The Birthday Boy

Five certainly is a big number, a milestone of sorts. It is the age when a child starts kindergarten, they usually start reading and getting more academic interests, and they go from being a pre-schooler to being school-aged. It is a big step for a parent, as well. As a parent, we need to start letting go a bit more, sending our children for full days of school, sending them off with friends, and letting them explore a world separate from that of their parents and siblings.


Today, Ben is five. He is preparing for kindergarten in the fall. He is developing friendships that are teaching him other ways of life, and about different people and different thoughts and ideas. He is starting to let go just a little, looking out to the world, and wondering about the things he sees and hears.

Ben is inquisitive and always ready to learn something new, whether it be about science, electricity, or plumbing. He is starting to read, and learning new things about the world around him through the books we read together. Ben loves Wall-e, Handy Manny, and Bob the Builder, and loves everything about robots and rocket ships, trucks and pipes. Every afternoon Ben has computer time, where he (safely- thanks to Kidzui) explores the internet, finding more tidbits of information than you could even imagine.

Our Ben is so sweet and loving, and so full of life and ideas and knowledge, and he brings so much joy and love into our lives. He loves his sisters and his family, loves his grandparents and aunts, uncles, and cousins. He loves to be outside, exploring with his Dad or Grandpa, and he loves to be inside, playing with his sisters.
We are so proud of how far he has come, and are so excited to see where his future takes him!

For his birthday, Ben got a hamster. He loves hamsters, and they are not animals that need to be touched and held often (Ben does not like to touch animals very much. Except worms. What is that all about????!!!), but they are super fun to watch, and help to teach some responsibility.
The hamster is a panda bear, and her name? Why, Hammy of course! Named after Uncle Nate's beloved hamster. We were talking about names one day, and as soon as I said "Uncle Nate had a hamster named Hammy" the discussion was over, and we had a name.

Here is Ben with his new hamster in her fun ball:

This is the cage that we got for Hammy- they certainly have some neat cages for hamsters!

Tonight, we are going out for a birthday dinner at..... McDonald's of course! Is there any other place for a birthday dinner? Ben's good friend from school is coming with us, and he is very excited about that.

Saturday will be the big Wall-e party. Ben is so excited for his party. He calls today his "real birthday" and Saturday his "present opening birthday".

We love you, birthday boy!!!