Happy Birthday Joe

Happy Birthday Joe!  Today you turn 5, and there are some things about this age that I never want to forget.

When someone asks you what your favorite color is, you say, “Blue, and black, and white…and pink, and purple, and orange, and I like ALL the colors!”  It seems like you have inherited my inability to make a decision (sorry about that).

You love to go to school.  You learn about letters, numbers, and how to say words in Spanish.  Except that you have so much fun in your Spanish class that you hardly ever remember what word you learned.  Grandpa thinks it’s pretty funny and always asks about the Spanish word you learned that day, you say, “I don’t know, but I’ll remember next time!”

Your favorite part of school is recess where you play “bad guys” with your friends.  When you try to play “bad guys” with Leila at home, she will have none of it.

You also enjoy coloring with scented markers at school.  I know when it has been a scented marker day because you have dots on your nose when I pick you up from class.

This year you played t-ball and soccer.  Your favorite sport is whatever you are playing at the time.  You scored your first soccer goal last week, and I went a little soccer-mom crazy.

You prefer sweet over salty.  When Leila wants french fries or chips, you want fruit.  You told me last week that you can’t wait to get older so that you can cook too.  You emphasized the fact that you will be cooking healthy food, and that you will cook gluten-free food for me.  When I was planning your birthday treats, you made a point to ask for something gluten-free so that I could have some too.

You can be ornery, that’s for sure, but you are so sweet.  You have a gentle heart, and genuinely care for others.  You never want anyone to feel left out.  I can’t believe you are 5 already.  5!

Time flies, but we are loving every minute with you Joe.  Happy Birthday.