Miss Emi is NINE!

Dear Emi, 

Happy, happy birthday my sweet girl! I can't believe you're 9 already when I feel like you were just toddling around my feet yesterday. Sigh... Today is your actual birthday and you're at camp right now, but we will have some sushi and snuggles for you later tonight. 

We also celebrated with 2 parties on Saturday--a school pool party with friends, then a pizza party at home with family. Your theme this year was Sumikko Gurashi, a set of characters you became obsessed with when we were in Japan, and specifically the dinosaur/lizard one named Tokage (you call him Derp, though). We managed to find some balloons, cake toppers, and goodie bags featuring these characters, plus we helped you add to your collection of stuffies and other Derp/SG goods. I think you were pleased!

School pool party with friends:

Pizza party at home with family:

And, as always, here are photos of you from each month over the last year to see how you've grown:

August 2022

September

October

November

December

January 2023

February

March

April

May

June

July

And here are the answers to your annual birthday interview!

• Favorite toy: huge derp pillow (the one in the above photo we got you for your birthday)
• Favorite game: Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom
• Favorite thing to do inside: play board games with family or read a book
• Favorite thing to do outside: go to the tree fort or ride my bike
• Favorite place to go: Japan!
• Favorite book: Wings of Fire
• Favorite TV show: Polly Pocket
• Favorite movie: Harry Potter
• Favorite song: Best Part by Daniel Caesar as performed by lyn lapid
• Favorite animal: white tiger that has magical powers
• Favorite breakfast: bagel sandwich
• Favorite lunch: grilled cheese sandwich
• Favorite dinner: sushi
• Favorite fruit: lemons
• Favorite vegetable: carrots
• Favorite drink: pink lemonade
• Best friend: Emmeline, Renesmae, Estella, Nora, Eevi...
• Biggest fear: heights
• When you grow up you want to be: fashion designer and wear my fashions
• Things you take to bed: derp, my book, my water, my derp pillow, a couple blankets

I can't wait to see where this next year takes you, my dear. We love you so much!

Spring into Summer 2023

 
Dear Maya and Emi, 

What a sprint to the end of the school year we've had since returning from Japan! Here's what we've been up to:

• We celebrated a LOT of family birthdays!

Belated celebration of Baba's birthday with the fam

Papa Stan's birthday

Grace's birthday (one cake for each of these 3 at one party,
not 3 for Grace though that would be funny)

A trip to the cemetery for Nanny's birthday (Emi, you weren't
feeling well so you stayed home with Baba)

Another 3 cake party--this one for Uncle Shawn, Aunt Kelsie, and Aunt Bobbie!

• Musical, artistic, and scientific achievements!

Maya, you had all-county chorus, and 6th grade band and chorus performances!

Maya, you with your beloved art teacher, Ms. Kipness

And the art club mural you made with your friend, Kameryn

Maya, this was your learning fair project done completely on your own

Emi, this was your learning fair project with a
working capsule machine that Baba helped with

Emi, you went to a play along with Grandma while mom was at work

Emi, you also were a storyteller in the drama club play

And you beautifully played and sang a melancholy song called
"My Little Island" at the music school concert!

• We had some playdates with friends

Emi, we went to the Little Mermaid at the drive in with your bestie, Emmeline

and hiking with her family, too

• The end of the school year meant a moving up ceremony for you, Maya. You're going to middle school in the fall!!

• And last but not least, we had your half birthday party yesterday, Maya. Since your December 30th birthday is a tricky time to have friends over, we've been doing this for a few years now and it's been a fun way to kick off summer vacation. This time you wanted a rainforest theme and 6 of your besties came over for games, sushi, and cupcakes. 

Emi you couldn't wait for the party guests to arrive

little bags of candy and bubbles

Maya you made these necklaces for your friends, too

all the rainforest stuffies made and appearance,
and Maya your friends brought you such sweet gifts

by request, Baba brought out his conveyor belt sushi toy...

and made quite an array of kid-friendly sushi!

Maya, your friends are the cutest!

We stuck some toy animals and some edible leaf decorations
on the cupcakes which was adorable and really easy.

and your smile was so great to see!

So thankful you have such great friends!

Well, I'm sure I'll be back blogging in here in a few weeks for your birthday, Emi. We're looking forward to that, too!

Love you both!

first and last day of 6th and 3rd grades!