Annabel has been obsessed with turning five…pretty much since the day after she turned four. To her, five is a magical age where just about anything can happen. Almost every day she started a sentence with, “When I’m five…” and the words that followed were always adorable and sweet. I started writing down what she said, and I wanted to share my favorites today, the day she turns the magical age of five.
When I’m five, I’ll be a little bit different. I’ll be a little bossy, like a grown up.
When I’m five, I’ll need to learn how to be braver, and really work on getting my brain smarter.
When I’m five, I’ll probably still be a little bit crazy.
When I’m five, I won’t change right away on the outside…my hair might get a little longer, and maybe a little more curled. But my teeth are going to get wiggly and fall out. It’s probably going to happen soon. Then the tooth fairy will bring me ten million dollars!
When I’m five, I’ll learn how to build things, and get interested in following directions.
When I’m five, I’m going to be able to write books AND I’ll be able to read them. I want to write books that grownups and kids will all like! Maybe some scary stories, but nothing TOO scary because I want James to like them.
When I’m five, I think I’ll be able to play baseball, so the Giants or the Dodgers will probably want me on their team.
When I’m five, I am going to eat more soup and salad.
When I’m five, I’ll be too old to ride in a shopping cart…but I can push James! I’ll push him REALLY fast and I probably won’t crash him.
When I’m five, I’m going to watch more superhero movies and get better at helping people.
When I’m five I won’t be old enough to babysit James, but I can give him baths and put him to bed and stuff.
When I’m five I’ll be too old for Dora and Yo Gabba Gabba, but I can finally watch Equestria Girls and Jessie.
When I’m five, I’m going to go off the diving board! I’ll scream like I’m four, though.
When I’m five, I’m going to make an invention that gives kids that aren’t as lucky as me presents!
When I’m five, I’ll be old enough to go on the big slides at the water park! And I want to go to the dentist, and Legoland, and the snow.
Life is gonna get a lot harder when I’m as old as my whole hand…but probably better, too.
Happy birthday to my best girl! I hope five is everything you want it to be. I love you, Annabel!
Becca says:
omgosh – these are incredible!! My favs: “..and I probably won’t crash him” and “I’ll scream like I’m four, though”. Priceless.
Happy Birthday, Annie!
Annalien says:
These two were my favorites as well! These statements clearly show her as an extremely intelligent and caring little girl.
I hope being 5 years old is all that you envisaged it to be, Annie!
tiffany says:
It’s good that she “probably won’t” crash her brother I to anything. That made me actually lol. Reading about your kiddos is such a treat!
Michele says:
These cracked me up! I hope you’ve been saving your pennies, Heather, because it sounds like the Tooth Fairy has an expensive year ahead. Then again, Annie will probably get a nice signing bonus from the Dodgers or the Giants. Happy birthday to a great girl!!
Shea says:
Oh girl, I don’t know if five will bring you a better ability to follow directions and build things. I’m 27 and still have trouble with Ikea furniture! Haha she is too cute, happy birthday Annie!
Johanna says:
I love these! My favorites are the one about building things and following directions and the one where she will scream like she is still four. Annie is quite the character. Happy 5th Birthday Annie. May all your dreams and predictions come true.
Sinead says:
They are adorable. What a great idea to write them down to help you remember. Happy birthday Annie. xxx
Pat Connor says:
Happy Birthday Annie! You will rock at being 5.
Kristen E says:
The “soup or salad” one cracked me up.
In the picture she looks like such a little lady! Happy birthday, Annabel!
Jill says:
This is most adorable thing ever. Seriously! I love that she said these things and I love that you recorded them. So awesome.
kristen says:
So sweet! Happy birthday, Annabel! Hope 5 is everything you dreamed of!
Susan says:
So cute. I really really enjoyed 5 and 6. Just a fun time and big enough to start doing more intense fun stuff =) I love Annie’s going to be more bossy and pushing her brother in the car and she probably won’t crash….LOL.
Valerie says:
“I’m going to scream like I’m four” = PRICELESS!!
Eric says:
Adorable!! But for your/Mike’s sake, I hope the one about watching “Jessie” doesn’t come true. That’s the only Disney Channel show that would be a serious downgrade from Dora!
Kirsty says:
Whilst I agree that “Jessie” is pretty dire, I have to admit to finding most of them pretty much torture (here in France they’re dubbed into French and all the girls have horrible, high, squeaky voices – “Liv&Maddie” are the worst), and have a hate/hate relationship with “Violetta” (which you may not get as it’s set in Argentina, but it’s HUGE here. And brainless. And profoundly irritating)…
Mel G says:
Liv&Maddie… is that the one that goes BAM! WHAT! in the promo?? That has to be the worst one.
Mel G says:
And now I have that in my head
Courtney says:
Happy Birthday, sweet Annabel!
Shannon says:
SO funny! My daughter did the same thing when she was turning 5 almost two years ago. She would constantly tell me that 5 is Magical! When she turned 5 she was going to ride a big girl bike. When I’m 5 I will go to school! 5 is her favorite number and that meant it was even cooler to be 5! So fun! It’s such a fun age. Happy Birthday to Miss Annie!!! And 5 IS magical
Marjorie Steele says:
Happy Birthday Big Girl!!! I hope being 5 is everything you want and expect it to be!
Lisa says:
Happy Birthday Annie!!! I can’t believe she is 5 already!
Rachel says:
This post is awesome & I hope 5 is everything she is hoping for and more. =) Happy Birthday Annabel!
Kathryn M says:
Happy Birthday to Annie!!!! (hands up in the air!!!) Hooray!
Vicky says:
Those are awesome.
Damita says:
Very cute!! Happy Birthday Annabel!
TANIA says:
HAPPY HAPPY HATCH DAY!!!
rc says:
So sweet! I hope she doesn’t crash James in the shopping cart. LOL
Happy birthday, Annabel!
Missy says:
Happy Birthday beautiful girl! My now almost 7-year-old’s declaration for 5 when she was 4? “When I’m 5, I’m going to scoop out the “glitter” box.” (aka the cat litter box)
Donna P says:
These are awesome and this should be a kid’s book!
noelle says:
Oh that would be the cutest book ever! Happy birthday!
Molly says:
Perfection.
Ashley says:
I love this! Happy Birthday Annie!!! (all the way from Oklahoma!) My Jax will be 5 in 30 days! He is so excited. I hope 5 is one of the best years EVER for them both!
Doctor Zhivago says:
Happy Birthday Annie!
Connie says:
Happy Birthday Annie! I love the one where she says she’s going to make an invention that gives kids who aren’t as lucky as she is presents. What a sweet heart she has!
Anna says:
I was going to say the same thing! So touching. She is a good girl.
Julie says:
My own sweet girl turned 5 yesterday (it’s been great fun following your blog all these years knowing our girls are the same age!) and you are absolutely spot on with this one – there is just something magical to them about the age of 5! My birthday girl told me yesterday that she has been waiting allllllll year to finally turn five and she can’t believe it is finally here and she is going to do So.Much.Stuff. Happy birthday to your sweet Annabel.
Sandra says:
5 is such a magical age! My little just turned 5 on the 13th, and she woke up screaming “I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life!!”
Sandra says:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE!! Hope you do all those things and more! Enjoy being 5!!
Glenda says:
SWEET!!! she wants to babysit James and jump off the slide like she’s four lol
When my son was 5 I gave him a dollar and he said “one million dollars” I think that’s sweet that Annie says 10 million
Happy, Happy Birthday Annie! May five be everything you imagine it to be and then some more! xx
Jackie F. says:
Loved every single one of these. The ones that made me giggle though were being interested in following directions, “probably” not crashing James and screaming like a 4 year old off the diving board.
Laura says:
Happy birthday Annie!
Alexandra says:
I hope your beautiful daughter has an amazing birthday!
Heather says:
The two best ones are “When I’m five, I’m going to go off the diving board! I’ll scream like I’m four, though.” and “Life is gonna get a lot harder when I’m as old as my whole hand…but probably better, too.”
Totally precious. And priceless. Thank you, Heather for sharing all of those with us!
Beverly says:
Happy 5th Birthday Annie! I hope you are having the best day ever!
kathig says:
she’s just an amazingly brilliant, creative, beautiful, and oh my gosh, so hilarious, little girl. Happy 5th Annie!
Lilian says:
Happy Birthday beautiful Annabel! You are now five and that gives you permission to argue with your Mom and Dad, and boss James around (and Rigby of course). Enjoy this year Annie, it belongs to you!!!! Lilian xxx
Rita A. says:
Happy Birthday sweet Annabel! I hope your big heart doesn’t pop out of your generous chest before you get around to making that invention to give presents to kids less fortunate than you. What a kid! Good work Heather & Mike.
amourningmom says:
Happy happy birthday Annie! I hope that this year is as amazing as you are. ????????????????????????
Jordan says:
happy birthday sweet, beautiful Annie! My favorite has to be, “When I’m five, I’m going to make an invention that gives kids that aren’t as lucky as me presents!” Shows what an amazing young lady she is!
Hope 5 is as magical as you imagine it to be, Annabel!
Kakali says:
Happy Birthday to Annie! You have a very gifted daughter Heather! Those sentences what she said were quite complicated for a 5 years old little girl! I am very impressed! She is going to rock the world one day!
Jeanie says:
Happy birthday, Annie. You’re a smart little girl, and I have no doubt you’ll be able to do most of those things.
(She wants to go to the dentist? Yikes!)
Paula R. (fka preTzel) says:
Little Miss Annie turns five. Half of a decade. How has it flown by so fast.
Her quotes are hilarious. I still scream like I’m four sometimes.
Five is a magical age. She will start Kindergarten. Her teeth will fall out. And she might, just might, be able to start writing little books.
That invention? Made my heart go thump. What a big – hearted darling she is.
cj says:
happy, happy birthday to your lovely daughter!
Kylene says:
Amazing heart and ideas in that little head! Wishing you a Fabulous year of being 5 Annie!
Colleen says:
This is adorable! Happy 5th Birthday Annie!
Nicole S says:
I can’t believe she’s 5!! When she was born I was 3 months pregnant with my first child, my daughter, crying and cheering you on every time I read one of your posts. I can’t wrap my head around her being 5 already.
Happy Birthday, Annie!
Jess says:
Heather, these would make a great children’s book if you included illustrations!
LindaW says:
eat more soup and salad and get interested in following directions hahah ahhh she’s too funny. happy birthday annie!
“Life is gonna get a lot harder when I’m as old as my whole hand…but probably better, too”
life does get harder as you get older, but also better at the same time. very sharp girl!
Pam L. says:
Look at you, happy and proud, 5 year old, Annie!
I love your enthusiasm for turning 5 years old and your goal list for your year ahead!
Wishing you a year filled with lots of fun and adventure!
Lenora says:
Beautiful and sweet and compassionate!
Cathy K. says:
Happy 5th Birthday Annie, hope all your dreams come true!
Lucy says:
Happy happy 5th Birthday dear Annabel, you’ve made the World brighter with your smile!
DefendUSA says:
As we say in our house…Annabel, you are now one hand old!!! And I am ten hands old. Yikes. If I were five again…I would still tell you I want to be a nurse…Happy Birthday!!
Casey says:
“I’ll eat more soup and salad,” LOL!!!! Happy Birthday, Annie!
Karen says:
Tell Annie that at 39….I still say I am going to eat more soup and salad! lol
She is so precious and beautiful inside and out. I tell my son often that looks come and go but the kindness inside his heart makes me the most beautiful person I know.
Lisa says:
It’s fantastic that you have these in writing – not only because they’re so cute and sweet, but also so you can remind her that at 5, she’d be interested in listening to directions!
Also, can’t help but love that she’ll want to go see snow! You’re more than welcome to help make that happen for her in Denver!
You and Mike sure have a pretty impressive and incredible young lady!
HAPPY (late) BIRTHDAY TO ANNIE!!
April_S says:
Aaaah, happy birthday Annie!! How wonderful to hear her thoughts and ideas I hope you can take her to snow day at James’ school next month! (I’m at the same school with my 19 month old and I cannot wait for snow day!!!!)
JustAMom says:
Your Annie reminds me of my own girl SO much – the struggles you’ve had as well as all the amazing wonderful things that come with having a child that is so animated and opinionated. I’ve loved watching her grow because she reminds me so much of my girl and brings back so many memories. So that being said……. please, PLEASE trust me when I tell you – NO JESSIE!!!! JUST NO!!!!!!! The minute she discovered that show, the sass was off the charts – and not in a good way. It broke my heart because she loves to be funny and make people laugh – and she started imitating what she saw on that shoe and I had to stop her and tell her NO – that is NOT funny. She truly didn’t get it. Watch a few episodes yourself before you let her watch it, pay extra special attention to Zuri and ask yourself if you want Annie talking to you or others like that! It might make for entertaining TV – but IRL it’s not so cute!!
Wendy says:
How lovely
Kris says:
She’s the best! Love her to bits! Five is a great age, I might try it again!
Nicole says:
She is such an amazing kiddo!
Lisa says:
Annie is a good girl. I love this!