Happy FIFTH Birthday, Cole!

Well, despite yesterday's post, Cole didn't entertain me much today in the way of age confusion.  He woke up this morning knowing that he is now five and that yes, he will be six on his next birthday.  Am I kind of a bad mom for wishing it had been the other way?

Well, let's start back on Sunday - the "extra" birthday.  Beginning with the cake drama.

Because there is always cake drama.

Over the past few months Cole has really been into the game Bejeweled.  He'd play forever on his computer, figuring out the puzzles and then trying to play them faster and faster.  I even caught him recording himself with my phone while playing the game.  So it was no surprise when he requested a bejeweled cake.

At first I thought it would be easy.  Just buy some jewel-shaped candy and slap it on a cake, right?  Wrong.  I could not find jewel shaped candy anywhere!  Not in stores nor online.  Dang.  For about half a second I thought about buying molds and making the candy for the cake, but then I came back to reality.  I mean, I love the kid, but I didn't want to spend the weekend with Dad and Susie here making candy for a cake. Sheesh.

So then I thought "Why not just buy some of those big fake rhinestones and slap those on the cake?"  Okay, not as cool and jewel candy, but still.  It'd get the job done.  Only I couldn't find what I was looking for anywhere.  At least, not at a reasonable price.  Hobby Lobby and Michaels apparently only sell fancy-shmancy-overpriced rhinestones.  So whatever.

I was getting a little desperate when lightening struck - the kid loves numbers, so why not make him a number 5 cake?  I brought it up to him and he totally bought it.  (I think this may have happened only because in the last week or so he has lost interest in Bejeweled.  Thank goodness!)  So I searched Pinterest and found some ways to make a cake look like the number five and was all set for that when Susie, brilliant woman that she is, mentioned just making cupcakes in the shape of a five.

Genius.

Like the giant M&Ms in the middle?  I let Cole pick those out.  They were a big hit.

The kids were so excited to have cupcakes - I may have to do this more often.

We sang happy birthday and Cole blew out the candles and opened presents.  His latest obsession - UNO - was encouraged with a new set of Angry Birds UNO cards.  Because the only thing cooler than UNO is Angry Birds UNO. (Notice the sunglasses.  He still wears them all the time.  Unless I make him take them off.)

Spencer gave him some glow in the dark stars for his ceiling.  Which we still have yet to put up... oops.

He also got a green shirt with a big 5 on the front, which of course I never took a picture of.  Dang.  Well, I'm sure it'll show up on the blog some day.  Dad and Susie gave him a Hot Wheels set that he luuurves.  He also got one of my old digital cameras, which he's been having a lot of fun with.  Yesterday he figured out how to use the flash and for a while there it was like living with the paparazzi.

Poor Cole didn't get any extra presents today, but I made sure he still felt loved!  We started with a special pancake breakfast, complete with confetti sprinkles and a candle to blow out.

Shirts are obviously optional at the Madsen household.  And look at that mop of blond hair!

Here he is, showing how old he is today!  (He tried to hold up 6 fingers at first, but he eventually got it!)

We had a really busy day today.  Tomorrow is the last day of school, and it seems like the less schoolwork the kids do, the more busy it is for moms.  This morning was the school talent show, which Spencer participated in.  I took Tess and Cole and prepared for the worst.  You know what?  They weren't that bad.  They were wiggly and squirmy and had to have snacks, but for the most part they sat quietly and watched all of the acts.  And how was the show?  Well, about what you would expect from an elementary talent show.  I might be biased, but Spencer was exceptional. ;)

Well, the talent show went on and on and on, and finally, after an hour and fourty-five minutes I decided I was pressing my luck and should probably get the kids out of there before things fell apart.  (That whole mom-sense thing kicked in; I knew things were going to get ugly soon.)  So we snuck out after Marcella's recitation of "Invictus".  (Pretty heavy stuff for a second grader - impressive!  Or, as Lance said when I told him about it "Yeah, that sounds like something a Wallin would do.")

Anywho, we got outside and Cole was immediately very sad that Josh and Spencer weren't coming home with us.  It was all I could do to get him to the car.  I talked about going home and having fun playing, but that just made Tess and Cole even unhappier.  And then I thought "Hey, they've had to sit in a loud, uncomfortable auditorium for a LONG time.  They deserve a treat."

That's when Fun Mom took over.  Fun Mom ignores all the stuff she needs to get done and is instead spontaneous and, well, fun.  Fun Mom announced we were going to the park!  And there was much rejoicing.

We played on the playground for a while and then checked out the zoo for a bit.

And then we went on the train!  A grand treat, because usually we only go as a whole family.  But Fun Mom was in charge and she decided you only turn five once - how could she turn down the birthday boy's request for a train ride?!

Awkward selfies were taken.

It was very bright and hot and Fun Mom wished she had brought some sunscreen.

But no matter, because we had tickets and were going on the train!

It was a grand and glorious ride.  It also made us very hungry.  I asked Cole what he would like for lunch, and without hesitation he exclaimed "McDonald's!!!"

I have to admit that Fun Mom paused for a second because she knew we were going out to eat that night for his birthday dinner, but then she looked at that little blond haired and blue eyed boy who had surprised her by coming early five years ago and there was no way she could say no.  So off to McDonald's we went.

A happy time was had.  And Happy Meals were consumed.  And does anyone else think the side of this Happy Meal box is more than a little creepy?

I didn't get anymore pictures of the day, which was spent cleaning up around the house, going to Spencer's end of the year party, playing UNO and Add A Bug games, and going to Dairy Queen for dinner (also Cole's choice).  But that's fitting for the third child, right?  He's pretty lucky to have gotten this much attention!  (Poor neglected third child...)

Mr. Cole surprised us all by coming three days before my scheduled c-section, and he's kept me on my toes ever since.  He's certainly not been the easiest child to raise, but somehow through all of the time outs and tantrums and challenges it's just made me love him more. (Hey, the harder you work on something the more you care about it's outcome, right?)

Cole is fun and entertaining.  He is busy and active.  He's curious about the world and especially about how things like doors and other simple machines work.  We sometimes joke that he's an evil super-villain in training. Or a mechanical engineer, one of the two.  He's very, very bright.  Too bright for his own good sometimes.  He can be very caring and happy, and when he's in the right mood (which is more and more often) he can be very helpful.  He's stubborn and independent, but loves to snuggle and cuddle.  He likes to sing when he thinks no one is listening.  (I've caught him belting out "Let It Go" and "Love Is An Open Door" more than once.)  He loves the color green and likes to wear clothes that are too big. He follows his big brothers around like a little puppy, but gives as good as he gets in back yard battles. (Let's be honest here - he's often the instigator.)  He loves the water and would take five baths a day if I let him.  He'd also eat an entire watermelon if I let him.

I sure love this blond boy of mine.

Happy, happy birthday, Cole!