5-year-old birthday -- COOPER STYLE!

I think Cooper's birthday was about the most rewarding thing I've done in a long time. He was SUPER excited, wanted to be SURPRISED about everything (wouldn't even tell us what he wanted, cause then it wouldn't be a surprise if he got it), and had SO much fun. The look on his face made it all worth it!

**The Day Before**

Cooper brought treat's to preschool, since he wouldn't be having preschool on his birthday. He didn't want to bring cupcakes (good thing, since it was also another girls' birthday, and she brought cake), he wanted to bring his "favorite snack". 100 calorie packs of Ritz Snack Mix, "the red ones"... and Indiana Jones fruit snacks.

Gunner, Beckett and I surprised him by showing up to his school at snack time. I got to see him get his crown, hand out his snack, and get sung to. 

Then we stayed for "share time", since Wednesdays are his "share day". He brought this picture and showed himself growing up. 

He said, "This is me when I was 1, this is me when I was 2, 3, 4, and then my mom put a super big 5, because I am going to be 5, and this is the coolest picture, when I was 1, because I am holding a baseball." It was so fun. Then we stayed for story-time before it was time to leave. Gunner loved being part of the class, and sitting on a big-boy carpet. 

**The Night Before**

Cooper was so excited in anticipation of his birthday. We had told him over the last month, or so, that we were going to "the coolest place ever" for his birthday. Andrew told him the story of his birth, and what we were doing 5 years ago tonight. It was fun to see him get excited about when he was a baby. He insisted that when he woke up, he would walk into the living room, and we would yell, "surprise!".  

**Morning**

Cooper walked into the living room through streamers to balloons, sill string, and us yelling "surprise!". He was SO excited. He completed a TREASURE HUNT through the house (one of the boys' favorite things to do with Dad), to find his first present (Sonic Math for the Leapster).

**Clue #2**

Preschool, where we had to go for his parent-teacher conference. He played outside with Gunner, and found his next clue on the playground.

**Clue #3** 

A picture of his buddy, Zander Bell, who was on his way to the preschool to deliver the next clue, and join us for Cooper's day of fun.

**Clue #4**

Picture of SONIC, Cooper's favorite place to eat. We went to lunch there. He got his favorite... mozzarella sticks and chocolate milk. In his bag of food he found the next clue.

**Clue #5**

A picture of the GREAT WOLF LODGE!!! An indoor waterpark on the other side of the city. He was SOOOO excited! Especially when he found out we already had his swimsuit, and stuff to stay the night in the car. 

**SWIMMING!**

We checked in to the motel. They have a military special of $109/night for 2 days of swimming for up to 5 people, and your hotel room! We started swimming and the boys were in HEAVEN. Cooper immediately started running around doing all the slides. It is so fun that he learned to swim this summer too. He even got to the point where he was carrying his OWN TUBE up all the stairs, and riding the biggest slides BY HIMSELF! We were so proud of him. It took Zander and Gunner a little bit to warm up to the slides, but they each, eventually, did them ALL! Gunner's favorite were the tube slides.

The Bells (Zander's parents, sister, and Grandma) joined us too! Beckett loves the water too! It was SO much fun.

**PIZZA PARTY**

We ordered pizza and had dinner and a party in the hotel room. It was a "swimming/water/fish" theme. I made this snorkeler cake.

We also had swedish fish, sour octopuses, goldfish crackers and pretzels, and whale crackers.

We opened presents, had cake, and played a fishing game for prizes. The boys loved the noise makers too.Taking a bite of the cake is a tradition in our family. 

Thanks to the Waites and Sinemas for the Star Wars Lego sets! Thanks to both sets of Grandparents and Greats for their $$money$$! He has already bought some Indiana Jones Legos. Thanks to the Bells for the Hulk boxing gloves and the tool set! Thanks to Gunner for the Bumblebee Transformer! Cooper also got a Razor scooter, his own set of scriptures (paperback with his name engraved), a couple games, Lego Batman for the Wii, a nerf football.

**SWIMMING DAY 2**

The next day the boys were excited to get back out there! We swam from 9am-3pm straight! Cooper loved swimming the lazy river today too. 

**T-REX CAFE**

Before we headed home, we ate at this really neat restaurant. Our table was INSIDE a Triceratops! There were tons of aquariums, HUGE dinos, bugs moving all over, lava flowing, fire burning... it was just too cool. Cooper loved being sung to. He picked out a cute dino pen and notepad, and Connie (Zander's Grandma) got him a souvenir plate too! 

**COLD STONE** 

As if we hadn't had enough fun, we stopped at Cold Stone too for Cooper's free birthday creation.

Thanks for the greatest time ever, Coop! You make everything so fun! I can't wait to see how fun Christmas is with a 5-year-old!