Bow's Ninth Birthday

Today was Bow's birthday. He is nine years old. He had a party, and balloons, and cake, and presents and guests. It was his choice. I actually wasn't sure whether he wanted to have a party this year. He isn't always that happy when people come over, and he isn't always that nice to guests, so I hesitated. Both Lawrence and I asked him specfically whether he wanted a party, each separately. Bow said he did want a party. He even told me that he wanted presents.

Yesterday afternoon, Bow made specific suggestions for who the guests should be. He had some particular people in mind.  Nothing was settled well in advance, but it was definitely the party that Bow wanted.

He was very excited all day long. He could not wait till the party would start. It was scheduled for three pm. He wanted it to start earlier, and he was impatient, but he waited. When the time arrived, and we had our quorum of two adults, three children, and two teenagers, he was so excited and sang along with the birthday song. However, when an additional guest arrived late, after the cake had been served, and some of the presents distributed, he was not as cordial to the new arrival, making territorial displays. When attending a chimpanzee birthday party, punctuality is a must!

Bow had a great day, but he hasn't opened all his presents yet. He usually draws that out over several days. He certainly enjoyed his balloon, though!

Bow Helps Proof "Ping & the Snirkelly People"

Even though there is still snow on the ground, we are no  longer snowed in. Sword went to spend the night at a friend's house, and encouraged by the example of the friend's mother who was able to drive all the way down our driveway, I took the opportunity when Bow went to sleep last night to pick up my mail from the post office box and to restock my store of apples, bananas and grapes. I finally have the proof of Ping & the Snirkelly People.

When I showed it to Bow this morning, he was very interested. He looked at it for a while, then he took me to the glass and spelled: "It's a big book."

"Yes," I said. "It is big. Do you think people will want to buy it?"

"Yes," he spelled. Well, if Bow thinks so, then we might have a chance!

Snowed In, but Still Keeping Ourselves Amused

We've been snowed in now since Tuesday. Lawrence did not come in at all this week. We have plenty of food, though, because Sword and I went to Wal*Mart and stocked up just before the blizzard. For the past couple of days I have been amusing myself by editing a video trailer for my upcoming book, Ping & the Snirkelly People. Between numerous interruptions, Bow let me do this.

Bow seemed uninterested in the snow, and didn't ask to go out at all, until today. In the morning, he went all the way to the door of the outer pen, but then changed his mind and asked to play with his shoe indoors, instead. He especially wanted to play a game of his own invention, where I put on the single shoe and chase him around the pen.

This afternoon, I decided to try to take some pictures of the outer pen with the laptop camera, but the pictures were too flooded with light from the reflected snow.

However, safe and snug inside the inner  pens, Bow got a big kick out of posing.