The family party:

The day before J's birthday we went with Jeff's parents, our two nephews, my parents, my sister and her son to Chuck E. Cheese. That was a huge deal for me. It has been my goal in life to never set foot inside of a Chuck E. Cheese. I must really love my daughter.

Cooper driving with Stewart Little

Kiera driving with Chuck E.

The girls racing the horse.

J convinced Grandma to buy her the birthday hat.

More presents!

This is actually how she opened most of them... There were a lot of distractions. And on a side-note - doesn't Andrea look cute with her baby-belly!

Thanks for the Barbies Grandma and Papa!
Showing off her new Twinkle Toes. She wanted these so badly! Thanks Grammy and Grandpa!

Happy Birthday Beans! We love you so much!

The Friend Party:

I love watching the kids get closer and closer with each gift. Pretty soon they're all on top of each other. Happens every time.

Then it was time for the cake:

The two little girls were so cute!

Happy birthday Janae!!

But the most fun part was watching Jeff perform the ceremony!

A couple of weeks before the wedding Cherish, the bride, approached Jeff and asked if he would be willing to participate in the ceremony because they'd had someone cancel. Jeff said sure, thinking they needed him to read a poem, or be an usher or something. But then she asked if he would officiate the wedding. He was shocked! He told her he is not licenced to do that, but she said that she already knew that, and that it was okay. Apparently they had already gotten married - before her finance....I mean husband's last deployment to Iraq. She said that 80% of the people in attendance at the wedding wouldn't know that though.

Jeff did a great job. The photographer was especially fooled - he referred to Jeff as the Pastor all afternoon!

Congrats Zach and Cherish! And good job Pastor!