My Baby's 9th Birthday

Yesterday was Mark's 9th birthday. For nearly a quarter of a century, I've had little kids around the house, and now my baby is 9. This is really hard for me to believe. Where did the time go? Recently, when we were discussing the fact that Mark's birthday was coming, Ryan piped up and offered that he remembered when Mark was born (Ryan was 3). He said he was really excited when Daddy told him that they were going to see Mommy and his new baby brother in the hospital, and really disappointed when they got there. "Where's the brother, and why is everyone so excited about this howling pink thing?" Great perspective, but I'm glad that cooler heads prevailed and we kept the howling pink thing.

Because Mark's birthday was a Wednesday, no one came home to celebrate. Everyone did call him, however, and many of his older brothers and sisters sent him presents. I'm so proud that they think so highly of each other that they put forth such effort. In honor of Mark being a dragon for Halloween, I put a dragon on his cake, which you really can't see here.
And what party would be complete without Thor in his birthday hat? His head's way too big, and the elastic broke going around him, but he sat still (sort of) for the picture, anyway.
Happy Birthday to my baby, happy Dogs on Thursday to the rest of the world, and now I simply must finish Ryan's wizard costume. Nothing like the last minute crush to inspire one, is there?