Ouest turned five today. She has been looking forward to this birthday for months and months. Eventually we had to put up a calendar and let her cross off the days as they ticked by. Part of her excitement no doubt came from us telling her that we didn’t want her to grow up any more—that she should just stay four forever. Because really, four was great. As a parent I have no complaints at all with age four. I can find a gripe or two about every year before it, but not for four. Four has been fun—she could talk to us, she could reason with us, she was eager to learn new things, she was adventurous, fearless, funny, sweet, and a million other superlatives.
Of course, I’ve no doubt that five will be nothing more than a continuation of all those great things that four dished out to us. It was just enjoyable to tease her about staying four. It’s fun to watch this tiny girl, so young, be so eager to grow. Fun, because I can remember that so well myself.
“Look at how big I’m getting, Papa.”
“How big do you think I’m going to be, Papa?”
She says these things almost daily. Meanwhile, as her papa, I’m torn between wanting her to stay exactly the way she is, and wanting to watch her grow into whoever she’s going to be.
Playa Tecolote, just a dozen miles down the road from La Paz. We’ve stayed here before in the VW bus, and we’ve sailed on through the channel many times as well. We were fortunate to get a couple of windless days—this place can be a lot less fun when the north winds are blowing.
Lowe’s gift to Ouest was a three-pack of headlamps. Kids can never have enough flashlights. An hour later they were both playing outside the bus when Ali and I overheard them talking—”Thank you for the present you picked out for me, Lowe. I really like it.”
She said this in the most sincere way imaginable. She really is a sweet girl.
If he got any further in he really would need that headlamp.
We basically gave her the worst present you could ever give a kid while at the beach—a skateboard. With nothing but a dirt road and soft sand all around us there was no way that skateboard could leave the house. Of course that fact didn’t stop her from asking if she could use it one hundred times. She even went so far as to scout the beach for hard packed sand.
“This sand is pretty hard over here, Papa. Please can I try my skateboard here?”
She’s been asking for a skateboard for a year now. At some point I told her, “Maybe when you’re five.” Well. Five.
I was always a terrible skater, despite my best efforts, so it was nice when, last month in San Diego, we watched a kid shred the skate park at the campground we were at. I asked him how old he was—eight. Then I asked him how long he’d been skating—since he turned five. Ouest listened closely and stared wide-eyed. Little did she know that there was a board tucked away under the couch just waiting for her.
She’d been planning for months to ask Santa for this, but there was no way Ali and I were letting him get the credit for this one.
Don’t expect special treatment just because it’s your birthday. This is war.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by headlamp light. Happy birthday, Ouest.
Ali, age five.
29 Comments on “Five Years”
Love this story.
Happy birthday, sweet girl!!!! Can’t wait to meet up next time and watch you shred on your new board!!
Special times. Savor them.
Happy Birthday, enjoy being 5, it’s even better than 4.
Happy Birthday Ouest. I love the bedtime story picture!
Hope the fairy tale continues..
Happy 5th Birthday!
What a beautiful birthday. The four of you on a beach all to yourselves (I think?). Five is amazing, but it it just keeps getting better and better. I’ve got 3 girls – almost 12, 14 and 16. It’s so much fun its ridiculous!!! Don’t let anyone scare you about tween (I hate that word) and teen aged girl years. But for now…enjoy FIVE!!!!!
Real life Fairy Tale. Happy Days!
you guys are in the sweet spot now.
Happy Birthday, Ouest! Our birthdays are exactly one day apart. Well, one day and 61 years!
What a great day! I’ll bet Lowe wishes she’d turn five everyday. It looks like he had a blast.
Wow, the shot of the bus on the beach with the balloons, that one is amazing to my eye.
Fab photos as always. I really love the look on Ouest’s face as she opens the long awaited skateboard! Happy Birthday!!
One of your best updates in years… enjoyed every word and picture.
Happy Birthday Ouest! I miss you. Grandma and Grandpa will bring you a birthday present from us when they come visit next month.
I hope your Papa told the Grinch story in his Grinch voice just like he did when your cousin Lea was five! She loved it so much.
Dr. Seuss is my favorite! I’ve got dozens of voices for his characters, but the Grinch is by far my favorite. We tell Ouest the story of us calling Lea from the Bahamas and me talking to her for half an hour in the Grinch voice while the phone racked up dollar a minute charges. 🙂
I so look forward to your blog stories with the excellent photos..This one takes the cupcakes!!!
Happy Birthday to the birthday girl!!
David
Happiness!
Sagittarians are the adventurers in the zodiac. She is so well suited to your lifestyle! I was born Dec. 14 and have been joyfully traveling the country in an RV since 2001. Love your family and your adventures!
Wow! Happy 5 Ouest! And, Pat, you really out-did yourself on this string of photos! Beautiful!
Happy birthday, Ouest! – And birthing day, Mama!
High five to you guys as parents for pulling together the birthday party so beautifully
Like wow. That is one hell of a birthday! My youngest son of 3 is 5 and its so much fun!
Happy 5th birthday Ouest!
Couldn’t have said it better myself. As a Dad of a daughter I love to watch her grow and discover new things but I struggle with her growing up as well. She’s only 14 months! You have to enjoy every moment.
Everyday for these kids is better than most kids’ birthdays.
How much you guys are to be admired for making such an incredible, indelible, wonderful childhood for your kids.
Happy fifth Ouest.
If the rest of your life is one fifth as wonderful as the first five years, well, YOU WIN.
And here is hoping that is the understatement of your whole life and your family’s too.
Happy Birthday Ouest!
Looks like you had a wonderful birthday, Ouest. But, every day is a celebration for you and your family. Such wonderful discoveries, people met, adventures to come. Have a wonderful time!!!! Love, Lorraine and Mike–still following you through the years…..
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind!
Dr Seuss.
Is there any better philosophy than dr Seuss?
with our 4 i have found (now 20, 18, 15 and 13) that the years just get better and better. i loved (and am loving) the teenage years – really they are the best yet (but i say that every time :)). the worries are different but the joy just gets more and more. enjoy!