Great big Arizona birthday party

Sunday, November 3rd, while in Arizona, seemed like a perfect time to celebrate November birthdays especially with most everyone in town.  Eric and Susan hosted all of us and we enjoyed a potluck soup and salad supper before birthday festivities.  My potluck contribution was 5 dozen homemade rolls as requested.

There was a cake with all our names, Laurel, Emilia, TJ, and Toby.  There are six family birthdays in November.  We four were born in the first half.  Grandpa Glen led the clapping of number of years for all of us and yes, I got 30 more claps than the next oldest.
 

After cake and ice cream, it was time for presents. Round and round the table we went.

We were so excited to have Emilia with us.  She is on a two week break from school.  Just one more semester and then she will take her boards.  She is almost an official dental hygienist!  I am so, so proud of her and amazed at her tenacity.  It has not been easy.

Toby has been asking for a back scratcher.  Glen couldn't fine the one he had been interested in so I found this one instead.  There were cries of dismay.  "Mom, that Mickey Mouse souvenir is almost an antique.  It has been hanging in your closet for our use since we were boys."  Oh my, I had no idea.

Glen found the other back scratcher (plain and ordinary) later in the week and is quietly working on a trade.

The other presents, a book and a game, were free of spectator angst.

TJ loved his quilt.  We also gave him BYU plaid pajama pants so he is all set for long winter naps.

However, I think that the two boxes of Smorz cereal that he received from his sister may have trumped the quilt.  Even after dinner, cake, and ice cream TJ went straight to the cupboard for a bowl and the refrigerator for milk.  Apparently this cereal is hard to find. I didn't even know it existed.

We had brought gifts from Utah for everyone from Nate and Nichelle.  Julianna, even though a Thanksgiving week birthday is planned, discovered her gift and was unwilling to wait.

Thanks Nate and Nichelle!  It was a perfect evening but we missed the Utah aunts, uncles, and cousins.  My life really is spread between two places.  I'm just glad that it is only two, sometimes three.