My Boy Turns Five!

Hayden turned 5 on June 5th. I am still in denial that he is growing up so fast. When I started having kids at a young age, I never pictured having anything but babies! Wow! Hayden is the sweetest boy I have ever met. He is super sensitive. Sometimes, too sensitive. He has been experimenting a new "attitude" since he turned five. He now needs "adult" towels, bigger utensils, and numerous other items. "Age" is SO important to him now. He is constantly asking what other kids' ages are. Who is bigger, older, etc. Hayden is my little clean freak. Aww, love it. He gets a bath every night yet still wakes up and showers about 90 percent of the time. By himself. He should NOT be doing this! HE hates to disappoint me. Makes for easy discipline. He is easily entertained. Watching him use his imagination is fascinating to me. He could make a toy out of absolutely anything. He has an attention span that lasts forever. Also means he loves his cartoons and movies. Not always lovely. He has a desire to learn that I have never seen before. Always asking to do "school." He has us looking up something new on the internet daily. Usually a new spider he wants to learn about. Hayden can write all of his letters and knows what sound each of them make. He can spell words when sounded out for him. He can read some short words. He can do basic addition and we've started with subtraction. Of course he knows the basics, colors, shapes, etc. He can count, and we are working on going higher. Hayden's favorite thing is telling stories. He loves when others tell them, and he loves to tell them. Usually everyone is required a story in the car or at bedtime. He loves cuddles and I am not giving that up until he forces me too! He loves a good back tickle just like his mommy. He loves for me to sing him several songs before bedtime. His prayers are so cute and at night HAVE to include the phrase, "Please help us to have good thoughts and good dreams." The phrase, "No bad thoughts or no bad dreams," usually means a new prayer will have to be said. He is a very particular kid. He is a perfectionist. As soon as his action figures arms have become non-pose able, they are no longer eligible for play. He remembers EVERY piece that came with EVERY toy. Makes for some fun search parties at the Lund residence. He is still obsessed with superheroes. He is very good at his chores. He is getting better everyday at riding his bike. He asks everyday if he can have a friend. It usually includes the phrase, "I'm looking for a friend today." He enjoys every moment spent with his Lund cousins. He loves babies and asks to hold his cousin Carter and baby Halle whenever they are around. He still misses his sister like crazy and includes her in every made-up story he tells. One of Hayden's favorite activities is playing with his uncles. I fear the day Trenton leaves on his mission. He cried for at least an hour the last time Trenton went out of town for a few days. He loves one on one time with his grandparents. He's become more of a mommas boy. I L.O.V.E it! He is a morning person. Still a great sleeper but wakes up around 8 and immediately wants breakfast and cartoons. He is such a good big brother and is willing to help Teagan with almost anything. He hates change. His first friend moved away and it's been difficult for him to comprehend. He is still a picky eater but is willing to try new things. His usual meals still include: waffles, pop tarts, cereal, chocolate milk, quesadillas, mac and cheese, peanut butter sandwich, turkey, cheese, chicken nuggets, plain noodles, couple bites of meat, hot dogs (sometimes), watermelon, apples, oranges (sometimes), grapes, and his famous cucumbers sliced up. His food must be cut in certain shapes-usually circles. A quirk that is sometimes embarrassing but not worth a battle. We love our sweet handsome prince!

Here is how we celebrated his big 5:

First, his superhero friend party...

I am sure his thoughts are, "Hayden's 5, OH MY!"

Of course Rosie had to follow!

Enjoying some pizza

His friends that are ladies, Kensington and Amelia.
Designing goody bags
Lincolns attachment for awhile. A mask he used as a sunshade.
I know I have anxiety but does this stress anyone else out? Its like a mosh pit of children when present time rolls around!
Pretty pleased about his cupcake.
Pretty sweet huh? Brian designed this the night before. It will forever remind me of when our hard drive crashed for the second time. What a nightmare!

He had such a blast and nothings better than seeing the joy in your own child's face!

Next it was our family and friends of the family party...

These people have played a huge role in Hayden's life.

The co-founder :)

The griller of the dogs. Thanks Dad! Hayden cannot spend enough time with his Papa. Papa was in the room the day Hayden was born and has probably seen him almost everyday since. He is fully involved and loves to spoil his boy. They love movie night. Papa is by far the best story teller of us all.

We love Macee! She would do anything for our family! And most the time, she does.
The adopted uncle Tanner. The boys adore him.
Jon is SO GOOD to play with the kids. He is also a genius so I am pretty sure they got his brains. He is very responsible and can be trusted to do anything. Honestly, he is the guy I trust the most of anybody. It's an amazing quality to possess.
The man who made the bounce house possible. THANK YOU JUSTIN! The kids love Justin too. He plays with them non-stop when he is around. Pretty safe to say he will make an AMAZING Dad someday.
The kids with Helen. She was basically my daughter for a long time! Can you believe how tall she has grown? Plus, with blonde hair and blue eyes, she could pass as their sister!
My niece and nephews, Cooper, Brock, Addie, and Porter. The boys disappear when we are at family gathering. They are in good hands with these guys.

Hayden considers Gavin to be a friend and brother. He is literally confused at the amount of time spent with him. Gavin idolizes Hayden. They have pretty similar personalities and get along great.

This is my cousin Stacie and her husband Roy with their son Kelvin. When I was 5 and cut my head open, Stacie was selected as the "favorite cousin" to accompany me to the hospital where I got my first stitches. Thanks guys for coming and supporting Hayden turning 5! Let's hope his first stitches don't come this year!

Julie and Kelly. Love them. Julie was always babysitting me when I was younger and when she got married, I thought she was the coolest and luckiest girl ever. She is beautiful. Their kids are adorable and her son and my son could be twins separated by age :)

Favorite cousin of Hayd's. Need I say more? We love Rachel Sue!
The little broski. He can be a typical annoyance, but they can play real well together too!
Hayden with Presley. This is Julie and Kelly's youngest. Never thought they would have her but we are sure glad they did!
Words cannot even express these two. Kacey has always been there for me and for Hayden. She is like a second mom. We love her.
Halle arrived just weeks after Eden. I often wondered why my baby girl couldn't make it. Holding Halle is one of the most amazing and unreal feelings in the world. I will never be able to explain it all but babies are so close to the other side and I can feel her and see it in her eyes that she is constantly trying to tell me something. Hayden has claimed her. The marriage is arranged. He is protective of her and could hold her forever. It's kind of like the whole "imprinting" thing.
The cake.
Getting ready to make a wish!

Steve has been Brian's best friend since they were little guys like Hayden. Hayden and him love to rough house and watch documentaries. Sometimes we tease he is Hayden's son because they both start sweating in the car almost immediately even when the air is blowing.

Hayden may not remember living with his Great Grandma and Great Grandpa but I am glad we had that experience. They were able to develop a relationship with their first great-grandchild that they will probably never have with the others. He would always crawl up the stairs to go see them. Grandma would hold him while I showered and got ready for the day. I think he is the only one who's name she can remember.
My cousin Savannah and Meranda with the girls I used to nanny, Esther and Jane. My uncle moved right next door to them while I was nannying and I really tried to force friendship on them. Look, it worked :)
Although Hayden still remembers his dog Kobe we had for such a short while, Ali will be the only dog he has. For a LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG time. My mom claims she will be stuffed :)
I am amzed that so many of my bro's friends came. They all bought him a thoughtful gift too. Hayden loves the attention he gets when they are all at his grandparents house. I do too :)
Courtney is my cousin. She lives across the street from my grandparents. Her and her sister Cassidy would always come hold and play with Hayden.
Just because I love this picture
Yeah, about 99 percent of his gifts were some sort of gun. Haha. Thanks everyone!
Courtney and Hayden enjoying some dessert.
Cutest bikini and bikini wearer in the world.

It will be nearly impossible to top a bounce house, slip n slide, pinata, music blasting birthday party. So many people helped out and we are VERY grateful for all of our loved ones!

My niece has more pics of this event I can get later.

Next celebration was on Sunday at my parents...

He loves knights and dragons right now so I thought this castle was perfect.

His facial expression shows how particular he is about his toys. He's been indifferent about this one from the minute he opened it.

The cakes Grandma made.

Cute little faces!

He definitely had a great time celebrating. Just like I do, spread out the birthday as long as possible!