Magoo Turns SIX?!

On Friday my "baby" turned six.  How is that possible you ask?  For once in my life, I've got nothing.  No explanation.  He was literally JUST this guy:

And now he is THIS guy:

Celebrating Mr. Magoo's sixth birthday turned out to be a weekend long affair.  It was fun, fun, fun.  

On Thursday we received two SURPRISE packages from Uncle Nate and Auntie Jayme.  The boxes were jam packed full of new clothes, toys, treats and educational activities. 

As you can see, they weren't excited in the least...

On his birthday morning Hayden just had to wear his new "shorts with the belt" and his surfing dog shirt from Uncle Nate and Auntie Jayme.

Since his birthday fell on a school day, he brought in Strawberry Muffins for his class snack.  Apparently the muffins didn't go over too well with all of his classmates, and he let me know that next year he will be bringing cupcakes. Ah well, I tried.

After school he had a series of packages waiting.  An EZ Roller (coolest toy ever!) from Grandma and Papa, a remote control car from Uncle Josh and Brittany, a spy kit from mom and dad and a starter Legos kit from the neighbors.  Hayden Skyped/phone chatted with almost all the fam and even got to open his package from Uncle Nate and Auntie Jayme while on Skype.  Nate and JL got him a remote control helicopter.  Mr. Magoo was beyond stoked and said several times that it was "such an awesome day."  His Halloween costume randomly arrived in the mail as well and so he unwrapped several of his packages dressed as Sonic the Hedgehog.  He also received money from Auntie Julie and Grandma and Grandpa Honeycutt that he is planning on putting towards his new skateboard that he has been saving for.  

Packages!!!

EZ Roller

Remote control car

Thanks EVERYONE for the generous gifts and for helping make his birthday BEYOND special!

On Saturday Hayden and the kids stayed home with dad in the morning while I ran my half-marathon.  I almost died on all the hills, but since it was his birthday weekend, I figured I should try my hardest to survive.  The rest of the day was spent playing with friends.  The new toys were all put to good use.

Hayden chose a trip to Wet and Wild on Sunday instead of a birthday party.  Our neighbors came along to help us celebrate.  They have four kids so pretty much wherever they are, it is an instant party.  I love that about them.  It wasn't the sunniest or warmest of days and most of the big slides the kids could go on were closed for repairs, but everyone still seemed to have a blast.  Even the picnic lunch out in the parking lot was fun.  We feel very very thankful to have such wonderful neighbors that have worked very hard to help us feel at home here.  They day wouldn't have been the same without them.

Neighbor An-dizzle.

Getting ready to ride some wave pool waves.

Lounging.

Whatcha thinkin' Hud?

Me and my SIX year old!

Bubble wrap and E!

Ah, he is SO stinkin' cute!! 

K and the giant squirt guns. Don't shoot!! 

Magoo on the floating log.

A parking lot birthday picnic just wouldn't be complete without Miss Sue's DVR Deck Lunch peanut butter rice crispy bars, topped with a #6 candle!!

Happy 6th birthday Mr. Magoo!! 

You are my firstborn, which means you will forever occupy this special place in my heart. The heart-place reserved for the baby who softened me into a mommy. God gave me you, to give me hope. I see you, the things that come naturally to you and it makes me believe that I can become that too. You are so quick to forgive, the first to offer a hug or give encouragement, a big picture thinker with wisdom beyond your years. Your eloquence in expressing the human condition rivals Carl Rogers himself. But it is your heart for your little brother and sister that makes me feel most proud. You have fully given yourself over to the role of Big Brother. You protect them fiercely. You see their needs and you respond.
You may be your daddy's "mini-me", but you my boy, are a lot like me. Your heart, without trying, responds to the hearts around you. I have learned that this is good, in that other peoples beauty and joy can bring you hope. But difficult in that other peoples hurt will hurt you too. This will be a tricky gift you must carefully nurture so that you don't end up numbing yourself someday. I can see it now, all the struggles I had with the transitions of this year, you have bore the burden of. Your tender heart of empathy has taken on far too much of my emotions. For that I am deeply sorry. I wish I would have made better use of my "wise mind." Even mommies have so much to learn.
But I promise you that this year of 6 is going to be EPIC (despite your apprehension that getting older is going to mean more chores- which it will, sorry). Together you and I are going to focus on finding our fun again. Let our smiles out to play more often. We are going to master the art of the knock-knock joke (well, actually any joke, for that matter), establish a life long love of reading (all by yourself?! say what??), finally buy that skateboard you have been saving for, spend all summer seeing the people we love and miss, continue to be a LIGHT OF LOVE and I am pretty certain you are going to be meeting your best new pal here soon. I just got a feeling that a good buddy is on the horizon.
My oldest duck, my Mr. Magoo, my Hay-Jo
I LOVE YOU
around the moon six times and back,
Forever your Mommy