A Birthday in VanderLand

What would be the best way to celebrate a birthday?

Trekking across Europe?
Skiing in Colorado?
Feverishly buying mp3s off of iTunes?

I guess if you have to grow another year older, you might as well experience it doing something that makes you happy. For my good friend Laura, who is a fan of all of the above, she can't think of a better way to spend her day than with family and me! (This involves throwing apples at her younger cousins and sneaking bits of leftover steak to the dogs, who thank you very much, were clawing at my skirt for more)...

I came to the party expecting a Laura VanderLaan favorite - Red Velvet Cake. Instead I got chocolate cake with no food coloring. I guess it's okay compared to the story about the year there wasn't any so they used green and um, how do I say this...? Left the whole family "Seeing green" for the rest of the week.

All in all, here's to another one Laura. Happy 26th - just think of where we'll be next year!!! SO glad we're friends. Love you.