Happy birthday to Jessica

All the way down to the cities, a two hour and fifteen minute trip that took almost three hours because of road construction and stupid drivers...

"Mom, it's not nice to call people stupid."

"Yes AJ, you're right. Mommy shouldn't have said that."

But I digress. All the way down, Sydney couldn't resist repeatedly asking, "Where are we going?"

Since I knew she knew the answer, I threw it back at her. "Where?"

"Jonathon and Jessica's!" she'd squeal with delight.

And why are we going to Jonathon and Jessica's?

"Jessica's birthday party!"

Yes, we were celebrating Jessica's birthday. And that meant presents! (Thank you, Jessica, for letting Sydney open them for you.)

And cake and ice cream! (Thank you, Lisa, for purchasing a cake with which I will never, ever be able to compete.)

AJ, frosting lover that he is, honed in on the squid tentacles snaking up the side of the Pirates of the Caribbean cake. Oh yeah, there's a sugar rush that's going to last all the way home.

And, of course, no visit would be complete without posing for a photo with cousin Zane. For some reason, AJ, who can't sit still for any other pictures, has started asking to have his photo taken with his young cousin every time we see him.

Thank goodness Zane remains a willing participant.