Strikes, Spares and Splits

Can you guess what we did today?! You bowling fanatics probably knew right away that the title of this entry must mean that we spent some time at the bowling alley. You are quite correct. Today, Dan and I took charge of 15 four-and-five-year-old bowlers, for Beth's fifth birthday party. There was some mild chaos, as the little ones threw balls down the lanes when it was actually someone else's turn, and more than one ball got stuck in the middle of the lane after being rolled verrrrry slowwwwwly by a tiny and quiet little girl, but all-in-all the children seemed to have a great time lobbing the balls toward the pins. Of course, the bumpers were up, so there were no gutter balls, and Beth even bowled a strike, after the ball bounced off the bumper and smashed square into the middle pin.

After cake and ice cream in the party room, we headed home, with a very happy birthday girl in the back seat. Planning birthday parties can be quite a bit of work, but it seems so important to recognize the significance of another year gone by. These first five years have been a time of incredible change and growth for Beth, and I am proud of the little person she has become. Over the last year she has truly grown into a helpful, cheerful big sister, always (well, almost always) willing to help me with tasks around the house. Each day she comes home from school eager to tell me about her new accomplishments. After enduring those few toddler years of temper tantrums and stubborn behavior, it is such a joy to watch her now.

Of course, she is not five yet, as she is quick to point out. There are still 4 more days until her "real" birthday. So for now, I'll keep enjoying special time with my four-year-old...there will be time enough to get to know my grown-up little five-year-old in the year ahead.