Birthday #8!!!!!!!

As usual, our birth DAY turns into more of a birth EVENT. With long distance family and lots of friends with whom we can celebrate, we generally make more of a week long celebration for birthdays around here. Following are some of the highlights of this year's BIRTHDAY #8 for "ol' lady J". (not necessarily in order)

Some friends from our church joined us at the zoo on her special day. What a blast!
The ol' lady herself, her friend K, and Baby J. I thought the shadows added a cool, mysterious effect.
K poses on the beloved bronze elephant (featured in about every zoo trip which has made it to the blog) in front of the elephant's home.
Baby K was not too impressed by his first trip to the zoo. Sorry, Nanny! Thanks for the awesome family pass anyway...the others LOVE it!!!!
J and Baby J have their turn on the elephant. Baby J was not too certain about the safety of this thing. "I mean, have you seen the size of those other elephants? What if this one decides to walk away with us?"

We had a mini party with some other friends from our church a few days before J's actual birthday!

Our friend whom Baby J affectionately calls "Unkie Wi-wee" is always ready for a good time.
And the only reason we let him hang out with us is because we LOVE his beautiful bride and his wonderful daughters. (Just jokin' Wi-wee...we LOVE you too!!!)
J's friend, aka Flip Flop, takes a turn at the pinata.And the other wonderful daughter does a number on this cupcake creation as well. Big Sis helps out her little sis who eventually decides to forgo the stick and instead, walks up to the cupcake and gives it a good punch (wish I had that one on video)!!!

K gives it his best shot.
But ultimately it is J, the birthday girl herself, who triumphs over the evil cupcake which is holding captive the birthday treats. Only then does the great pink and purple monster release to the hunter all that it held within its gruesome bowels. And she shares, victoriously, with her fellow warriors! (Wow, and to think all of that was even without ANY caffeine) *grin*
Per J's request, birthday cake was red, velvet cupcakes which she and the party-goers could decorate themselves (with cream cheese icing of course).Beautiful cards from her friends. And water guns!!! Woohoo!
When she FINALLY got to open gifts on her birthday (the daddy had to work rather late), she had a beautiful dress,a swim suit,
a new dress from Grandmommy and Poppy (the one she is wearing in this photo)and some new books. And this face was just too cute!