Pray tell, what’s with the title? Well….today my little bro has a birthday….Happy Birthday Aaron! But even more exciting is the news of his engagement to Jess. Welcome to the family! We’ve been calling her “Aunt Jess” for years, so it will be nice not having to explain to Mallory and Nathalie the technicalities between an aunt that’s a relative versus an aunt that’s a girlfriend.

AP News Photo Credit: Aaron Barnes and Jessica Fraley (future Mrs. Aaron Barnes) following their devastating loss in the first annual Barnes Burger Competition. The couple lost to a bunch of unknowns from California.

Hip Hip Hooray…we have a new baby in our midst! Yesterday at 9:43 PM EST, May 8, 2007, my little sister gave birth to Katherine Saxon Bloink. She weighed in a whopping 8 lbs 8.8 oz, although that’s nothing compared to my 10+ lb birth. Only an hour before, I was enjoying dinner at TGI Friday’s with my girls and we all made a guess at whether the new baby was girl or boy. Only Nathalie, with strong conviction I might add, stated it would be a girl. That marks 3 girls for big bro, 2 girls for me, and now 1 girl for Barb. Congrats Barb and Jimmie.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day! No, wait…it’s Mom’s birthday!! Today marks a new beginning in your life You’ve always been an inspiration with your sense of adventure and independence. As you celebrated 50, you began your journey out west. Now as you ring in 60, it’s exciting to have you closer to home.

In celebration of your special day, on St. Patrick’s day, a toast and a little Irish jig:

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

Happy 4-2. In celebration, I’ll be having a Guinness today in your honor. I’ll see you this weekend! Now…an Irish yarn to lighten ye day:

An Irishman, an Englishman and a Scotsman go into a pub. Each orders a pint of Guinness. Just as the bartender hands them over, three flies buzz down and land– one, two, three– in each of the pints.The Englishman looks disgusted, pushes his pint away and demands another… the Scotsman picks out the fly, shrugs, and takes a long swallow.

The Irishman reaches in to the glass, grabs the fly between his fingers and shakes him as hard as he can, shouting ‘Spit it out, ya bloody bastard! Spit it out!’

Be sure to have some See’s Candy today! We’ll see you next week!

Happy Birthday to Cheryl (Grammy)! Kick back, put your feet up, and enjoy a little vino today

Today our dearest “Aunt” Sarah celebrates her 29th birthday for the sixth or seventh year. She’s such a bundle of joy in our lives! She can bring home the bacon, whip up the best quiche or scrumptious cookies, hand-craft a decoration or new dining room buffet table, and hold her beer/wine with the fellas! Slikes….Oprah or Martha Stewart have nothing on you. We wish you the Happiest of Birthdays.

A very special Happy Birthday wishes from your west coast family. We’ll see you in a few weeks!