It all started with waffles.
Mom said birthdays deserve waffles, so she made them with extra whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles on top. I even got to pour the syrup all by myself (a very big deal when you’re five). My little brother tried to steal some of my whipped cream, but I gave him the “I’m-five-now” look and he backed away. Respect the birthday.
I wore my favorite dinosaur shirt with the T-Rex wearing sunglasses, because birthdays require style. Dad said I looked like a rock star. Then he put a party hat on my head that was way too pointy and kept falling into my eyes, but I didn’t care. I was five. I was officially a big kid now.
Then came the balloons. So. Many. Balloons.
They were everywhere—on the floor, in the hallway, even in the bathroom. One popped and my dog barked for seven whole minutes. I named the blue balloon “Bobby” and carried him around like a sidekick. We went on many adventures before he floated up to the ceiling and got stuck in the light. Rest in peace, Bobby.
Then I heard a knock at the door, and guess what? Grandma showed up with a HUGE box. Like, bigger-than-me huge. I opened it, and inside was the most amazing, incredible, jaw-dropping thing ever—a cardboard spaceship! With windows and buttons and stars drawn all over it. We added stickers, glitter, and a “No Adults Allowed (Unless You Bring Cookies)” sign.
My friends came over too, and we played freeze tag and musical chairs. When the music stopped, someone always forgot to freeze and we all yelled “CHEATER!” but in the fun way. There was a piñata shaped like a cupcake, and I hit it so hard candy rained from the sky. I felt like a superhero. A candy-smashing, sugar-fueled superhero.
And then—cake time.
It was chocolate with blue frosting and five candles, and I made the biggest wish before I blew them out. I can’t tell you what I wished for, or it won’t come true, but let’s just say it involves a dragon, a skateboard, and a pet penguin named Scooter.
After cake, we had a dance party in the living room. There were glow sticks and bubble machines and someone put a banana on their head and danced like a chicken. I laughed so hard my belly hurt. Even Dad danced. He tried to moonwalk and knocked over a lamp. Legendary.
By the end of the day, my shirt had frosting on it, my hair had glitter in it, and my feet were bare and dirty from running in the backyard. I was sticky and sleepy and smiling so big my cheeks ached.
And just when I thought it was over, Mom tucked me into bed, kissed my forehead, and said, “Happy birthday, my sweet five-year-old.” And I whispered, “Thanks, Mom… best day ever.”
Then I paused. My eyes were already closing. But just before I fell asleep, I remembered one more important thing.
“Oh,” I said with a sleepy grin, “it was also my 5th birthday. 🥳”
