8.

I should mention that at this point
I was beyond anxious for each birthday
being the most extremely youngest kid in my class

At this point my sister was having birthday parties too
and they all followed a similar theme

backyard // decorate homemade cupcakes // play non-dangerous versions of traditional games

so I'm guessing that was what happened on this birthday

and Robina was there
(probably).

7.

I invited some friends from school.
A girl in my class was sad to not get invited
so I told her maybe I'd invite her next year
and we actually became friends over the next year

and Robina was there
(probably).

6.

I was half in kindergarten and half in first grade. I invited friends from school. Half were in kindergarten and half were in first grade.

We sat in a circle on the living room floor to open presents.
I didn't know yet
that you weren't supposed to kiss your friends
so when I opened each present
I kissed that friend in turn.

Halfway through opening presents was when I learned
so then I asked if they wanted a kiss or a hug
(they all chose hugs).

5.

I don't remember much, except I was sad because it meant that I would not get to go to preschool anymore.

(Luckily they don't kick you out the second you turn 5.)

4.

I had a party in the backyard.
My friends from preschool came, and my friends from swim & gym, and the neighbor friends.
We played beanbag toss. My mom made beanbags with each child's first initial sewn on.
I had lemon cake with lemon frosting.
At that birthday party, I charted out what type of cake I would have for every birthday in the imaginable future: 5, 6, and 7.

(I stuck to it.)

3.

I wore light pink overalls.
The table was covered in presents.
I sat in my chair.
I put my hands in my pockets, leaned back in my chair, and surveyed the table.
"I'm three now," I thought. "I am just about as big as I could possibly be."
The sun shone through the windows and lighted up the coffee table and me in my pint-sized chair.

0.

everything was the blackest black and then it was the brightest bright blistering orange
and it was loud and full of people
and it hurt