My dearest Owen, 

Today you turned five. Five years old and everyday is gets sweeter as well as harder. Sweeter because watching you become this little gentleman is an amazing honor. You have the sweetest and most patient personality. And harder because watching you get older reminds me that there will soon come a time that you are no longer at home. You will go on to do amazing things and having a front row seat to it all is something that I will never stop being in awe of.

As a family we spent the day doing your favorite things. And when I pulled out my camera to photograph your annual birthday portraits, I knew that you were going to have none of it. The look on your face said it all as you flashed me that sly, crooked grin and ran to catch up with your brother and sisters.

While part of me wanted to pull you back and take the time for proper portraits, these photographs only bring a smile to my face. Because Owen, life as a five year old is this. It’s throwing the football around. It’s evening bike rides through the neighborhood. It’s chocolate milk mustaches and Sunday afternoon naps. It’s scraped knees from taking a spill, but getting right back up as soon as you have your Band-Aid and juice to go back out and do it all over again. It’s the sweetest adventures of boyhood in-between those fleeting moments of still wanting to crawl into bed and cuddle. Or sit on my lap as I read you a book. 

Life with you is a sweet adventure, Owen. Thank you for making motherhood magical. Happy birthday, my sweet boy. 

With every piece of me, 

Mom

(A look back at Owen’s 4th birthday and 3rd birthday)