Alex Turns 6!

This kid.

The card is right, the best way to describe his personality is "AWESOMENESS!". He is excited and happy and smart and just plain awesome. He has undergone an enormous amount of growth; physically, mentally, emotionally in this 5 - 6 age year. He is now a kindergartener, a solid reader AND an incredible swimmer. We are so very proud. 

The child we know today is a far cry from the little boy who would tantrum when he couldn't get his point across. He still takes his own, sweet time when doing just about everything (he CANNOT be rushed into getting dressed, putting on shoes, eating or getting to the point of a story), though he has a unique and thoughtful way of describing the world that both amazes me and cracks me up. He still describes yesterday as "the day before this day" and a little piece of me hopes that he always does.

Texas had a pretty serious tropical storm (Imelda) roll through the week of Alex's birthday. We were fortunate in that we had no flooding and the kids' schools came through pretty close to damage-free. We were extra lucky that his birthday party wasn't planned until the Sunday after his birthday, so our Houston-area friends were able to attend without any water issues. 

So the actual birthday DAY itself was spent indoors, with our family of five, eating his favorite spaghetti and meatballs dinner followed by cupcakes with a side of presents. 

In a weekend of "favorites", Alex had a birthday party at his favorite place to go: Little Beakers. I have to admit, this is also one of my favorite places to take kids (ages > 4). It is a science lab geared for hands-on experiments and learning. It is rarely crowded, you pay per hour for open lab and birthday parties are prepared and led by a staff member. They pre-arrange your experiments and clean up after your kids (and you) are wowed. I am not much for making a mess at our house... so this is ideal.

We got there early to set up, so Gretchen and Alex spent some time assembling molecules. Look at the cute coats! And the goggles! And the counter height that is perfect for children!

This birthday party was a great mix of long-time friends that we are thrilled to live close to, best buddies from preschool AND some new faces from kindergarten. The kids were at a perfect age to be amazed at the acidic reactions, create take-home fake snow and glow slime (though the slime NEVER comes inside the house. We've been burned before...) and the birthday boy got a special grand finale.

This picture shows what happens when you mix Mentos and diet soda, and Alex pulled the trigger on the Mentos drop. He was all smiles, which is the point at a birthday party!

For our middle child who has kept his sensitive side while maturing into a big-kid, Happy 6th Birthday!! Keep loving science and swimming and reading and Bey Blades, you are such a terrific kid!