When Birthday Parties Are Perfect

After watching my son at his sixth birthday party I have decided that 6 is the year of peak birthday party appreciation. His party was cancelled on the original date, because he was sick, and then almost cancelled a week later because it had rained for three days, and drizzled the day of the party, and his party was outdoors in a park.
Both when he was sick, and when it was raining, he was unfazed. He saw no reason to cancel.
For him, it truly was a perfect day. His friends were there. They brought presents. There was a bouncer. He had three servings of strawberry shortcake. He loved his pinata. He loved the three legged race. He was appreciative, enthusiastic, and really really excited. I thought how when he was younger, he didn't quite get the games, and he didn't have the ability to look forward to something and to help plan it. This time he knew what he wanted, where he wanted it, who he wanted to come. But he is not so old that he has gone jaded and cynical. He was thrilled that people came. Thrilled at every present. Thrilled by the bouncer, the games and the fun.
Later I know it will change. But for him, on his sixth birthday, his rainy birthday party in the park with strawberry shortcake, a T-rex pinata, a bouncer and three legged races with his best friends from kindergarten and canyon school was about as close to heaven as it comes.