Not just Luke...

Richie had a birthday, too!

Luke turned 1 on the 10th, Richie turned 29 on the 11th, and Bethany thinks it's a bit not fair that Richie will live for a long while in the day-after shadows of his son's fiestas. It was nice that at least this year we got to spend Richie's birthday not in the hospital! And Bethany tried to make up for Richie's relative lack of attention with a bounty of Richie's favorite foods, including the SPUMONI ice-cream cake featured above. (Only second to a Postum cake, we figure.)


So many birthdays can tire a girl out.


And they can make the used-to-all-the-attention boy a bit jealous.


Richie's favorite restaurant for dinner. (Just look at that smirk.)


And Richie's favorite drink for a gift. (Thanks, Gracie. Oh how Bethany loves that smell of Postum in the morning...)


"I got you a bookmark, Richie. WEIRD, isn't it."


"Oh, Poppy, can't I play with the fire?"


No.


Richie blew out all 29 candles in one breath (those Armstrong men have some mighty lungs).


We were worried the smoke detector might go off, but Luke just sat there and tried to catch the smoke.


Next day: OCEAN!




"BAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!"




This photo was taken by an older woman who asked to take a picture "of the four of you." One, two, three... No, ma'am; it's just an empire-waist dress over those jeans. No sibling for Luke just yet. Thanks anyway for the compliment... She really was very kind and friendly, but later she thought it her neighborly business to inform Bethany that she is rearing Luke all wrong. Sheesh.


Look at those dirty hands!


And dirty toes.


Richie moooed to get Luke to smile. Unfortunately the camera was too quick and caught the "moo."


Diaper change in the parking lot... might as well make it fun.