elfs | Hippo Birdie Two Ewes, Kouryou-chan!

Well, today marks the end of Kouryou-chan's fifth orbit around Sol. She was lying in my arms this morning in the rocking chair, our usual morning ritual for waking up, and I whispered, "What day is today?"

"It's my birfday!"

"How old are you today?"

"Five years old!" She was very proud of that fact, despite her being otherwise half-conscious. I made her a breakfast of bran muffins and a yogurt smoothie and then we headed out to her school. After a few minutes of waiting around, Omaha and I went in to the class to have a "birthday celebration," a short fifteen-minute ritual in which the teacher discussed her accomplishments throughout her five years while she held a globe of the Earth and walked around a candle five times. It was very cute.

Now I have to get everything ready for the party tomorrow. Stop by the party store to pick up decorations and serving settings, arrange a cake somehow (I have two means, but neither has gotten back to me yet), and get gifts. I'm about to go crazy.