Sylvie is 5: Part I (The Interview)

Yep, our first born baby is five. And while this will be Part I of her birthday, it may take Parts VI and VII to get in all of the birthday action. Let me tell you, 5 year-olds know how to party.

Since we are taking the year off from parties, Sylvie's birthday celebration was a family camping trip up to Big Bear last weekend. Then today, on her actual birthday, she had her favorite lunch (In-N-Out Burger) with cousin Amanda and the grandmas, followed by some pampering with manis and pedis. Then she came home to a scavenger hunt set up by her Daddy that involved finding balloons she had to pop (he made her a fantastic popping tool out of an apple and toothpicks) and in each balloon there was $1 and a clue on where to find her next clue. Until the end, when it led her to her biggest birthday surprise: a ball python. Yes, a real, live snake lives in her room. A little crazy, I know, but recall that at 3 years-old Sylvie insisted on dressing up as a snake for Halloween. In her birthday interview at 3 her favorite animal was a snake; in her birthday interview at 4 her favorite animal was a snake; and you will see below that in her birthday interview at 5 her favorite animal is a snake. Her fascination with snakes is long and well-documented and she is SO in love with her new snake. I have a picture of her holding it and gazing at it like a newborn baby, she has measured it with her tape measure, she spent some time researching the care of ball pythons on the Internet and, like all parents, she is really struggling to choose the perfect name. It really is a wish come true for her.

The celebration continues tomorrow. In the photo below, you can see the alien cupcakes Sylvie and Thomas made for her to take to school.

Sylvie's Birthday Interview at 5:

Favorite Color: "Blue"

Favorite Dinner: "Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Pineapple Pizza, Hot Dogs, All of Those"

Favorite Treat: "Lemon Cake"

Future Job: "A Mermaid and a Diver and a Magician. That's gonna be hard work."

I Feel Most Happy: "When you tickle me"

I Feel Sad: "When someone bites me." [Me: Who ever bit you?] "One of Dylan's cats."

Favorite Thing to do with Elinor: "For her to sit in my lap or put on court shoes and walk around the house."

Favorite Animal: "Zebra and Snake"

Favorite Swimming Animal: "Bugs"

Favorite Thing at School: "Play with Ava and Surprise Can. I get the one with the ribbons - haha!"