A happy heart ...

Times Five!

That's what we have today after a morning full of surprises with Grandma and Papa J.

My mom and dad met Ethan and I at our house this morning for our "surprise" trip. Ethan was very excited, but as we pulled up to the mall and went inside he seemed a bit disappointed. I'm sure he was wondering what on earth could be that exciting for a kid inside the mall.

I suppose we're a bit un-conventional or something because we've kind of taken a back seat to many of the "have to" things most kids have done by age 5. Ethan hasn't been to Disneyland or Disneyworld (although I'd like to change that in the next 10 years). In fact, on the way to the mall he was talking about when he and Grandma went to Disneyland. After a few minutes we figured out he meant going to "Playhouse Disney Live" last year for his birthday. In fact sometimes he thinks the Disney store at the mall is Disneyland ... boy will that be a big surprise if we ever make it to the "happiest place on earth." On a smaller scale, he's only been to one movie, he hasn't been to Chuck-E-Cheese (insert Hallelujah chorus) or Pojo's (a local game place ... again ... hallelujahs). And most important to today, he hasn't been to Build-A-Bear.

And you know what? I'm so glad he has never been, because he's at this precious age of still being a little kid and just starting to come into the world of being a big kid. I think he's at the perfect age to fully appreciate it all. He was so in awe of the store and how the machine worked and the whole process. It was absolutely the best watching him take it all in. And I know a year or two ago he would have been overwhelmed and wanted nothing to do with something so "unknown" and in a year or two it will all be too "babyish." But today he loved it. And my parents loved it and I loved watching it all. And we were the only ones in the store the whole time getting to soak in the experience.

We now have a new little pup in the house, Ranger, the black lab. Who also has a happy heart, held to Ethan's heart, kissed, wished upon and placed inside by Ethan. He has become fast friends with Tracker (the basset hound) and Puppy (the German shepherd).

Build-A-Bear was followed by a birthday lunch at Red Robin with balloons, freckled lemonade (a little lunch) and a sundae to finish. And as we drove home, Ethan told Grandma and Papa that "this was the best surprise ... ever."


Five Happy Hearts - Mine, Ethan's, Grandma's, Papa's & Ranger's

Happy Day!