Now for the family joke.....

Now that you've seen the beautiful birthday bouquet I received, here is our family tradition bouquet.

About 20 years ago, my darling oldest child (the one who now lives in San Antonio and has three children) gave me this birthday bouquet. YES! 20 years ago!!!

Since that time, every year, for everyones birthday, mine, Bill's, her's, our son's and our two youngest daughters, we pull this bouquet out of the closet and set it on the table for the whole day of your birthday. That's 5 times a year for the past 20 years!

We've had to tape it together, pin ribbon back on but we've never had to refill the balloons. They are still the same as that very first day. I don't know what is in them but it feels like air - they're soft and you can pinch them. They have never deflated. Now with only one child left, and she about to leave home, we will only need to bring this bouquet out twice a year.

It's a tacky bouquet, but a birthday wouldn't be the same around here without it. I hope it will never fade. Our daughter has promised to bring it out to the cemetary every year on our birthdays (after we die) and set it there for us to enjoy.

I just had to share our family joke with everyone.