Abigail's Birthday

She's six years old now! It's so hard to believe that time has flown this quickly. She was fast asleep when I left this morning (at 7:00 A.M.) for Day Five of this week's five-day seminar in Thief River Falls, MN on Teaching American History (for both history and American literature teachers). But when I returned this afternoon, Abigail was the first person to greet me!

We talked about her day, and then she opened presents, getting clothes, dolls, art supplies, girlie things (purse, lip gloss, hair bows, etc.), savings bonds, school supplies, and a journal. The highlight of her haul? The diary. "Now I can write down all my thoughts." Actually, her method is to tell her thoughts to Suzanna, who then helps Abigail write them down. Maybe Abigail will be a more independent writer by the time she comes up with something truly secretive to put in her diary!

After presents, we went to Paradiso to eat. Abigail had her free birthday meal, and she got to wear the sombrero while they sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Then we went to Red Ray Lanes for bowling! That is something we never do as a family, so it was a real treat that everyone enjoyed. Susan showed off her bowling talent (by winning) and claimed that she learned it all from her grandma Laura, who has long been a league bowler. We ended the night at home with birthday cake and ice cream.

Yesterday was Abigail's birthday party with her friends. They had a pajama party in the middle of the day! They came wearing pajamas and carrying teddy bears and blankies. They made "Do Not Disturb" doorknob signs as a craft project. They ate French toast and sausage for dinner. They cuddled in their blankies and watched a "bedtime movie" after eating. They each received a personalized, tie-dyed T-shirt (made by Susan) and slipper socks as a lovely parting gift. The afternoon ended with cake and ice cream. Susan made the cake to look like kids sleeping in a bed; Twinkies were the bodies, marshmallows were the pillows, vanilla wafers were the faces (painted with cake decorations for eyes, mouth, and hair), and two colors of frosting were the sheets and bedspread. C-u-t-e!

Abigail has danced and sung her way through her first six years, and she danced and sang her way into Paradiso and throughout the bowling alley and into her bed tonight, too. I hope that, no matter how old she becomes, she never loses that light heart and airy spirit.

(More about the craft project: Suzanna wrote "No Boys Allowed" on her doorknob sign, then remembered me and added "Boys Allowed" to the back side of it. In anticipation of being tucked in, she had the "Boys Allowed" side showing when I came down to her room. We said prayers, talked about the day, and exchanged hugs and kisses. As I made for the door, she said, "Daddy? Would you flip the doorknob sign around now?")