a sweetie turns five

 It was so nice you were here yesterday--day before your birthday.

You kids had fun.

 I absolutely love the little high chair you invented using the Dora chair.  It fit your brother so perfectly.

But I dug around and found pictures from back when you were born.   Here's your brother in bed with Tim and Julia.  He stayed here with us while you were being born.

 This is the first time we met.  Look at you!   We were so happy.

Your brother was a little wound up.   On the way back to the car, he wanted to jump over a speed bump in the parking ramp, and that was fine.   Well, he jumped about ten times and then got mad and started screaming and got going on a big overwrought explosion of excitement and too much-ness.

Tim and Julia had their hands over their ears in the car, and Kirsten tried to wave from her car on the freeway ramp and make him smile, but no way.   He's all grown up now and real calm.

But right there that day, he was just so excited by the whole occasion of you.

You however, don't really ever throw fits--you're more of a huff kind of guy.  Oh my goodness.

Sweetie?   You do make everything sweeter: funny, charming, imaginative YOU, with all your good ideas and crazy stories, your big hugs, your curly eyelashes.  This whole family is better having you in it.  We are so darn lucky you're ours. 

Happy Birthday, Buddy, with love forever, GRANDMA and GRANDPA and everybody