Detective Miriam

 Miriam said she wanted "detective stuff" for her birthday.  She is obsessed with Hardy Boys and wants to be a detective when she grows up.  So . . . we had a detectivy birthday.  Though, not as much as I would have liked because the ward Soiree was the night of her actual birthday, so she celebrated on Wednesday night.  Things were a bit hectic last week (and shaping up to be worse this week--how is that possible?).

 Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream--the only dessert not too sweet for her.

 Cowen singing Happy Birthday--amusing, no?

 I love how excited the kids during birthday present opening.  It is like their whole bodies are thrumming.  Fun, fun.

 Elementary, my dear Watson.  The pipe was an incredibly huge hit.

 The Sherlock Holmes collection.  Yes, that is a bit trickier reading than she is used to, but she's been reading some every night.

 A book with Detective Activities.

 A detective kit.

 Eli.

 Lady Harriet.

 Miriam wrote me the following message using invisible ink:

 They spent a day making invisible ink out of baking soda and water, collecting fingerprints off objects around the house, taking fingerprints of family members to find matches, writing secret messages and basically being cool detectives.

 They didn't get my message, "Beware the Ides of March."  Someday they will.

Miriam had a great birthday--between the detective stuff and getting to open it early and the Grand America Hotel Afternoon Tea (there was even a harpist playing for the tea-attendees, Miriam's favorite instrument), and slipping and sliding.  I can't believe she's 9 already!!!  I need a detective to find out where all the time goes.