This kid goes bananas for Fruit Ninja. Thanks for the tip, Uncle Manata, you’re a peach and the apple of my eye!

First, we went to the games and we bought lots and lots of prizes (editor: their words, not mine), like 2 penguins, a mace, and more. Then, we went walking and did a scavenger hunt at the Purdue building and saw a bedbug display and saw a dog getting his teeth cleaned. We saw the big cheese sculpture and it was molding. We also saw little baby chicks.

Next, we headed over to the DNR area and saw lots of big ugly fish. Before the fish, we saw lots of pretty butterflies outside. Then we went to the Young Farmer’s building and had a lot of fun. When you were fishing you used a fishing pole with a metal on the end of it. The fish had a magnet in their mouth and that is how you caught them. Morgan and Daddy went around to all of the soybean questions and got them all right. They took their answers up and got to spin the wheel to get a prize of school supplies and a water bottle.

Then we went to go see a lumberjack show. They had a competition and chopped wood and threw their axes at wood. They used really loud chainsaws and climbed up tall trees with a rope.

Next we did a maze where we had to go around and do all of the farm chores. We had to pick up corn and soybeans and we fed them to the cows and pigs. Next we got eggs from the chickens and went to the garden and planted seeds and harvested vegetables. We got cucumbers. Then we got apples. Then we got wool from a sheep and milked a cow (it wasn’t a real cow). Then we took our stuff to the market and got paid for it and got a dollar. We could buy a cheese, Nutrigrain bar, orange juice, or milk. I got orange juice.

Then we went on the pathway for water and drank out of a well and then we got ice cream. I didn’t want it at first. It was mint then I ate it. Daddy bought a lemon shakeup and we visited the Germany building. Finally, we finished the trip with a GIANT elephant ear. It had lots of cinnamon and sugar.

Indiana State Fair

In true Lawson fashion, my birthday celebration lasted almost a week. We took advantage of a free appetizer as an excuse to hit Joe’s Crab Shack on Tuesday night. Then, on Thursday the 4th (my real birthday), we had Gibby’s for breakfast and went out to Smurfs that night. Friday was a Gigi Friday, so that is always an extravaganza of adventures and treats. We topped that night off with a trip to Mel’s Drive-in Theater all the way uptown in Mechanicsburg. On Saturday, we laid low to rest up for the big birthday bash at Mema’s.

We were up early Sunday scrambling to get things in the car and up to Lafayette for all of my party-goers. When most everyone arrived, we chowed down on traditional 5-year-old grub while we watched Cars on the big screen. Then, I dove in to the presents while the weather outside started to get cloudy. By the time we sang and cut in to the cake, the thunder was starting to roll in and then the monsoon started. Good thing we had access to all of these cool new toys while we were trapped inside! After the storm passed, we made our way outside to the pool to celebrate with some splashing and diving!

On Monday we had a few errand to run, like getting new bands on Morgan’s braces. We ate lunch at Scotty’s Lakehouse, then came home to crack open some of my awesome new toys!

Thanks very much to everyone who came and all of the birthday wishes!

5th Birthday Weekend

Age: 5 years
Height: inches
Weight: 39 pounds
Nicknames: Buddy, Parks
Likes: I love to play video games, especially Donkey Kong and Mario games. My favorite TV shows are Johnny Test, Magic School Bus, Wipeout, Good Luck Charlie, and Sid The Science Kid. I like diving to the bottom at Mema’s pool and going to the Children’s Museum to see the glass making and the dinosaurs. I discovered that I like to eat shrimp, plain pasta, broccoli, and steak. I love Snakey, my dinosaur.
Dislikes: Though I like lots of Super Heroes, I don’t like watching the movies or TV shows. I don’t like shopping at stores, unless it is a toy store. I don’t like eating apple sauce.
Notes: I no longer wear night time unders to bed because I’m a big boy. I’m getting pretty good on my scooter and bike, but not quite ready for the training wheels to come off. I can swing in a swing all by myself. I still sneak in to Mommy and Daddy’s room at night and like to sleep on their floor. I wear size 5T, size 11 shoes.

Well, Mr. Man, exactly one year ago I was sitting in this same spot writing your annual birthday post just as I am about to do tonight. I’ve been thinking about what to write and revisiting last year’s post. It’s funny to look back at what was written:

It’s amazing, but I can tell the story of your life in “summers in the pool.”
Summer #1 – Only got in the pool because I plopped you in a ring.
Summer #2 – Enjoyed eating snacks on the deck more than braving the tide.
Summer #3 – Floaties on and jumpin’ in like a mad man.
Summer #4 – No floaties, all goggles!

Summer #5 makes the list like this: Diving to the bottom of the pool to retrieve anything and everything that will sink. Swimming through my legs and under Mema’s chair. No fear. Maybe scuba diving for lost treasure is in your future!

Summer #5. Wow. I can’t believe it. I always said as your big sister has grown up that I have loved every stage but would never want to go back. Little Man, don’t tell anyone, but if I could keep you like this forever, I just might. You have learned so much this past year and have shared so much of your 4-year-old-boy insight. Daddy and I still don’t know exactly what goes on in that blond haired cabasa of yours, but you’re starting to let some things ooze out here and there, and we love it. The questions you ask and the connections you make let us know that you are taking in the world around you. You make our hearts smile when you remember things about our vacations and tell stories about the memories you have.

You are still hesitant and cautious to try anything new…or car washes. Sometimes even downright stubborn about it, but you did ski your first slop and went ice skating for the first time without a second thought. Well, that was after you ate snow during ski class. Can’t say the same about those darn car washes, but you’re getting braver everytime we go!

You are the only kid I know who loves wearing PJs so much that he’s in them as soon as we walk in the house…no matter what time of day it is. Even “fast pants” take 2nd place to jammies! Don’t get me wrong, you still love running around the house naked, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. For some reason I predict that that last sentence may be in your yearly letter for many years to come if you’re anything like your Daddy!

We love you more than you know and can’t wait to see what adventures a 5 year old little boy can stir up. Bring it on, Little Dude!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy