We officially have a 5 year old in the house!
Braxton has been counting down until his birthday for probably the last 8 months and we had so much fun celebrating him last week.
Nana was able to be here for the weekend and we had a pool party with some of his favorite friends.
I don't have very much energy or motivation at 36 weeks pregnant so we kept it pretty simple but he was pleased as punch with everything.
We just ordered some pizzas, made some cupcakes and swam on Saturday night at our neighborhood pool with his favorite friends.
He got a ton of legos and some other fun Star Wars toys and crafts.
And Nana made a couple batches of cinnamon rolls to last us all week too.
Here are some things about our big 5 YEAR OLD:
He started school again a few weeks ago and has been loving it!
We had such a fun summer with him and Everett home full time but I think he was ready for a schedule and to play with more kids his age.
He has the sweetest teachers and has been doing great.
He is a little shy when I drop him off in the morning but says he had a great day when I've picked up each day.
I totally cried the first day we dropped him off! Although I am so happy for him to go, I was sad to lose my little buddy during the day.
We built up a good little schedule over the summer and it felt so weird not having him with him when we run all our errands each morning.
We had some new neighbors move in directly across the street at the beginning of the summer and their little boy Parker has become his best friend! They are 2 months apart in age and get along so great! We have had the best time swimming and playing all summer and I love that they can just ride bikes and scooters and have quick play dates so easily back and forth between houses.
He is so sensitive.
He gets his feelings hurt really easily, especially if we get on to him about something.
When he is in trouble, the situation escalates so much more when we yell at him vs. when we just talk to him calmly.
He has been a pretty good eater lately and not super picky.
His new favorite lately is Italian.... especially Italian sandwiches from Subway or Firehouse or any sandwich shop.
He is super into Legos still and we just got a bunch of sets for his birthday that should last him awhile.
He does great and can follow directions and put them together without any help too.
He has little patience when Everett gets involved though and kicks around his pieces or breaks the things he builds. Like, he totally loses his mind and breaks down in frustration.
We used to just build them when Everett was napping, but our new preschool pickup time falls right in the middle of nap time and now Everett usually only sleeps in the car.
We are working really hard on being patient with Everett and not totally freaking out every single day.
Besides Legos, he still loves all things Star Wars, camping, going on 'adventures', swimming, riding bikes and scooters, playing with Parker, and going to the movies.
He is really good and playing by himself and most days he really needs some time to himself just playing with toys in the playroom.
We put him back in swimming lessons this summer and he did great!
It was kind of a slow start since its been since last fall since he was in them, but he picked it back up pretty quick.
The YMCA puts them on at our neighborhood pool and while they were really cheap, I wasn't totally thrilled with the instructors. He can technically 'swim' and even made it all the way across the pool by himself, but its more of a dog paddle and looks like he is struggling. His little skinny body just sinks when he lifts his head straight up to breath, so I wish they would have worked harder on breathing to the side so he didn't expend so much energy.
They did teach him how to bob, tread water (somewhat), do the elementary backstroke, and float really well so if nothing else, I was really happy that he learned all the extra 'survival' skills.
He also learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this summer!
I am so proud of him that he picked it up so quickly!
He did it the first time we took him out but wiped out once that left him a little scared. Once we taught him to put his foot down to catch himself, he was brave again and did it again the second time we took him. By the end of the second and third time, he was cruising down the sidewalk like a pro!
He gets really frustrated if you interrupt him while talking and he can't get his thoughts out, or finish his sentence. This also holds true if he's talking and Everett just starts making some random noise.
It is so distracting to him and he loses concentration and then freaks out.
Him and Everett have become the sweetest little buddies over the summer!
They play so well together now since they were both home all the time over the summer.
I feel a little guilty pulling him from preschool early in the spring, but I think it was so great for their little relationship since they really only had each other to play with for the most part.
Of course, they also fight really well too, ha!
They are either doing great, or I spend my morning refereeing them the whole time.
They have learned exactly how to push each others buttons and can drive each other CRAZY on demand.
He is growing like a weed (especially his feet!!) but is still super skinny.
He's in 5T shirts but still fits in 3T shorts. He can wear 4T shorts but they are a little baggy around the waist. It's also been hard to buy upcoming winter and fall clothes since he needs the length of 5T pants, but I have to cinch them in a lot or the fall off his skinny little waist.
He's been really interested in playing lots of sports.
We just started him in soccer again and he is SO excited!
I had to pull some strings, but we got him on the same team as Parker and I think they are going to have the best time playing together this season. He is pumped about the uniform, socks, shin guards and about getting his first pair of cleats.
He also asks all the time to learn other sports too and loved watching the Olympics this year with us.
He loved the swimming and gymnastics and asks to learn golf too.
Favorite Color: blue
Favorite Animal: bear
Favorite Sport: soccer
Favorite TV Show: Captain Jake and the Neverland Pirates (or Blaze and the Monster Machines)
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
Favorite Movie: Star Wars 7 (The Force Awakens)
Favorite Food: Italian food
Favorite Book: Star Wars books
Favorite Toy: Legos!
Best Friend: Parker and Everett
Favorite thing to do with Mom: go to the park
Favorite thing to do with Dad: wrestle in the 'arena' and build legos
Favorite thing to do with Everett: play in the backyard
