Seven 'n' seventeen

Life being precious and all, your scrapblog editor believes in celebrating every birthday. Also, birthdays involve cake, and what is better than cake? This past Thursday night, a few of your Miller cousins gathered at Auntie Pam's Robbinsdale place to eat large amounts of pink cake, oops, we mean to celebrate two very important birthdays, Hannah Miller's 17th and Elizabeth Miller's 7th. Some snapshots (most by wonderful photographer Mary Miller, which means that once again, to our horror, we don't have any photos of lovely Mary herself, ack): Our birthday princessas, Elizabeth, 7, and Hannah, 17. Let's get this fire, we mean par-tay, started! Bring on the matches! The pink cake was made by Auntie Pam, who reluctantly agreed to share it with the other people at the party.

Cousin Noah lit the candles.

Luckily, the smoke alarms did not go off.

Making a wish or two.

Why yes, the pink cake is delicious, especially with pink ice cream, opined cousin Avamarie Miller, 2. May I have a third piece?

Elizabeth then commenced to open a pink card. The card's theme was Dora the Explorer, who looks somewhat like Elizabeth.

Elizabeth displayed some of her gifts, expensive children's books that Auntie Pam got dirt-cheap at the Star Tribune employees' book sale (don't tell anybody!).

This Barbie doll looks just like Elizabeth!

And this Barbie doll looks just like Hannah! Actually, Hannah is prettier -- and better dressed!

Avamarie and her older sis, Hannah, cuddled on the big red couch.

Awwwww. What a great big sistah Hannah is! (We missed other big sister Moriah Miller, who was away at Minnesota State University-Mankato.)

Handsome young Zachary Miller with Auntie Pam, she of the very square face and ... mismatched eyes??!! Good heavens! Is Auntie Pam turning into Marty Feldman??!!

Whew! That's a little more like it!

Suddenly, a small child butted in on Zack and Pam's portrait, considerably increasing the cuteness quotient.

Cousins Noah Johnson, 21, and Zachary Miller, 22. Wish Grandpa and Grandma Miller were alive to see their beloved grandsons, all grown up! Cousin Chris gave a few speeches. Everyone listened closely!

After the hubbub died down, Elizabeth, now a first-grader, did some seriously excellent coloring in her new Barbie Princesses coloring book. Even better, she read that all-time classic, "Go Dog Go!" to her mom, dad and Auntie Pam.