"The Awesomest Day Ever"

It was Miles' decision how to spend his actual 5th birthday, July the 8th. He chose to be celebrated by his grandparents at their house, and to include a boat ride and lunch out with his family in his celebrations. We had tickets for a tour boat trip (apology bribes from when we bought a ghost tour and got stood up by the tour guide).

First thing in the morning, his grandma took him out to get donuts! He was able to get a pink sprinkled one, his favorite. Soon we were ready to sally forth.

July 8th 2014 in Annapolis was about the same as I remember July 8th of 2009: sunny, humid, and hot. It amused us that the 95 degrees it reached that day was the hottest day we'd passed all summer, in a summer that's included days in Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. Still, a boat makes its own breeze, and was a perfect choice for the day.

 The tour took us around Annapolis and the Naval Academy and told us about sites of interest up to the mouth of the Severn River. How relaxing to glide by buildings on a boat!

 He had a few minor alarms at first, but soon both kids got their sea legs.

 When they found it was his birthday, they told us he qualified for some special treatment:

Meet Captain Miles, steer-er of ships!

With his trusty first mate, Unicorn, of course. 

They gave him a sticker that read "Captain for the Day." 

 We ate Moe's (at his request) and while we were eating, Miles said, "This is the awesomest day I EVER had." All I could think was, Is that all it takes? This is why children are beautiful. 

At the building he was born in, 5 years later. 

 In the evening, the cake was eaten, the presents opened, and the hats worn by everyone.

He's so excited about Adele's gift: his first My Little Pony!

He's also the happy owner of a bucket of real, big kid legos!

I find party hats to be very flattering. I pray they come into everyday fashion one day.

This guy. He is just so much fun, every day.