Half year, half birthday

Dear Maya & Emi, 

Yikes--I can't believe it's been almost a half year since I blogged last! But since we just celebrated your half birthday, Maya, and my last post was about your actual birthday, I realized it's time to put down these words and photos before I forget. So here's what we've been up to so far this year.

• We had a big 70th birthday party bash for Grandma:

•  In February, we went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in NYC:

• Emi, you and I went to a mommy and me paint event:

• Baba's birthday! We had banana cheesecake and Maya you made a tree with 53 cranes on it:

• Easter! We celebrated at home a few days early with a dragon egg hunt. Then on Easter day we celebrated with the whole family including another egg hunt and threw in several family birthdays, too:

• Emi, you and I went rollerskating!

• Maya, you went to a Renaissance Fair with your friends, dressed as a dragon of course:

• We've been on lots of walks and hikes and played outdoors:

Naumkeag tulip festival

• There have been lots of musical performances--All-County and marching band for you, Maya, and NYSSMA and a ukulele concert for you, Emi, plus regular school concerts for you both:

• Learning events--Emi, you did a project about Hamilton for the Spring Learning Fair, and you graduated from the DARE program. We also went to a book festival with your friend, Delilah:

• And the biggest news of all is that we adopted our sweet kitty, Saffron! She quickly became the center of attention around here:

• And, finally, yesterday we celebrated your half birthday with your friends, Maya. You chose a Sprunki theme, which I guess is some kind of musical video game? Some of your friends dressed up as the characters, and we found Sprunki favors and had Sprunki cupcakes made. Baba made over 250 dumplings and you came up with games and activities. It was fun for all:

everyone 'sleeping' during the mafia game

Well, it's family movie night so I need to sign off so we can start watching. Love you both!