Kemiah turns 8!

Happy happy birthday Kemiah dear! She was excited for the day to arrive. Kevin started making pancakes but I came for the cooking part. Kemiah helped make very creative pancakes. We ate them with Neapolitan ice cream. It was yummy, of course.

Grammy and Gaffa's card arrived so she was able to open that after breakfast.

We surprised the kids with a trip to the Castle Museum. We had a free pass and they were all excited to go. I loved my view of all my kids buddied up.

This "castle" was originally built as a post office. Quite the post office, eh?!

Now it holds a random assortment of things - some constant and some changing.

Sisterly love.

Emily was reading to Domonique.

This is upstairs - a hallway with ports to look down on the mail workers to make sure nothing was done illegally. 

This is part of the the old post office, with boxes, and sorting and the old safe.

Enjoying some time on a bench as we learn about the early transit system in Saginaw.

New exhibit - Motown. The man who collected, donated and set this up died earlier in October of this year.

The kids were drawn to the historical video that was playing.

Constant exhibit - trains and logging industry is located in the basement. It was amazing to see the detail of the trains and to learn more about the logging industry in our state and city.

Giant kaleidoscope. It turned automatically and you just watched it change. Pretty neat.

 A Michigan centered mobile. Just thought it looked neat, but probably looked better in person than in this photograph.

Constant exhibit - rooms back in time. The kids enjoyed playing with the magnetic skeleton.

Olden day dentist office on the left, with doctor stuff on the right. (I didn't take a picture of the olden day kitchen, laundry stuff or salon.)

Throughout the museum, they have these miniature doors that the kids can open and see a miniature scene. They thought they were so great! Maybe I should put some of these in my house.

After the museum, it was lunch time and Kevin took us to the Bringer Inn. We have eaten there once before. We all fit around a large round table and the kids colored while we waited for our food. It was yummy and we were all full when we left.

We had sweet and sour chicken for dinner. Which is a favorite but because we spilled butter in the oven on Tuesday, and I didn't get it cleaned out, the chicken had a smokey flavor to it. Bummer. I should have used the smaller upper oven but for some reason I didn' t think of that. Total bummer. (Emily says she thought it tasted just fine.)

Party time! Here's the ice cream cake that Kemiah helped make. I think I'm figuring this out and we will have these more often.

She blew out all 8 candles with one blow!

World Geography and States and Capitals flash cards.

2 Magic Tree House books

Big tube of toothpaste. These have become very popular

 Inside Out and Madagascar 2 (we already have 1 and 3)

Card from Memere with $8

Science Encyclopedia and Experiment book

Timex watch - she was very excited.

Grandma and Grandpa Nichols present...

Lots of crocheting stuff - yarn, hooks, books, instructions.

Along with a card and $8

Big surprise - a bigger bike!

She wanted strawberry and cookies and cream on the top layer.

Made it a little challenging but yummy as well.

Everyone enjoyed some cake!

Or should I say ice cream.

After Grandma and Grandpa Nichols left, we set up our movie stuff to watch Inside Out. It was very intense for some of the kids. Harmonie cried and was scared a couple times. It was a good movie and we had a fun time as a family.

So there you have it. Kemiah is 8 and we love her. She had a great day and we tried to help her know that we love her. She is funny and caring and smart and talkative and social and helpful. What a sweet girl she is.