Age of Majority B-day

There are EIGHTEEN candles on that cake. How did that many years go by so quickly? My "little boy" can now legally vote, marry, join the military, participate in contracts, purchase cigarettes, buy a lottery ticket... the list goes on! (Choose wisely, my son.)

Make a wish!

This year's cake of choice was a "Blackout" cake from The Cheesecake Factory. It is HUGE!!! Despite the fact that 12 people enjoyed a slice of chocolatey goodness, we still have way toooo much cake left over.

The b-day boy received several cards, gifts, and phone calls -- not to mention all of the Facebook well wishes. ;-) As M. unwrapped each gift, he correctly guessed what was inside before actually opening it. Either that boy's hard to surprise, or we give predictable gifts. Or both.

Happy birthday, Mr. Smith Jr.!

Dozen-year-old

At precisely 7:22 a.m. this morning, the b-day girl was awakened from her slumber by receiving a dozen kisses. The wake-up kiss is a birthday tradition.

SMOOCH X 12!

Millie Girl was born at 5:22 a.m. (California time), so we had a time zone adjustment. We all got to sleep in this year. Ahhhh!

Millie harvested one dozen tree-ripened bagels -- yet another b-day ritual. Yes, the bagel tree survived being uprooted from CA. ;-)

TWO dozen roses, one dozen phone calls, a half dozen b-day cards & gifts were added to the mix, and it all added up to a VERY happy birthday indeed. Oh, and tossing in one laptop definitely made Millie smile. (Thankfully, not everything has to come in twelves on the dozenth birthday!)

Katie baked & decorated a cake for her friend. Sweet!

A German Chocolate Cat capped off the celebration in a tasty manner.

Two Smithling b-days down, one more to go...

SiXtEeN!

And so begins the seemingly endless succession of celebrations & birthday festivities at our house. It is September, after all.

Liesey Lou is SiXtEeN!

Our daughter's traditional b-day dinner is chicken pot pie. We had to have the pie a day early since the birthday celebrant requested an evening out at The Cheesecake Factory for her actual "sweet" celebration.

Jemima helped wrap & unwrap the gifts. Maine Coons are helpers.

Everything's comin' up roses...

There are not 16 blossoms -- only a dozen. ;-)

Say, "Cheese!" (As in cheesecake.)

Things certainly were up in the air (literally & figuratively) a year ago on September 9th. Last year Lou spent her b-day on a plane en route to Keller, TX, (with the whole family) "just to visit." This b-day was again spent in Keller, but this time as residents. We are feeling a little more grounded this time around. The past twelve months have been FULL to overflowing, to say the least. We're going to fasten our seat belts & hang on for another interesting year.

Sixteen is looking pretty sweet indeed.