It was a blast. Like last year, Miriam had her party at a gymnastics school. Like last year, David spent the first 10 minutes holding my hand, hanging back, and not following directions. Unlike last year (where he spent the next 40 minutes doing the same thing), after that he jumped right in. It was so exciting to see all the kids bounce on the trampoline, swing from the rings, run down the tumble track. Just lots and lots of fun.

Since Miriam is the oldest of the cousins, her birthday comes as a shock to me every year. Eight? We have an eight year old in the family? Everyone warned me the little kid years would go fast. I didn't believe them as I agonized through sleepless nights and rattled around the house with cranky clingy children, but I'm starting to see time speed up.