Guess who turned 7?

That would be our Emily-bo-bemily (8/25). We spent the day before her birthday at the Children's Museum in Saginaw (but that will have to be another post). I kept reminding her that it was her last day to be 6 years old. Each time I would say it she would smile. Her actual birthday was spent together as a family (minus Kevin who was studying for his internal medicine rotation final exam). She helped me make her birthday pancakes and really enjoyed that. She chose to have some red and green and we made swirls, smiley faces, and snowflakes. The last of the colored batter I just made a red one, and a green one, and a plain one. I put them on her plate and we made a traffic light signal (red, yellow, and green). She thought that was great. Everyone enjoyed them with vanilla ice cream and syrup.


She opened her cards after she was done eating. The first one was from her Grammy and Gaffa. Then she opened the one from Sister Rodrigez, a woman from Church. She was delighted to see money and counted out $10. Then I asked her how much she would need to pay for tithing. She held up a dollar.



After lunch we played Settlers of Catan. It was just Ben, Emily and I (Xiomara started but dropped out after a couple rounds). We had fun. She chose to have quesadillas for dinner so I cut up chicken and seasoned it up while I cooked it. Then fried up the tortillas with cheese and chicken. We ate them with sour cream and salsa, and they were yummy!

Grandma and Grandpa Nichols came with the surprise cake. (When they had asked her what kind of cake she wanted she simply said, "Surprise me.") It was Hello Kitty's head. So totally cute! Then Grandpa Nichols handed me a chocolate pie. (That had been my suggestion so he brought me one. So sweet!) They also brought two of their grown daughters who were visiting so we had lots of guests for the celebration. Emily got to blow out the candles twice because Kevin didn't video tape the first one. The funny thing was that they were almost the same - one blue candle stayed lit.






We quickly moved on to presents. Our family gave her the 3rd volume in The Work and the Glory series, Magic Tree House books, a hair brush, and the game Stratego. Grandma and Grandpa gave her the game Toppler and a jewelry making kit (10,000 beads!), as well as $7 in her card. Marissa made a sock puppet a week before and was so excited to give it to her.




I love how excited Ben is about the present - the game Stratego. They've changed it since I was a kid but it's the same idea.





We all enjoyed a wonderful celebration and yummy cake, too. We chatted for a bit and I figured we'd skip our normal nightly routine. Then Grandma Nichols said they had mentioned the routine to their daughters so Kevin decided to show it to them. It was great and we all enjoyed sharing joys, gratefuls, and what we learned in the scriptures that day, as well as singing lots of Primary songs! Sorry, no pictures of this part, although I should have.

We are so happy to have our little Emily getting so grown up. She is so sweet and loves others. She is ready to help and ready to try new things. She tries hard and loves to play around! Thanks, Emily, for being you and for putting up with us! The braids she has in her hair were done by her - she recently started braiding her own hair and thinks it's great. She's so cute!