One-Car Birthday Parade

I am willing to go to great lengths for cake with good frosting. 350 miles, in fact.

It just happened that my mother and mother-in-law both have March birthdays. And both had parties today – 175 miles apart. So my Honda Accord created a one-car birthday parade from Wisconsin Rapids over to my sister Rayna's in Hudson for Party No. 1 and back to the east side of Rapids to Jim's sister Sherry's house for Party No. 2.

And now I'm party-pooped.

Knowing we'd be late to Party No. 2, just Carter and I went to No. 1. Hubby had things to organize for his mom's party.

Here's the birthday girl with the yummy cake my niece Ashley created! 86 looks pretty good on her, doesn't it?

And here she is with her greatest gift – her 8 R's!

It was so nice to see everyone! Christmas seemed so long ago! Also got to see some nieces and nephews, too, and sweet baby grand-nephew Hans. A total sweetie! While Rayna and Paul had billed it as a birthday party and game day, we couldn't stay for the games.

Took a three-generation picture and hit the road by 3 p.m.

Got to Sherry's house and everyone was done eating so Carter and I ate so we didn't hold up the cake-eating process too much.

Since we missed Colin's birthday in February – he was on his belated honeymoon – he got in on the March birthday party. The birthday "kids" from left to right: Baird, Grandma, Colin and Casey.

And here's the birthday girl with her handsome grandsons: Carter, Casey, Clayton and Colin. Quite the group! Was great to see everyone together there, too.

Yes, the cakes were worth the miles and miles of driving. But more importantly, it was so good to see all those familiar, smiling faces on both sides of the family.

Family is everything. Even worth a birthday parade.