Happy Birthday "D"

Our littlest man (currently at home) turned 5 years old today. We celebrated a bit early on Saturday since it would be easier to devote a good bit of the day to this special occasion.

Dalton had been looking forward to celebrating his big day for months, often inquiring, “How many days until my birthday?” Finally, his day came.

Unfortunately we had an appointment at The Picture Place to have our family Christmas picture taken. Bad idea. It did not go well. But that’s a story for another day. The rest of the day was spent with my sister and her kids, doing all the things D loves.

We played outside since the weather was so beautiful and came in to blow up helium balloons and eat his favorite dinner… white chili with queso dip. And little Cokes. For a five year old, it doesn’t get much better.

Then he decided he wanted to move onto presents (duh!) and he proceeded to rip open the presents laid before him. He got some pj’s with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – his current favorite. He also got a new Gameboy and since he’s been mooching off his big brothers for the last few years, it was a welcome sight to both him and his brothers. He also got a Nerf gun, some big $ and some gift cards.

Then onto the cake. Ninja Turtles, of course, and ice cream.

The day was topped off by some foot races in the street with his cousins and brothers (and mom, dad and aunt) until the neighbors started getting annoyed with the yelling.

The birthday boy won an amazing number of races that night…

Things Dalton loves: Playstation, wrestling with his dad and brothers (when he wins), dirt bikes, drawing, riding his scooter, McDonald’s chicken nuggets (with ranch AND ketchup), playing board games, snuggling with mom and dad on the weekends and getting ‘rubs’ on his back before bedtime.

Things Dalton hates: Losing (at anything), having to wake up for school when he’s tired, when dad has to go away, being teased by big brother Zach.

Dalton is one spicy boy. He has kept Chris and I hopping from the moment he was born and we’ve loved (almost) every minute of it. What he has dished out during his waking hours he has made up for by being the best sleeper we have around here. When he’s happy he’s really happy, but when he’s mad, well, you’d better watch out. He’s even made his big brothers cry when they’ve pushed him too far.

He loves to be loved on and is one of the snuggly-est kids around. On Sunday morning he came in to our room early to get some time with us before everyone else woke up. As we were laying there talking about super heros (guess who brought up that subject?) he turned to me and said, “Mom, you’re a hero because you take care of all of us.”

Be still my heart.