It was another great family get-together for our "May" birthdays, mainly to celebrate Sophia's 5th (May 1) and Erica's 37th (May 11) birthdays on May 4th. I also noted for the family that it was the "Star Wars" birthday -- MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU (get it, hehe)! Sorry, bad Dad joke!
Anyway, we all met at Viola's Ventanas here in San Antonio for some great margaritas and patio music! The weather was great and there is a play area outside so the kids could play and tire themselves out while the adults can get their party on! This year, Andrew's parents, Janet and Pat joined us in the celebration!
Several of these pictures were taken by a professional photographer at the restaurant. Above, Andrew and the birthday girl. To the right, Cynthia and James. Cynthia said she wasn't going to drink before the get together but that didn't last.
Janet and Pat had their fill of Tex-Mex food! Somehow Michelle seemed to get stuck with all of the kids at the other end of the table! Poor Sienna looks lost like she just doesn't want to be here with the group! Sophia for some reason is telling us how old she is today and Stella has that smile she sometimes exhibits like we just caught her doing something wrong!
I'm not sure why pictures of me and Sylvia always have drinks in them? Really, we don't drink that much! Honest! And once again, Sienna snuck into the picture but looks a little happier with Cynthia and James!
I was startled and happy to see Jordan, who is usually working, join the fray! This is one of the nicest pictures that she has taken with her Mom. Now if she can just stop getting tattoos, I know that I'll feel a lot better.
After a couple of hours at Viola's Ventanas, it was time to head to Dad's house to open presents and eat cake and pie! Above is Erica holding a carrot cake from Nadler's Bakery with those really big numbers on the top! How can my kids be that old if I haven't aged at all in 40 years!
Although Erica was one of the main persons that we got together to celebrate her birthday...
... we actually got everyone who had a May birthday to blow out the candles at least once! Erica was turning 37 on May 11, James was turning 40 on May 20th, Sophia was turning 5 on May 1st and Sylvia was turning 75 on May 27th.
Besides the carrot cake which was a big hit last year at her 36th birthday party, there was also a Key Lime meringue pie (Erica's favorite).
Then came the present opening frenzy with most presents going to Sophia and Erica. Let me tell you that they made a killing! Sophia got enough stuff to keep her occupied until next Christmas! Erica even got a gift certificate for PAPPAS which allows her to eat at Pappadeaux's (her favorite) or Pappasitos (Andrew's favorite). I wonder whose going to win that battle?
But the big winner of the evening was not Sophia or Erica or any of the May birthday people! It was Sienna. That girl got picked up by everyone and when I asked for pictures from people from that evening, I got way more pictures with Sienna in them than any other person!It seems like she was the "lady of the evening" (ahem... to use an expression..) who was more man-handled that anyone else that night. To the left is one of the best pictures in the bunch that I got since she has that big ol' smile on her face. I believe that is James holding her in his lap. But all-in-all, we had a wonderful evening of laughs, cheers and celebration.