Chatchi is 5!!!

How in the world can my sweet little baby boy be 5?!?!? Charlie is an intelligent, passionate, determined, focused, intense, giggly little boy. When I look at him now I see more boy each day.  Charlie is loving legos, all things super heros (batman in paticular – no idea why), and I just love that he still LOVES his cars and planes.  He wears a TMNT (teenage mutant ninja turtle), CARS or CARS 2 shirt as often as he can (Sundays are the only days I am particular about what he wears, which means I have let go of my preppy look for him for awhile). He really loves school and is always excited when I tell him it is a school day. I wish I knew more from him about what he does at school, but he has never been the one to share a ton of details – he is an in the moment kind of kid. Mini Titans is another highlight of his week and I have watched him develop a coach/player relationship with coach Nick. He listens to him and pushes himself physically to perform for him. Charlie still doesn’t like to fail or mess up in anyway. They play a game in Mini Titans were one kid starts on in the middle of the field and then coach calls out players one by one and they have to try to get to the other side without getting tackled – once tackled you join the middle guy. Charlie is usually one of the last 2 guys still standing and eventually he gets tackled and he gets really upset with himself and will get up from being tackled and finish going to the other side of the field where he then wells up with tears because he is frustrated. I have tried to talk him about how it is ok to be tackled, how the guy in the middle is trying hard too and none of it really sticks. Not sure when taking things in stride will become easier, but we are trying to help him to overcome difficulties a little easier. We love you Charlie and are so proud of the little boy you are becoming. God has wonderful things in store for you and I cannot wait to see how he uses your many talents for His Glory!

Charlie’s birthday started off with a day or two early when we received a package in the mail from bubba (and pappy and peops). The package contained a Batman lego gift for Charlie and he was PUMPED!!

After putting the girls to nap, I helped charlie put it together.

he was so happy to have this set. note the new TMNT shirt from bubba – thanks a ton bubba!

that afternoon the girls watched in awe as charlie taught them all things Batman and they did a pretty good job of respecting his things. they really listened to him and I didn’t have to intervene that many times, which is a miracle.

E&C wearing their silver “e” & “c” necklaces – they love wearing them!

More play on the driveway with the Batman legos. They played out here until it was dark and I made them come in! don’t mind the girls with no shirts – I have no idea.

April 9th – 6:55am (almost his birth time!).

This Batman set was with him constantly –  before the girls got up we had “coffee and a chat” (I have started having coffee (fluffy for him) and a chat with charlie before the girls get up to try and start our mornings off on the right foot – it works sometimes).

happy about his fluffy+marshmallows

Me – all sweaty – just returning from my workout and quickly trying to whip up the banana pancakes for birthday breakfast (I will not miss whisking everything with a FORK)! I was thankful Bill didn’t have to go in this morning until 7:15 so he could say hi to Charlie.

Bill also poured this awesome 5 while I showered.

Singing the first Happy Birthday of the day!

He was SOOOOOOOO excited!

crusty kids and cakes!

The exhaustion of birthdays – 50 mini cupcakes for Charlie’s celebration at school.

The welcome sign at Montessori.

After a stop at the US Consulate with Bill to get our Power of Attorney’s notarized by a US Notary (nothing is easy when you are living overseas), I made it in time to celebrate with Charlie and his classmates.

He went around the sun (E&C – who fought while holding the sun) 5 times.

dear Vasu, Charlie’s main teacher.

5 crocodile claps.

Bill was able to pick Charlie up from school on his birthday and brought him home to start celebrating. Do you think he was happy?

opening cards from Nana & G pops and Addison.

finding $20 in nana & g pop’s card was exciting!

charlie opened his first gift – a remote control airplane. he had been asking for a remote control something and I found this one on clearance at kmart here for $29 – I didn’t care that it was for 14+ yr olds – whoops.

he was thrilled, which was the point. I didn’t care if it broke a day later I knew he would be pumped to open it. that is half the fun right?

opening gift number 2.

claire shows more excitement than charlie – but I will say he was really excited.

bill showing me how happy he is that I picked out a gift for 14+ yr olds.

then he spent the next 30 minutes trying to figure out how to make it work – only to realize it was broken to start with. ugh! the funny part is when people would ask what Charlie got for his birthday he would respond very seriously “I got a remote control airplane that does work and a big truck for my birthday”. ha!

Charlie requested homemade mac n’ cheese for his dinner and it was a hit with all. he also requested a teenage mutant ninja turtle cake, but that wasn’t happening this year so he got the family standby – chocolate cake with caramel frosting.

the truck was our centerpiece for dinner.

5 years old!!!

this was a common look that night.

enjoying the cake “butz” style – in a bowl with milk. my kids WILL eat their chocolate cake with caramel frosting like this! Don’t bash it till you try it.

ellie.

charlie’s artwork at 5 – a lot of sharks, whales, fish with this sort of coloring. I love it.

his classmates made a lot of cards as well. you can easily spot the girl cards – the ones with lots of people, animals, colors and tape.

another charlie classic. he has the mouth down. I love the eyes with eyebrows.

more charlie art. he also does a lot of flag coloring.