Two For One

Visiting Michele, Jorge and the twins this summer... and having them meet Jack for the first time was absolutely a blast and far exceeded our expectations. We all had such a good time during the week-plus that we were able to visit and enjoyed each and every day that we were all together. But to be completely honest, there was one day in particular that clearly stood out from the rest... a day full of emotion, happiness, laughter, and lots of love... more so than any other day that we were there. I'm of course talking about the day we baptized Jack and then celebrated William & Sofia's 15th birthday with one Hell of a party! 

That morning, it proved quite impossible for Allen & I to hide our excitement for the impending celebrations later that day... as our horseplay got in the way of getting dressed!

Family, celebration, and party. That's all Jack needed to hear

for him to put on his happy face and get excited to go! 

So while the Etheridge boys fooled around, got dressed and ready to go... the women were upstairs doing the exact same thing!

The beautiful Birthday Girl makes sure

the Birthday Boy is as handsome as can be!

Father knows best!

Jorge jumps in to put the final touches on.

The 15-year-olds...

looking spectacular and dressed to impress!

With everybody all dressed up and looking their best... we made it to the church where we took our places and eagerly awaited the ceremony.

"Dear God... I know I don't know you all that well, you know with me being six-months-old and all, but if you could speed this thing up any, I certainly would appreciate it!" 

Jorge's face says it all... "Hurry up already!"

Jack's new Godfather, Jorge, holds him front and center,

while the rest of us smile and watch the priest do his thing.

Jorge & Michele...

proud new Godparents to a very calm and relaxed Baby Jack!

"Whoa... that sure did feel good Momma!

Can I do it again?"

Knowing that there was about to be a big fun-filled party later that afternoon, it was a little hard to sit patiently through such a long ceremony in church. But fortunately for us, the little ones didn't have a clue... so they were actually very well behaved, to include Jack, who was just content on being held the whole time.

It wasn't all about Jack though... the Birthday Twins got their official (15 years of life) blessing at the church too, which made Mama & Papa oh so very proud! 

Speaking of proud... Jei & I were ecstatic that we didn't have any meltdowns or tantrums. It was a very successful and happy occasion.

A newly baptized happy Baby Jack...

meant everyone wanted a picture with the little fella!

But it didn't take long before Jack became completely disinterested in picture time... especially once the group photos started being shot, where his focus just wasn't there anymore.

Hard to believe Jorge & Michele's firstborns are all grown up, mature, and so darn good looking! Without a doubt, they sure did do an excellent job raising such good kids... so much so that Jei & I can only hope we do the same and have our two boys grow up to be just as well-behaved and overall good people.

Mr. GQ himself... done with all the church stuff,

and ready to get his party on!

With the blessing & baptism over... it was finally time to turn our attention to the big celebration later that afternoon! One of Jorge's friends lent him his beautiful property to use, which provided plenty of space for... well, a party!

With all of us immediate family arriving well ahead of the guests, we had plenty of time to help set up, tweek, and admire all the beautiful decorations and settings.

The dessert table... where I hung-out most of the night - YUM!!!

If you would've asked me a few weeks before, I would've put money on having two sports-themed cakes sitting on that table! But much to my surprise, William & Sofia threw a huge curveball and opted for much more classier cakes... which Jei baked and put together, which turned out rather magnificently! 

After church, we took Jack's outfit off so he could cool off a bit and of course not dirty it all up during lunch... and then once we all got settled in at the party, he took the Birthday Girl out for her first dance as a 15-year-old. 

But then we eventually got him dressed up again...

as all the kids and adults gathered round for picture time.  

The Birthday Twins...

laughing at how much of a dork they think each other is!

A soccer (futbol) goddess at heart...

but certainly a beautiful princess on this day!

Wild, crazy & certainly silly...

but incredibly cute, handsome and beautiful nonetheless!

Nina Michele sure does love her God Child!

We may have had suits and nice clothes on...

but that didn't stop us from running around & having fun!

Still hard to imagine that one day our two sweet little boys...

...Will be all grown up.

We just pray that they'll be as good looking as these two siblings!

Momma & her baby looking their best.

Allen & I stopped monkey'ing around

long enough to pose for the camera too.

The Felix Family (and a couple of pool cleaning guys)...

ready to relax and enjoy a good party.

After all the picture taking fun, Jack was just worn out and needed a nap if he was going to party-hardy later that evening.

The kids loved their respective cakes and all the deserts on hand...

...Which served as wonderfully delicious appetizers!

Before we knew it... guests began to arrive and an entire band showed up and started playing Wela's favorite song, which she thoroughly enjoyed with her Grandson.

Jei & I were way too sober to get our groove on out on the dance floor so early... but we were very content in sitting & watching everyone else bust a move.

When he wasn't napping, there were plenty of open arms ready & willing to hold and take care of Jack for us... but Wela certainly had a hard time giving him up!

I look pretty coherent & lucid here... so this must have been my first drink of the evening, but believe you me... it certainly wasn't my last!

Speaking of alcoholic beverages... it looks like Jei & I had a few!

Allen was Anabella's best friend at the party...

playing with him and trying to get him to dance.

Like they say: time flies when you're having fun... and it certainly did, as it was time to cut the cakes before we knew it, but we were definitely ready to stuff our faces with a whole bunch of cake!

All the pretty ladies out on the dance floor...

can you guess which is who?

Jack didn't have any alcohol, that we know of anyway...

but even he made it out on the dance floor to strut his stuff!

But all that dancing took a toll, for it wasn't long

before he was out cold in his Nina's lap. 

With their four running around partying with friends & family and being all grown up, Jorge & Michele were quite happy with reminiscing their younger days as they looked after one of ours.

Caught... red handed!!!

Jack definitely proved to be the party animal...

as he made a final appearance for the night.

The Birthday Girl and I share a cheers together... but then Dad steps in and takes her glass as he thinks she's had a little too much to drink... but little does he know, it was really me who he should've taken the drink away from!

Oh so very happy!

Jeilene's first love!

Sofia managed to hold off all the other boys...

long enough for me to squeeze in a dance with her.

With no nap, we thought for sure we'd find Allen asleep under a tree somewhere late that night... but much to our surprise, he & Anabella burned the midnight oil and played till their little heart's content!

And they made sure to come find me

to tell me just how much fun they were having.

So while Allen was up all night running around and playing, it was quite the opposite for the Birthday Girl... who just couldn't hang anymore and had to tap out early.

Leo loved being Mr. Social at the party... so seeing him holding and taking care of Jack most of the night was definitely a pleasant surprise.

Probably don't see this very often: the Gringo and his Mexican Sister-In-Law closing down the dance floor and finishing the party strong! 

The party had great food, delicious dessert, outstanding drinks, fun music, and best of all... fantastic people! The fiesta certainly wasn't for me, so I can only speak for myself, but I certainly could not have asked for a better time or imagine a better party or had as much fun! By the looks of it, I'm pretty sure we all had a great time!

The party wasn't exactly an all-nighter, but it was still long enough to where most everyone woke up with some level of a hangover!

And the perfect cure for a hangover??? Crazy good food at the restaurant for lunch, which certainly made the mind & body feel good after such a fun and memorable day... which sure is gonna be hard to beat in two years when it's Leo & Caty's turn to celebrate!