My oldest son, Avery, is five years old today. He's been so excited for his birthday to arrive, and then this morning he woke up with a fever of 104. I felt horrible at the beginning of the day, but then you realize the thing with kids - he was just as happy spending the day watching TV with his mom & brother as he was going to school, going to dinner, etc. All we needed in the end was a birthday candle, a scoop of mint-chip ice cream from Dairy Queen, and a cool birthday present from his brother, Brandon. Instant birthday joy.

It also occurs to me that this day marks the five-year anniversary of my being a dad. I will resist the urge to wax philisophical, except to say this: I'm convinced I've got the best kids in the world. I'm also convinced that as long as I continue to believe that, and treat them as though I believe it, I will ultimately prove myself right.

Happy 5th, Avery. It's been a great ride. Somehow, though, I get the sense that the next five years will make it pale in comparsion...