Look at my baby, all growed up!

Happy, happy birthday Sissy dear!

Happy days will come to you all year.

If I had one wish then it would be,

a happy, happy birthday to you from me!

Ah, the birthday lunch. One of my favorite Hughes family traditions. Our little "Sissy Biggars" turned 10 yesterday and requested lunch at Benihana. Time flies, you know. Seems like just yesterday she was crying and throwing tantrums like a tiny baby. Wait . . . that was just yesterday. Just kidding. (No, I'm not.) Sydney has made these past ten years such a fun adventure for us. I wouldn't change anything about her for all the world. Except maybe the weird wink in that picture, but nothing else. Anyhoo . . . we did lunch at Benihana where teppanyaki chef, Miguel (is that weird to anyone but me?) fed us and got us home just in time for her pool party.
She invited Maddie and Tristan, two of her best friends since third grade. We drank wedding punch out of coconut cups (another Hughes family favorite -- you may remember it sans coconut cups from our nuptials twelve years ago. You may not.) and swam for hours. She also requested Eclair ring instead of a more traditional cake. Patting myself on the back, I have to say that it was exceptionally delicious. All things considered I would say it was a good day. But I don't like to consider all things, just the ones that make me happy. So, it was a fantastic day by those standards. Boy do I love that sweet little girl! And that dessert. But mostly the girl. (I really do love that dessert, too. For the record.)