Photo taken September 1997

Technically it’s not her birthday anymore on the East Coast where she lives, but it’s still her birthday in the rest of the country. So I will go ahead and wish my sister-in-law Dana a very happy birthday and the best year ever. We love you!

My friend Anna has a son who doesn’t like cake. What to do for his birthday party? She came up with a brilliant yet simple non-cake that would also work perfectly for kids with allergies to milk, wheat or eggs.

When we were at my aunt’s house this week, I knew my mom would disown me (not really, but she would have been disappointed) if I didn’t get a photo of Annalie and my cousin Bob’s kids together. So on our last day there I posed them on the patio swing with their popsicles and asked them to smile.

“C’mon guys, smile! Please?”

Hmm, what can I say to make a 10-year-old boy, a 9-year-old girl, and a 4-year-old girl smile all at the same time?

“I sure hope nobody farts.”

Bingo! You’re welcome, Mom.

Update: As Karen commented below, great minds think alike!