Kids Birthday Party - "Barrio Fiesta" theme

The day came to celebrate the Virgos' birthday (S, her 2 younger cousins, and my brother). My Aunt's been heading the Filipino.-American Association in their community and we were touched and surprised that virtual strangers (to us) showed up in the evening with gifts and balloons for the kids, homemade wine, and more food!


Some helped cook and prepare for the "Barrio Fiesta"- themed dinner...

...and one of her friends even brought in a chocolate/vanilla birthday cake!

Before the chaotic merriment began (which comes with all festivities), we posed for the obligatory group photo. Sitting (L to R) are: my cousin J (husband and kids standing behind her), cousin M who is single and stands 6'7 ft. tall (he wryly attributed his height to "fertilizer overload", recalling a freakish childhood accident in which he got buried up to his armpits when he stumbled into a mound of hog shit), my über stylish Aunt (who loves collecting and wears 4-inch stilletos - never mind that they live in the middle of miles and miles of cornfield & soybean fields), and my Uncle (a jolly fella who after 40 years of marriage, still doesn't know how to tell a fib)...Standing in the middle is my brother and his family, and to the right is me and my 2 kids (I mean - my hubby and S).