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Last weekend we had a bar-b-que at our house with family and friends. Not only were we celebrating our son's return from deployment, but it was our daughter's birthday as well as our grandson's birthday two days previously. We had a blast with lots of great food and fun. My niece just took a cake decorating class and volunteered to bring dessert.

She made a strawberry cake for Dory and Redmond's birthday. She didn't know that strawberry was Redmond's favorite. Boy, was he happy!

She also made a chocolate cake complete with rolled fondant for Aaron's homecoming cake. Thanks, Jamie, you did an awesome job!

Here's the entire family. It's the first time we've all gotten together to take pictures like this. That's my Mom in the middle, along with her three children and their spouses as well as her five grandchildren and her five great grandchildren!

How cool is that?

If you are counting children in the picture, you come up with one extra. The little guy in the black shirt in front on the right is the cousin of a family friend. He was so excited to be there he wanted his picture taken as well. So we made him an honorary cousin! Welcome to the family, Jacob!!!

Also, you may wonder where Maggie is as she's not in the family picture. Every time we have a bar-b-que at our house she goes to the local kennel to play. She's a "flight risk" and with everyone going in and out all day I am so afraid she'll get out and be down the road and halfway to L.A. before we can catch her. So she misses all the fun, but I feel so much better not having to worry about her.