5th Birthday!

Car-Car-

Meal plan for the birthday boy -  >Breakfast - your usual  Birthday snack @ school - Strawberry and Blueberry muffins

Dinner - Five Points Pizza

Presents from family - 

Not really sure. We got you a bike that was too big and now we are looking for a just right bike. We're kind of tapped on presents since your surgery. :)

Target gift cards from your aunts.
More paw patrol stuff from grandparents.

Jungle Book - @ Eakin with Willa

Annual Update: 
Things you love:
1.Paw Patrol -

You and all your friends are pretty obsessed. It's still favorite thing to watch. Thank goodness Robyn/Jake have DirectTV - so you can watch Nickelodeon On Demand on the iPad. :)

2. Outside- 

Spring is your favorite. You love that first spring day when you walk outside and go - "ohh...it's warm." Then smile. You love to paint outside or work on project with Daddy outside. Recently you helped him with the lawn mower, your bookcase, and your training wheels. You still ask to eat outside - all the time.

3. Legos- Still love legos and have graduated to the smaller ones. You like building vehicles with Daddy. I still have no patience for legos.

4. Food-
Most evenings end with a diatribe from you about how you're still hungry and "Your tummy is not all full." 2nd dinner usually consists of a banana, grapes, and cheerios.

5. Lovie-
You still love your lovie...and I'm sick of picking it up all over my house. You can fall asleep without it though. So progress?

6. Girls -
I've lost count the number of times you meet an older girl or woman, and then later in the car or at home - you tell me that you love that girl. Most recently it was your probable Kindergarten teacher. You and Maevy were playing and chatting with Ms. Boles while I was with June in the library during the PTO meeting. Typical Carter- when I found you, you were drilling Ms. Boles with a million questions. Then later in the car - you said, " She's going to be my teacher. I love her. "

Things You are Good At: 
1. Baseball-

You still love to hit, but your fielding and throwing has greatly improved (when you feel like paying attention). There's still lots of dirt and the occasional "tussle" with teammate. The first game of the season, you sat on the ball - so Bennett couldn't get it. You two are the best/worst of friends.

2. Making friends-
Just like your Dad - strangers to you are just friends you haven't yet met. I have no worries for social interaction this summer during camps or next year at Kindergarten.

3. School-
There was never really any doubt, but Carter you are totally ready for Kindergarten! We've got some sight word work to do, but I have no fears. Ms. Marissa continues to report that you are engaged, attentive, and interested during class. That makes me happy!

4. Cleaning up
This might surprise some, but when we ask you and Maevy to clean up your rooms, you actually do better than her. Also like your Dad, when forced to, he's actually a better cleaner than I am. I just have a desire to do it more often!

5. Moxie/ Self-Starter -
I would say this is equal parts good and bad. But for all the times, you don't ask permission, there are as many times that you just take care of something. You see that the trash is full; you take it out and replace the bag. You want something to eat; you get something to eat. You have a question for someone; you walk up to them and ask the question. It's both refreshing and terrifying!

Goals:

1. Work on pre-literacy and reading - This isn't your favorite thing to do, but we're slowly making some progress with the Bob books. We're officially on set 2 and I think your sight word have gotten better since the CI.  

2. Bike riding - We did get you a bike with training wheels and now you're too big for it. We got you a new one, but you were too small for it. We'll figure it out! I think if spent some time on it, you learn to ride your bike on your own before the end of the school year - earlier than Maevy did!

3. Bedtime - 

It's been 5 years and you've finally won the war. You still would love to fall asleep with someone, but you can and often do fall asleep on your own. We're counting down the days till you're done with naps at Holly Street. Bedtime on no nap days is a sensible 8ish. Bedtime on nap days is an embarrassing 9:30 or 10p. We'll read till 8:30p, let you have the ipad till 9/9:30p, then you'll play and put yourself to bed when you're tired. I don't love the ipad time, but I'm happy to be done fighting with you and locking you in your room. I'm hoping Kindergarten wears you out and we can take away the ipad time and get you to bed by 830/9.

4. Keep up with speech and articulation goals-

This will forever be on here...but you're doing great. I've got no worries. :)

5. Stay adorable and snugly -
You are bigger and longer and stinkier - but still love to snuggle. I'll take it. :)

We love you to pieces and are looking forward to Pre-K graduation and a fun summer with Ms. Audrey.

Love - Mommy & Daddy