Jack turned 26 earlier this week. We celebrated at my aunt and uncle's house with my mom's family. I love my mom's family. Just thought I'd throw that out there. They're all pretty rad. Growing up in Twin I didn't have as much as an opportunity to spend time with them as I would have liked. But now that Stephen and I are settled in Boise we get plenty of family time. And I like it.



Earlier this summer my grandparents hosted a cousin dinner. They did this last summer, too. It's an exclusive event. My mom, her brothers, and their spouses are not allowed to attend. Seriously. This year, my mom was in town and spending the night at my grandparent's house on the same evening as the cousin dinner. My grandma gave her the boot and Dana took herself to dinner and a movie. Don't eff with Shirley.

Anyway, I had wanted to get a group shot of all the cousins with my grandparents but group shots are usually shitty - someone has their eyes closed or something like that. Plus, I wouldn't have been in the picture and that just wouldn't do. As the oldest grandchild, Jack and Shirley love me best. But then I had a stroke of genius. I would just go around the table and take a picture of each person and whoever was sitting to both the right and left of that person.

Dudes! You don't even know how impressed with myself I am over this idea. I really do think it's genius. And I didn't copy it from anywhere. It's completely original. That's a rarity. I am the Copycat Queen.

The pictures from that night didn't really turn out. Stephen forgot to bring my camera after I had already forgotten it once that day. So I was using my grandparents point-and-shoot and it was crap-tastic. But I tried again at Jack's birthday party and the pictures turned out much better. Someone suggested that this become our new thing and I am totally on board. It's so much fun to go around the table and pose with the person to right and then with the person to the left of you. Did I mention that I am a genius? 



It's not a complete circle. Tom and I are missing, plus Henry and Wyatt and four of my cousins - two who weren't there. But still - it's pretty damn awesome. Tom, Mia and I tried to get some pictures outside of the circle, but it's just not the same.

 

After all that circle game business it was eventually time for cake! Jack claims he blew all 26 candles out in one breath. I think he fibbing but I guess it doesn't really matter, does it.

 


For Jack's birthday Dana made a scrapbook - a scrapbook of all his birthdays! It's super cute. I got one, too. Mine is thicker. Dana made it all the way to my 15th birthday before she ran out of pictures. She made it to Jack's 8th birthday. I've always found this entertaining. On one hand, the youngest child is adored and spoiled (I say that with love) and on the other hand, no gives a shit after a while (I also say that with love). It's been there done that when it comes to capturing milestones as you move through the succession of your children. Good thing I have twins, right?



Dylan's birthday is in September. Any guesses on what year his birthday scrapbook will end? I say 12-ish. But whatever...it's not like I am keeping score or anything.


Happy Birthday Fat Fat Bobo Cat.