5

Andres turned 5 today. 5! Half a decade. He's been looking forward to his birthday for months.

He wasted no time diving into his special day, waking up at 4:45 this morning and then choosing to share his love of the pre-dawn hours with me. At some point I nodded back off to sleep while he watched some TV (Sesame Street, maybe? Not sure.). When I woke up again around 6, he had turned off the TV and was using a digital camera (not mine!) to take pictures all around the house. This is the same child who routinely tried to sleep in on school days--rousing him at 7:15 was often a challenge--and I'm chalking up this new-found insomnia to overexcitement about becoming a year older. Hopefully he'll resume his regular tendencies tomorrow.

After I had my first of many cups of coffee today, I asked him to describe his feelings on turning 5. He kept it pretty cool.

The highlight of the day, naturally, was his birthday party, which was scheduled for mid-afternoon. He suffered as the clock slowly turned from 9 to 10 to 11...all the while asking, "how much time is left before my party now?" It must have felt interminable.

But he made it. And at 3:30, when his friends all converged on the West Newton YMCA for a "soccer party," he was happy as a clam.

So "soccer party" may have been a misnomer. Here's what I thought would happen: a bunch of kids on a giant field, kicking some soccer balls, playing some informal soccer games for 30 minutes or so. Everyone has a good time, then they recharge with pizza and cake.

Here's what actually happened: it was hot, and Andres and his pals had flushed faces after buzzing around the field for only a few minutes. This was before the soccer balls even made an appearance. They got a bit of a respite as the well-intentioned, good-hearted, but clearly-out-of-his-element chaperone/party planner from the Y gathered all the kids and explained how they would play the game, and then after a number of false starts, a game actually began--with Andres, naturally, seizing control of the ball and driving up the field for an early shot. Celia was on the opposite team and decided that constantly pulling her dress up over her face was a perfectly legitimate way to stop a goal. The game continued in standard "pack of wolves surrounding a carcass" fashion, with a few goals being scored along the way. And then, only about 10 minutes of playing, a horde of kids sought replenishment and shelter from the sun and decided that they would much rather descend upon the well-shaded playground right next door. So that's what happened--bye bye soccer party. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Eventually we all headed inside for some pizza and juice. Andres sat with his sister and a bunch of his new preschool friends, which I thought was cute--he's developing some nice friendships there. It was also interesting to note that a "girl's table" and a "boy's table" emerged, with those of the 4+ set clearly choosing to fraternize with their own gender. The younger kids couldn't care less about gender balance and were just excited to find a seat wherever they could.

Then, cake. Another wonderful piece of work by the otherwise curmudgeonly proprietress of Country Desserts in Newton, who grumbled under her breath at me on Wednesday when I ordered the cake, yet beamed when she showed it to me today. It was beam-worthy. A tasty cake replete with giant soccer ball on top, echoing the theme of the party even if the actual game had ended in less than spectacular fashion.

Naturally, we had to sing first. And then Andres received some unsolicited candle-blowing help from some of his good friends.

Ah karma...it always comes back to get you, doesn't it? At Celia's 2nd birthday, it was Andres playing the role of candle-poacher; now some of his friends were doing it to him. Sweet justice. He didn't seem too fazed though, and at least he got to blow out one by himself...which may be more than he left for Celia back in November.

If the past few weeks are any indication of what is to come, I think 5 will be a good year. I've been told that it is a giant milestone--that after years of whining, crying, fussing, and bouts of irrationality, the 5-year old child turns a corner and is, generally, enjoyable to be around. It was fun to see him celebrate with so many kindred spirits.

Tonight as he was opening presents he turned to me and said, "Daddy, boy do my friends know what I like." It was a cute moment (even if it wasn't a wholly original comment, as I had said something similar a few minutes before), and it felt authentic. I find it amazing that he is old enough to say something like this--and that he actually means it, too.