"Party" Doesn't Quite Describe It

Yesterday we celebrated Camile at her parents' house.  It was the third birthday party of hers that she did not attend.  Our kids are now old enough to run up the stairs to her bedroom and change out of their wet bathing suits and then race back down for cupcakes.  I wasn't a four year old when I did this, but I was still a child with childlike joys.  Like me, Tillie did enjoy the ever-present, eat-what-you-wish candy bowl filled with "nemanems" (even though she was disappointed to discover that M&Ms are all chocolate, never vanilla).  I miss my friend.  I'm glad we all know what to do on July 10th.