Five!

Sweet Preschooler. Today you are a handful. I mean, you’ve always been something of a handful. But, today you are officially five years old. And, I can hardly believe it.

There are so many things about you that make you special.

…The way you wash your hands like you’re scrubbing in for surgery. It drives me crazy when we’re in a hurry, but you have a penchant for being thorough.

…The way you say “dare” for “there.” As in, “it’s over dare.” Or “dat” for “that.” Or the way you say “cray-ground” for “playground.” I’ll never correct this. Then there’s “fighter-fighter” for “firefighter.” And, “Read me the constructions” when you mean, “Read me the instructions.” Say what you want, we all know what you mean.

…The way you love all things sweet. You’re favorite creation is still the donut. But, chocolate cake with chocolate icing is a close second. You have no time for vanilla, but chocolate is a sure fix for most any of your problems.

…The way you’re obsessed with knowing whether or not animated characters are real. Disney Junior is one of your favorite comforts, and I think you might consider Minnie Mouse a personal friend. You have quite the imagination when it comes to the world of story. You’re especially concerned about the old hag from “Snow White” and Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” as you consider them the meanest of villains. You’re also still not quite convinced that the Big Bad Wolf isn’t for real. I especially love the way you can’t ever remember the word “smurf” and therefore call them the “blue elves.”

…The way you ask no less than one hundred questions before 10 AM every morning. And your questions aren’t easy. You have an unquenchable thirst for answers to profound questions like, “Which part of the sky does God live in?” Some of your best questions come at weddings when you whisper things like, “Why does the bride want to marry him?” And, I answer “Well, because she loves him.” So you think about that for a minute and then whisper again, “But, why does she love him?” It’s a bit exasperating, but I appreciate that you really want to understand your world and the people in it.

…The way you’re unafraid to photo-bomb family pictures.

This frustrates me to no end when we’re trying to get just one picture for a Christmas card. But, at the end of the day, no one will ever accuse you of insincerity. I love that you are who you are.

When you’re upset, everybody knows it. As in, the whole neighborhood knows it because you hold nothing back. But, I love that when you’re happy, you let it all loose then, too. And, your sweet laugh is contagious.

You are one of a kind. And, we’re so glad you’re a part of our family. You make us more interesting, and you certainly keep us thinking.

We love you, Preschooler, so very much. Happy, happy handful.