Adventures with an Almost 5-yr-old

Hayden... my little buddy. He gets a little bored with the kids all at school and only Mom to play with. I like it, though, because then we can do things together - just the two of us! I'm sad that I'll be sending him to Kindergarten next year. I'll sure miss him. On Monday, we decided to take advantage of the awesome Spring weather and go for a little picnic at the park. I asked him if he could "please stay 4 forever." He said "no." When I asked him why, he said "I have to get to be a Dad someday!" I thought that was pretty cute, but it still kills me that he's getting so grown up. We had a great adventure together. I'm savoring every last moment that I have with him home.

He's so funny. We got to the park, and he left his scooter on the sidewalk as we headed over to the picnic table. We were enjoying our PB&J's when all of a sudden we saw a HUGE lawn mowing machine coming our way. As Hayds saw it coming, his eyes LIT UP!! Then, just as quickly, his look turned to one of sheer terror. It was coming toward his scooter! "OH NO!" He screamed and took off running. He had to save his beloved and beat-up scooter! He got to it just in time (although I had tried to convince him that it was perfectly safe on the sidewalk) and moved it to a much safer location. Whew! "That was close!" he said as he breathlessly returned to his lunch. He then became a bit obsessed with the giant lawn mower. He couldn't take his eyes off of it. For a few minutes, he was loving it. But then it started coming towards us! The terror returned as he feared that WE were about to be mowed. I hugged him and held him tightly as it inched closer. Poor kid. He was so scared! I was trying hard not to laugh... but I must say, it was difficult! His poor little shaking body and sobs of fear only lasted a few minutes, however, as soon it finished mowing around us and headed back the other way. Another "close call" according to Hayden. He had finally realized that the driver inside knew what he was doing and could see us, and that it stays on the grass... not coming onto the concrete that the table was on. After that, all he could talk about was how someday he was going to have a "big lawn mower like that!"

We took a little walk "in the woods" which is really just a little path through a few trees and weeds. He thinks it's quite the adventure, however, and was only a little bit afraid of the swarm of bees we passed.

After our little "walk" we headed over to the playground. Hayden climbed up, came down the slide once, and declared that he was ready to go. Okey dokey! I guess once down the slide was enough! We grabbed his scooter and headed back home. We took a different direction on the way home, and loved seeing all the blossoms on trees and the tulips growing in peoples yards. I'm so glad Spring has finally shown up... however, I hear some cold, wet weather is headed our way again. Boo!! I'll enjoy this while it lasts. Especially with my little buddy. I sometimes wish I could have had the "only-kid-home" experience with all of my kids. I've decided to really do some one-on-ones with each of them this summer. Since the girls are old enough to tend, I think I can do it! I'm excited and looking forward to hanging out with them. They grow up too fast. I don't want to miss a single moment ;)