Happy Birthday (5.2) Ryan!

My big little man turned 5 today!  I can't say it seemed like only yesterday that he was born, because it feels like he's been in our lives forever.  But still - 5? That sounds so grown up - his clothes size is now just 5, with no T after it, and some stores don't even label it as such - it's just XS and part of the "Boy's" section. 

Ryan won't go to kindergarten until next year, but he is whip-smart, rattling off letter names and sounds, performing simple addition and multiplication, and just generally making keen observations about the world around him. 

After celebrating his birthday early with my family over Thanksgiving, we hosted Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Sarah for dinner at our house today, his actual day-of-birth. Here's a look back at his five previous birthdays:

And here is is now (stubborn as a mule, refusing to look at the camera):

When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday dinner he declared "sushi!" so I picked up a few trays from the Whole Foods sushi counter.

Because his birthday is so close to Christmas (and he has a bazillion toys already), we try to go easy on the gift-giving.  He had heretofore shown little interest in the vast quantity of Matchbox cars that were his father's, but he saw this Matchbox carwash at Barnes & Noble and just had to have it (he was more excited about it than the expression on his face would lead you to believe!).

Grandma didn't want Jack to feel left out, so she gave him this book of the Planes movie. We haven't seen the movie but my kids can tell you about all the characters, and now we can actually learn the plot!

See above: "vast quantities of Matchbox cars" - I suggested that a storage box might be a good idea!

While Ryan loved all his gifts, he was really excited about the card from Aunt Sarah that played the Hamster Dance and had a little turntable so he could play deejay. 

Sam and the boys have been spending a lot of time setting up the electric train set: they attended a train show Thanksgiving weekend where Ryan spotted this log car he simply couldn't live without.

I wish this photo was in focus - it totally captures the shared love of trains between these two!

I saw this cute Duplo palm tree on eBay and just had to get it so Ryan could play "Hawaii" wherever he wanted.

 He has a set of Duplo blocks but played with this My First Garden set at Maia's house, so I got him his own.

I know, you're supposed to do cake before presents, but we like to mix things up around here. 

Happy Day, my man - Mama loves you!!!!