Sunday's Festivities

Leah with her peeps 

Aaron, Shannon, Stinky (Sarah who smells sweet), and Adrian

Leah has such great friends. They made t-shirts with Leah's picture on them just for the party. We had to be told it was Leah - we thought it was the latest rock band.

Tyler and Zella started playing right off the bat. At first they were playing on the chairs and then it was Littlest Pet Shop (baby). 

I learned from the last family gathering and I held Pixie for the first 30 minutes. That way, Zella didn't get a high energy greeting from Pixie and Pixie didn't have to spend the party in solitary confinement. We still have a ways to go in teaching Pixie party manners - she still growls at the little ones: Tyler, Presley, Zella. I can't be certain, but I think she looks at them and thinks in her little heart that of all of the guests at the party she can take the little ones.

I gave Emma the camera today. She did a very good job. This picture of Uncle John and Michelle is her best shot of the evening.

Turnabout is fair play.  A picture of Michelle and Emma taken by Uncle John (I presume).

What I love about family gatherings is the casual yet comfy feeling that is there. Everyone is talking and we'll be eating good food. What I love about the above picture is that Chase has a ginormous soda (it is bigger than his head!) and it doesn't look out of place.

But, enough good food and good conversation. Presely wants to see what Leah got!

So, we take the presents outside and Leah opens them one by one...

Even with the economic times being what they are, you would think we had never seen money before - see how everyone is on the edge of their seats! What you can't hear is the roar of the crowd: "open the wallet, open the wallet!"

And you can't have a birthday without the cake and ice cream. This time we combined the two and got a Carvel ice cream cake and it was yummy good. We could barely put the candles in (the frosting held the candles) but by the time all the slices were cut, the bottom layer of ice cream was really melting. Funny how fast it melted.

And soon after that, the crowd of teens had places to go and people to see. Well, they wouldn't be teenagers if that wasn't true.

Happy Birthday, Leah. I can hardly believe its been 18 years since we first brought you home. But here we are. You are such a wonderful young lady and I can't wait to see what great things you do.

From birth to age eighteen, a girl needs good parents. 

From eighteen to thirty-five, she needs good looks. 

From thirty-five to fifty-five, she needs a good personality. 

From fifty-five on, she needs good cash.

Sophie Tucker