when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.

Josh has a set of toy bowling pins that are color-coded and numbered. I was setting them up in the hallway when he said: "Don't forget the seven pin."

"The seven pin?"

"Yes, it's red."

Sure enough, only nine pins were in the little plastic carrying case. The seven pin was gone.

"Josh, do you know where the seven pin is?"

"Yes," he declared. He went into his bedroom, opened the closet, pulled out the bottom of four drawers where his toys are kept, reached in and grabbed the missing pin. It was indeed red.

He bowled 10 frames and scored 80 points.