We teased a lot about Logan’s being Dennis the Menace, while we filled our roles as the old couple next door, the Wilsons.  We may still play George and Martha, but it officially came to an end today.  Dennis the Menace is a perpetual five-year-old, and Logan has outgrown him.

We sang Happy Birthday while Logan waited to blow out the candle.

Someone said, “We’ve gotta sing the family song.”  There was a little reluctance, but the whole family joined in.  I thought it was going to be something short and silly, but it was more like a polished show tune.  Shawn said she remembered her grandmother singing this birthday song, so it has been in their family a long time.

Logan was eager to show off his swing set, given by a neighbor whose children had outgrown it.  Our grandson Nathaniel offered to go around to the back of the house with him.  It was easy for me to step out on the deck above and get a quick shot of the six-year-old and the six footer swinging together.  It wasn’t until I saw the photo that I realized the frame was set up as only neighbor Bob would have done it.  Two logs made a solid footing on one end.  Living on the edge of a sloping mountain calls for level-headed ingenuity.

The gift that was the hit of the party was a sprinkler.  You load a ball at the top, and it spirals down to be shot up in the air by the water.  Amazingly, the ball sometimes stayed on top of the spray for a minute or so.  The young children put on swimsuits and got soaking wet.  Grandsons David and Nathaniel were right there in the action, but they knew how to avoid the spray.

The party ended on a quieter level as Logan challenged David to a game of checkers.