How To: Grow up way too fast.

And properly turn 5 (planned and re-planned these past 7 months):

Experience the thrill of the tornado exhibit at the local Children's museum with two different shoes on.

Yup, not for 2 year olds.

Go to your last day of preschool the day before your birthday and have your "half birthday party" since it has been declared a summer birthday according to them. Side note: Brycen has been saying that he is 5 for so long that now a day can't go by without him asking when he will be 6. It is going to be a long year....

The birthday breakfast donut from the one and only, Mary Lou's can not be skipped

Nor the moment it's shared because that's what Mommies make older brothers do.

Go to the free! local zoo. We love this place.

His, "no way am I touching that thing".

And experience the train ride for the first time.

Choose the front row so Mom gets to breathe in fumes the whole way.

Walk to the historic 1900s ice cream shop and boat house for Mommy, and then be chased away by angry geese.

Be super brave and ask to do this.

Have a family fun outing to dinner at Chick Fil A and then Chuck E Cheese with Daddy who came straight from the airport to catch the last part of the special day.

Love the ticket counter and muncher.

Have your very first sleep over after opening presents, watching a move, and eating dessert.

Re-open this present for the 3rd year in a row (Grandma gave it to him years ago and we have tried every year to see if he would be old enough to do it) and ask both parents for their help to make things. Basically, hours of frustration and utter stubborness to get the job done on the parent's part but cool outcome in the end for the kid...... temporarily, before he declares that he wants to destroy it and "help" build the next one.  7+ years old??? Ha!