Our little lady just turned 5 years old last month! And we celebrated, celebrated, celebrated! Miri is clearly taking after me in that she managed to stretch out her birthday as long as possible. Over Labor Day weekend, we were able to celebrate with the Rymer side of the family. Our plans were thrown for a loop a little bit by Emmett having a rogue fever, but we still managed to make the weekend special. Miri's cake of choice was a Frozen-themed Funfetti cake.
Miriam's actual birthday was on a Tuesday. I took the day off, and we had a really special Miri/Mommy day. Highlights of the day included making pop-beads jewelry, seeing the Shawn the Sheep movie at the movie theatre, meeting up with Daddy and Gammy for lunch at Robert's Custard, and baking sugar cookie bars. We had Miriam's favorite meal of "green noodles" (fettuccine with an avocado-basil sauce) for dinner, and she got to open presents from Mom, Dad, and Emmett throughout the day.
Miri had a birthday celebration at school the next day, complete with a crown and her birthday treat of choice (popsicles). It was also the Grandparents' Day party that day, and she had such a great time showing Boppa around Pre-K and doing special activities together.
Finally, we celebrated one last time by going back to Breaker Bay indoor water park at Blue Harbor resort in Sheboygan. We went there last year for Miri's birthday celebration, and we all had such a great time that she chose to go back again this year. We had such a fun morning! Both Miriam and Emmett are such little water bugs. Miri's swimming has come so far in the last 6 months. We brought both kids' water wings, but our big girl didn't even need them! She especially loved the inner tube slides, the lily pad walk, and just being able to swim independently around the recreation pool this year.
Once Breaker Bay was closing, we went to Jimmy John's, which is M's favorite restaurant! I wonder how old she will be before Jimmy John's is no longer her favorite? I asked her what it is she likes so much about it and she said, in all seriousness, "I like how they wrap it [the sub] in paper and put it in the little baskets." It is so funny what is impressive to young children!! There was a Cold Stone Creamery next door to Jimmy John's, and of course, we Bashaws can't pass up ice cream! It was a really wonderful family day to celebrate our girl turning 5!
Finally, here is Miriam's annual birthday interview!
How old are you?I'm 5!
Who is your best friend?Adelyn
What are your favorite things to do? Go to gymnastics, ride my bike, play with my whole family
What is your favorite color?Purple and pink and blue and red and orange
What is your favorite toy?My Frisbee
What is your favorite book?Bread and Jam for Frances (by Russell Hoban)
What is your favorite food?Green noodles
Where are your favorite places to go?Gymnastics, Jumping Country, and Kinderberg Park
What is your favorite snack?Fruit snacks
What is your favorite dessert?"Treat-the-bag" (this is what Emmett named the kids' bags of candy collected from holidays, parades, etc)
What do you like to take to bed with you at night?Bear
What is your favorite song?"Roar" by Katy Perry
What is your favorite thing to wear?Dresses
As always, we can't wait to see what the next year brings! We love you so much, sweet girl!
Labor Day 2015 has come and gone, so I guess we can say the summer is unofficially over. I'm always torn at the end of summer. It is sad to say goodbye to festivals, fairs, almost-consistently-nice weather, etc, but, at the same time, fall is probably my favorite season. At any rate, let's reminisce on the last 2 months of awesome-ness.
Kids' Night at the Zoo
We got to watch the bears being fed; it was really neat!
The kids LOVED listening and dancing to this band!
Miri went to Minnesota with Gammy and Boppa to visit the Murphy Rymer clan. She had a fabulous time!
Twinsies Miriam and Charlotte
While Miri was gone, we took Emmett to the 'beach' at Lannon Quarry in Menomonee Park
Emmett also had bonding time with his beloved Izzy while Gammy and Boppa were in MN
I call this photo "vanilla and chocolate."
Allison and Jason went to New Glarus for day camping and brewery exploration with friends
Becca was in town for the outing! Besties since 7th grade!
Our whole crew!
"Hunger Games road trip" ;)
We took a family day trip to Madison for the farmer's market and campus exploration!
Pizza as big as your head at Ian's
Ice cream at the Terrace is a messy endeavor with Emmett
Much neater ice cream eater!
Strolling down the Lakeshore path
Ozaukee County Fair with friends!
Meeting a horse
The gang watching the horse show... although Brinley seems to have other plans.
Miri and her BFF Adelyn on the carousel
Miri and Adelyn out for a cruise-- preview of when they are 16?
Poor Jason had to take the kids on the spinning bear ride... again!
Miri and Adelyn conquered the giant slide!
Expedition: Dinosaur! at the zoo
Placid plant-eaters...
And terrifying T-rex!
Wisconsin State Fair 2015 with special guests... Gramma and G'pa!
Cheers to Mommy drinking her once-a-year milk!
Music was a little loud for their liking...
Wouldn't be a fair without fair food!
These kids sure do love carnival rides!
Miriam (and new friend made in line) takes her first ride on a Ferris wheel!
Irish Fest 2015! We had a big crew this year- joining the usual group of Allison, Jason, Miriam, Emmett, Gammy, and Boppa were Aunt Mary, Joe and Jeannie Neary, Gramma and G'pa, and Adam, Rochelle, Kaden, and Charlotte! More family = more fun!
Miri and Kaden enjoying the music
The (elder) Bashaws enjoying their first Milwaukee Irish Fest!
The grandmas dancing with their grandkids!
Her first 'rock' concert... she LOVED it!
Red Hot Chili Pipers were awesome!
The Rymer/ Neary/ Bashaw clan all got together the day after Irishfest. Time with family is the best!
We spent the better part of a week (well, Jason and the kids anyway, as I had to work Tues/Wed) with Gramma and G'pa in a condo they had rented in Mishicot, WI. A lot of fun times were had-- swimming, parks, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, the (very small!) Manitowoc zoo, and even early birthday gifts for Miriam!
They say summer ends when the kids go back to school... so here's a picture of Miriam on her first day in the Pre-K class and Emmett's first day in the Big 2s!
