Dear Lucas (5 years old),

I have a feeling that "5" just became your favorite number. I know it sounds cliche but it doesn't seem like you should be five already and about to start Kindergarten. I think four was a pretty cool age and you packed so many things into one year (trips to Disney World and California, getting glasses, starting school.) I am excited to see what five brings.

The night before your birthday I snuck into your room and hung up a birthday banner and blew up balloons and covered your floor with them. You were so excited and happy when you woke up and kept asking, "Is it finally my real birthday? Is this my five birthday?" We got you a few presents and instead of giving them to you all at once, we spread them out through the day. I think it made all the birthday fun last longer.

I baked you a strawberry cake just like you asked for and we invited you friend Gabriel over to help you celebrate. You always seem to get two cakes every year, one on your birthday and one on your birthday party. The ironic thing about that is you don't even like cake. You just enjoy blowing out the candles.

Your birthday was pretty low key this year because we were all pretty tired from getting back from Atlanta. We had to go so that your eyes could get looked out closely. Your Dad was thankfully able to go with us and we left the night before since you had to be at the hospital so early. On the way to Atlanta we stopped for gas and stumbled on a petting zoo. It was a pretty fun start to our trip.

I found a cheap hotel for us to stay at and it had a pool so one of the first things we did when we go there was go for a swim. Knowing that you were turning five gave you a new sense of courage and you started jumping in the pool without any floats, goggles, or anyone catching you. You were so proud of yourself. Our room had a king sized bed in it and you were so happy you told us, "I'm going to sleep in the middle and this is going to be awesome because we will all be together."

The day before your birthday we got up and drove to the hospital to get you checked in and ready for your procedure. You were in pretty good spirits before hand and I was totally at peace about everything. I knew you would be okay because you had so many people praying and thinking about you from all over the world.

When you came back from the procedure you were very tired and upset and you just wanted your Mommy, so I snuggled you until it they released us. We got good news and they didn't find anything wrong with your retinas and that means no more trips to Atlanta. I don't know a better way to kick off your birthday.

Lucas, I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Our Weekend in Rome

This past weekend, I felt like I was trapped in one of those vacation comedy movies where everything that could go wrong does. Okay, looking back that may be a slight exaggeration. So yeah, the pool was out of order and potty training on the go BITES, and the AC in the car didn't work most of the 5+ hour trip home but there were some really great moments too.

*On the way down everyone else was sleeping and I got to drink coffee, drive, and sing along with my iPod with nobody complaining about MY music. SO MUCH FUN

*My Mom and I got to have breakfast together every morning while Lucas and my Grandma were still sleeping. I don't know when the last time just the two of us did something together.

*I loved being able to walk around Berry. It is so pretty. It was one of the colleges I considered going to until my parents bribed me with a car to go to AASU.

*It was nice to help take my Grandma to her 60th College Reunion.

Romen Holiday

I just found out that our hotel has free computer access (YAY!) We are in Rome, GA for my Grandma's 60th College Reunion. We've only been here for a day but is has been such an eventful trip. I have tons to share but I don't want to hog the computer. So here are just a few things I've learned in the last 24 hours.

*If I volunteer to drive the entire night everyone will sleep the whole way here and then still fall asleep first when we reach the hotel.
*My Mom snores like an angry snorting bull about to charge and my Grandma snoring sounds like Chewbacca.
*Three hours after I finally fall asleep my Mom's cell phone will ring. She will go to the bathroom to talk "quietly" but it will amplify her voice.
*Potty training away from home SUCKS
*When venturing out of the hotel, if I bring one set of extra clothes in case of accidents... Luc will need 2.
*If I tell Lucas that we are going to spend the whole day at the pool then the pool will be closed and not opening until Monday, the day AFTER we leave
*After telling Luc about our pool day he will only want to bring one single hot wheel car to play with for when he is NOT swimming.
*Even when I show my kid the empty pool complete with worker painting it he will still think that the pool will be ready for swimming in 5 minutes
*If I decide to venture out alone at night to go pick up dinner in a town I don't know at all using a GPS, the GPS will die on the return trip (because my mom will have "hidden" the car charger)

We will head back for home tomorrow afternoon. I am sure it will be an adventure.