Let There Be Cake

If you ask me, April came & went in a flash! We look forward to it every year... and every year we're surprised at how fast it goes by. And even though we always seem to get another year older in April... the celebrations, free dinners, cool gifts, and amazing cakes somehow make getting older a little more tolerable.

It was mid-April... and that means only one thing: one heck of a grand birthday celebration at the expense of some lovely ladies from L.A.! The girls made the trip down to celebrate our birthdays... and after a few hours of mingling at the house, it was time for dinner! Where else would we go to have our birthday dinner?  Olive Garden, of course!  

Allen Jess couldn't resist the unlimited breadsticks & salad, so he came along too... and it just so happen to be his very first dinner out using a highchair!

After a delicious meal... where Allen finally got to see everyone stuff their faces, we headed home to open gifts! Needless to say, some of us were really excited!

Unfortunately, Allen Jess was the odd man out and didn't have any gifts to open... but he was quite content on showing off his sitting up skills!

And when Joanne started making funny noises... 

Allen thought it was the funniest thing ever!

Allen then decided to show everyone just how well he could stand. But as soon as Mommy picked him up so that he could strut his stuff... Mommy got a rather stinky surprise, and apparently Allen thought it was pretty darn funny! (Like father - like son?)

But that certainly didn't stop him from walking like a big boy...
and showing off for his family!

Allen's cute and all... but enough about him!

There was cake... and it was time to dive in!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Blah - Blah - Blah...

Can we eat cake already or what?!?!

Mmmm... a chocolate cake just for me!!!

Oh, and a carrot cake for Jei.

And it was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!

(Thank you Aunt/Chef Gema!)

Later that week I reminded Allen that it was Mommy's Birthday that day, which of course made him super happy... so that morning he made sure to give her a super big birthday hug!

With no prior birthday plans on the agenda... we couldn't let such a beautiful day go to waste, so we packed up the car and headed down to San Diego to enjoy a nice afternoon picnic by the beach/bay! After an exciting morning, and a soon to be exciting afternoon... Allen knew he needed all the rest he could get, so he decided to nap the whole way down.

And when he awoke from his little slumber...

he wasn't quite sure where exactly he was!

We marked our picnic spot, got settled in,
and then began to enjoy the sunshine!

Once we explained to Allen what exactly a picnic was...

he gladly volunteered to take out, sort, and distribute the food!

After a satisfying meal in the sun, on the grass, and by the bay...

the three of us partook in a little family fun time!

And by fun...

I mean extra super silly!

"Look at me Daddy... I can fly!"

The fun & silliness eventually turned into cranky & whiny! Jei & I had stuffed our faces already... and it was quite clear that it was time for a certain little somebody's turn to eat. 

"How you doin'?"

The Birthday Girl and her sweet baby boy...

happy as can be on such a wonderful day!

The soft grass, the warm sunshine, the cool breeze...

needless to say, a few of us had difficulties resisting nap time!

But after a good and much needed rest,

we were re-energized and ready for one thing & one thing only...

MORE CAKE!!!

It was a special day... but with no special plans, we certainly made the best out of it with a very fun and relaxing afternoon by the bay... enjoying the weather, the scenery, and of course, our small but silly little family!

As always, April was a fantastic month! We celebrated our birthdays (Allen's 7-month!) and enjoyed all our birthday wishes, dinners, cards and gifts! Thank you for making us feel so old... er, uh... I mean special!