3 birthdays & a family dinner

So let me tell ya how 2 of my nephews & my nieces birthdays go. Derik turned 17 on August 14th. 2 weeks later, Brady turned 13 on the 27th (same day as my mommy...). Less than one week later, Erin turns 23 (which is today!). So we have 3 birthdays in less than 1 month. It's exhausting.

Ann had a brownies & ice cream for Derik on the houseboat a couple of weekends ago. Brad & I got him an iTunes gift card. However...his little brother Cole had dropped his ipod in the lake mere HOURS before we gave him his gift. So the gift card will have to be put up & used at a later date when his ipod is replaced...poor guy. :(Last night Ann had us over for a family dinner. We haven't had one of those in a LONG time. Which is unfortunate becaue #1-Ann is a helluva cook & #2-I don't have to cook.

Since Erin's birthday was today, she had brownies & ice cream for her. Singing "Happy Birthday!"Brad & I also got her a gift card. But hers was for Tar-get'.

I didn't see Brady on his birthday so I was going to give him his Bass Pro gift card at dinner. And he wasn't gonna let me forget he hadn't gotten a present from me. One of the first questions he asked me was, "Jaime, did you bring my birthday present?!" And then Cole had a melt down. After we sang & gave gifts to Erin & after the brownies were cut & being consumed, someone said, "Where's Cole?!". Hhmmm...where WAS Cole?! Turns out he was in Brad's old room bawling his little eyes out. He was very upset because he didn't get to sing Happy Birthday to Erin (apparently he was indisposed in the restroom...) So we did a second take of the singing. Ann put candles back on the cake & lit them. Then he was upset because he wanted to LIGHT the candles too. (I love how Madelyn's just looking at him like, "Dude? What are YOU crying about?!)

Brad's Grandma from Florida is visiting & she had a birthday card & money for him too (his birthday is in June). Since I'm a giver & all, I told him to hold up his money & card & I'd take his picture to make him feel better.

Madelyn provided the entertainment during dinner. She was into the bananas,

and the dishwasher.Playing with Great Uncle Brad.

Brad gave her a bite of lemon (at my coaxing, of course...) I knew she'd make a funny face!

And what's every family dinner without a little fighting? Unfortunately this fight was just to get Madelyn upset...but she just stared at them like they were dumb or somethin'.