Elizabeth’s Journal

Birthday Preparations

Well, the scene is set . . . Dale wrapped all the presents, and they are laid out on a “Happy Birthday” banner in front of the fireplace. Tinsel decorates the light fixture over the breakfast table, streamers with “Happy Birthday” signs at the ends hang from the fan in the den, and “Happy Birthday” signs hang over the fireplace and in the window in the kitchen. Of course, the curtain of ribbons hangs over the entrance into the kitchen from the living room—I think this is three years in a row for that now, and so far he’s been completely delighted with it every time. I have the birthday hats and noisemakers from last year out on the island, and his birthday cards from everyone are at his place at the table. The finishing touch is that after taking him to the bathroom for the last time tonight, I’ll tie a bundle of “Happy Birthday” balloons to his doorknob so that he sees them when he wakes up in the morning. Five years—it hardly seems possible!

We’re not doing anything major since no one was travelling from another city, and it’s turned out that it’s a nice thought that we’re having a quiet birthday with just family (Jfer will come ‘round for cake and ice cream at the end of the day), as it will probably be many years before that happens again now that he’s being launched into school. Dale and I are looking forward to sharing this with him tomorrow! He’ll be at gymnastics camp from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., and then the rest of the day will probably be spent playing with his presents. I’m giving myself a bye this year on the cake (every other year we have made something together, from scratch) since there’s an infant in the house, so the only thing I have to do tomorrow is go buy a cake somewhere & get some ice cream.

It’s so hard to believe that he’s going to be starting school in four short weeks. I’m not ready for this! Don’t want to give him up to others for so many days a week. He beat the pants off of me at Monopoly Jr. today—got an $8 trap (two properties together so that the rent was doubled), and not once but TWICE I landed on the first one, paid my $8, and on the next roll got a “1” and landed on the second one and had to pay him $8 again! Needless to say, I lost through going bankrupt.