After the party @ Uncle Mike & Aunt Honey's house, we moved our gang out to the waterpark for some summertime fun!

We had a BLAST!!! Reilly didn't want to leave until they closed the place down! He said it ALL when he said "BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!"

On Reilly's birthday, per tradition, we wake him up singing "Happy Birthday".... with pancakes.




Next, he opens a present or 2 from Mommy & Daddy.




Then later, it was party time! (Hosted by the wonderful Uncle Mike & Aunt Honey)

As if all that wasn't cool enough, Uncle Mike & Aunt Honey arranged for a special surprise guest to SWING by...









Nope, you're not seeing double. That's SPIDER-MAN!!!



Reilly was flabbergasted!! At first, he couldn't believe his eyes. Then, this boy who has never been anywhere in the vicinity of "shy" a day in his life- just kept saying, "I'm so nervous!!"



He gave a few "web-shooting" lessons



Spider-Man even took time out from his busy crime-fighting schedule to pose for pictures with our friends...



Reilly didn't even need to make a wish before he blew out his candles... he was already living every little boy's dream!!





It just doesn't get more magical than that.








*** Don't worry, Spider-Man.... you're secret identity is safe with Joey and I. ****

Well, our baby boy is 5 years old. Utterly unbelievable. I remember seeing him sitting up in the floor as a baby, and staring at him in wonder- because there was no way I could picture in my head him walking and talking someday. Kinda crazy that now it's hard to picture him sitting still in the floor like that.




As usual, Reilly's birthdays make me nostalgic, since I am the most sentimental fool. ;) Now that he's 5, I feel like I'm saying a real goodbye to his baby days, which at times I truly miss.























But I wouldn't trade where he is now for the world. He amazes me almost daily- he is so fun to be around and converse with. It has been both a pleasure and a privilege to help mold this incredible boy into who he is today.


He's like a dream that finally comes true, but when it does- the REALITY makes the dream pale in comparison. He is a miracle, he came right through me... and I have been blessed to have experienced his awesomeness for longer than anyone else. Reilly is like an amazing secret that I've kept to myself for 5 years, and now I'm beginning to share him with the world... just a bit. :)

He has handed me the heartiest- to the CORE- laughter of my life. He is helpfulness in its purest form- with no wish for repayment. He has a precious heart, he is compassionate, affectionate, and has kind words to say about everyone... even not-so-perfect strangers. He loves to make us laugh and be in on every practical joke. His vocabulary- staggering. His comprehension- alarming.

I love his curiousity and enthusiasm for things I don't even notice. He is.... refreshing. With so much cynicism and pessimism in the world- being in his presence is energizing.

He is a boy in perpetual motion.

He is strong-willed and stubborn. (Don't quite know where he got that from.)

He is my protector. The "Man of the House" while Daddy is away. (Bugs and Bad Guys BEWARE.)

He has very discriminating taste buds. (He can tell the difference between the orange and green Apple Jacks... others didn't believe it at first, but he passed their tests repeatedly.)

He is a gentleman who holds open doors for ladies of all ages.

He is quite charming, which is why he so easily makes friends everywhere we go. His fans are everywhere. (Banks, restaurants, hair salons, you name it.)

He laughs in his sleep.

His loves are: GOD, his family, his friends, Hot Wheels, books, Corvettes, organization, Hiding and then popping out to terrify, donuts, fruits & veggies, animals, super-hero costumes, anything you can cover in syrup, Spider-Man, Transformers, movie nights, togetherness, swimming, climbing, jumping, playing sports, dancing, and making his family smile to name just a few.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY TO THE COOLEST KID IN THE WORLD. WE LOVE YOU REILLY BEAR!

**** Tradition #1 ****
Every year on his birthday, we dress Reilly in Daddy's white shirt and take his picture in the exact same location. (Just so we can see how much he's grown!) It's a really fun birthday tradition, and here they all are- from year 1 to now.

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

4th Birthday

5th Birthday


and here's my favorite one from this year:


**** Tradition #2 ****
Last year, we started a new tradition with Reilly on his birthday... we video-recorded and "interview" with him. We asked him a whole long list of questions, like what are all his favorite things, etc. (And got some pretty interesting answers!!) We started this because we thought it would be priceless to be able to look back when he's all grown up, and see EXACTLY who he was at every age, and the amazing ways he changed.

Here are just of few of his answers from this year:

Reilly Interview- 5th Birthday

What is your favorite food?
"Donuts"

What is your favorite color?
"Red"

What have you learned since you were 4?
"Never to touch irons"

How high can you count?
"to 100, but I sometimes get stuck."

What do you want to be when you grow up?
"A racecar driver"

What do you do that gets you into trouble?
"Growl at Mommy when I'm mad"

What is your favorite book?
"Curious George Makes Pancakes"

What is your favorite type of music?
"80's"

What is your favorite CD right now?
"J.T." (That's Justin Timberlake for those who don't know)

What is your favorite thing that God made?
"Trees"

If you were old enough to drive, what kind of vehicle would you choose?
"A Mercedes, like Uncle Mike & Aunt Honey"

Who is your hero?
"Daddy"

Who is your best friend?
"Spider-Monkey, and Trinity and Mommy" (Spider Monkey is his stuffed monkey from Build-A-Bear.)

Where would you like to live when you grow up?
"a bakery...... HA HA HA. Just kidding, an apartment."



That boy, he is one in a million!!! Hope you enjoyed these as much as we did!!!

Aunt Honey took these AWESOME pictures of the elusive Spider-Reilly...