So finally the kids’ birthday season is done for this year, and I have 10½ months of breathing space before it starts up again. The highlights of Lydia’s birthday (at least from my perspective) were to-die-for apple pies with homemade vanilla sauce and bowling in funny hats. I think the bowling was high on Lydia’s list, too, and also the surprise “grab bags” we found for cheap at the local costume-jewelry store, but nothing, of course, could outshine the Crocs. Those things have scarcely been off her feet for the past two weeks, even today when the rain is coming down in buckets.