain America Birthday Party!

This park is on our street. Less than half a block away from our house. So it seemed the most ideal way to hold a party--that way we can just walk everything over. I was nervous it would rain--but luckily the weather was overcast and a beautiful 75 degrees which was PERFECT! Will was thrilled. He was also a typical 4/5 year old. Which means, we had a few bumps and a whole lotta "why are we even doing this??" but it's all he's talked about ever since, so I think it was worth it! :)

We had two kinds of popcorn, made by our trusty air popper that has been servicing my popcorn needs since the day my dad handed it to me and I moved out ten years ago, ha! We had nerf guns for everyone with an empty pop bottle and an empty gallon of milk jug to use as targets. We had paper to make Captain America paper airplanes with, we had mini frisbees to decorate Captain America shields with, and then bubbles to please everyone---all servicing as the party favors to take home. The nerf guns were a hit. The kids played and played and played with them. But honestly, they mostly just ran around the playground playing together.

This was my very first 'friend' birthday party--with invitations going to kids and school and church. It felt nerve-wracking. The kids just played and played and played. Ran around the playground. Blew bubbles. Played tag and hide and go seek and imaginary games. All in all, I think it was great! I did think more of them would take time to make their Captain America shield and paper airplane. But only my kids did and the other girls. I forget sometimes that other kids don't sit for HOURS after school and color like my kids do. Of course, I spent the entire party trying to decide if I should call the kids in and actually make it a structured time-table of activities, or just let them play. Mostly, I was wondering about the parents standing there and what they thought about me holding a party at a park and just letting the kids play tag the entire time. Which is why I find children's parties incredibly stressful--because my approach is definitely different than the norm of today's society and expectations, and it all makes me a little on edge and nervous that I'm doing it wrong. BUT Will had a great time, played with his friends, and celebrated his birthday and we all survived--so it is a strong WIN in my book!

First shot at the target.

Lining up to have a go at the target.

Ruthie and Edison's older sister Anabelle were so cute coloring together. They are both in Kindergarten at Banyan Creek but. not in the same class.

Almost everyone we invited was from Will's class at First United Methodist Pre-K.

Very happy birthday boy.

Directly beside him is his good friend Holden and beside Holden is Leon. They are the other two boys at his class at school-and they are all really good friends.

Opening presents!

The little boy in the black is his new friend Edison from Ruth's school drop-off and pick-up. And the girl in the heart dress is Peyton, from his class at school. All the rest of the kids were siblings.

They are the weirdest.

I made that with him. I feel like I went up a level in my lego skills. It was intense, but also awesome. Four of his five presents were legos (and the other was a nerf gun...we definitely have more boy toys around this house now!) and they were all these little kits that you create. He has been in heaven with dad (and the one I helped with) putting them together.

All the faces were happy faces. I think his Captain America Birthday Party was a success! Happy 5th birthday Will! I can't believe how big he is! He keeps talking all week about his party and what he got and his friends who came---so I think he loved it!

Will is FIVE

 I'm not sure how this happened. In my head he's still 18 months, I swear. Will loves blue. He loves blue more than anything, I think, and strives to wear solely blue every single day. He likes Lightning McQueen, Doc McStuffins, cars, space, and airplanes. He also really loves Captain America and Spiderman. His favorite food is chips 'n cheese (basic nachos), closely followed by rice krispies and peanut butter sandwiches. He loves chocolate chip cookies and is very good at helping to make them. He is a good bed maker, mirror washer, and laundry folder. He has a PASSION for bikes and asks to ride his bike all day, every day. He can go really fast, and always, always, always stops so hard that he leaves a mark. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor. Why? Because doctors are really fun.

What is your favorite part of school? Learning about dinosaurs.

What's your favorite thing to do after school? Play with my new remote control car.

What's your favorite thing to do with daddy? Watch rc cars at the track. I hope sometimes I get to do that and put my car on the track and race it around.

What's your favorite thing to do with mommy? Make my birthday cake.

Who are your best friends? Holden and Leon.

What is something I always say to you? Be good.

What is something you are very good at? Shooting my new gun.

What is your favorite song? Gethsemane

What is your favorite animal? Doggies

What is your favorite place to go? Ikea

What do you like to draw? Blue Whale

What makes you happy? Makes me happy dat Ruth gave me a bite of her candy bar.

What makes you sad? That Ruth hits me.

What makes you laugh? When you tickle me.

What are you really good at? Drawling.

Where do you live? Florida

What is your favorite book? Slop. I love Slop. (mo willems)

What is love? Being kind.

Will is really good at making friends. His teacher says he plays house and dolls with all the girls but can turn around and play rough and build with all the boys. He made friends with a little boy, Edison, who always is waiting for his Kindergarten sister to get out of school while we wait for Ruthie to get out of school. He remembered him and invited him to his birthday party--which gave me a chance to make a new friend, too! He has a BIG imagination. On his birthday he had his balloons in the morning, and one of the little clips fell off with some ribbon. He carried that ribbon, with the clip banging along the road behind him the entire way to Ruth's school. The crossing guard (who always has a long conversation with him because they race on that road every morning, and he always wins) knows his favorite color is blue and asked all about his 'doggy' that was the clip trailing behind him on the ribbon. He told her "Just for pretend it is my dog." Later that day, when we picked Ruth up for school she had made him a cardboard blue dog and attached it to a string for him to drag around. It was the sweetest thing ever! He has really good pitch when he is singing, and I am always impressed with how well he catches melodies and constantly sings them so correctly. 

He very, very emphatically does NOT like his hair spiky anymore--only parted to one side and FLAT. When he gets out of the tub and I'm brushing the girls' hair, I always hurry and brush his in one swoop straight back--so it stand on end. He thinks it's hilarious and hurries and flattens it all out. 

Ruth's favorite thing about Will: Is that he's happy. (sometimes, she amended. haha)

Molly's favorite thing about Will: playing with balloons!

He is also VERY soft with Russ and very good about watching out for him. His preschool teacher says he talks about Russ all the time--which is so sweet! He also focuses so hard--when he decides he is coloring--every single little spot of that page is colored when he is finished. He likes making the background black lately--so all of his pictures are night ones.

He got the crown and Super Star sticker at school and then ran and put on his space pajamas after he opened up his space ship.

Stuffy from Doc McStuffins. Thank you Grandma Cindy!

Those last two are out of order. But I think it's safe to say he was VERY happy with his car and rocket!

Five is such a great age! Can't wait for another year with Will!