Everything turned out alright aesthetically. And it tasted pretty damn good, too (this top photo is courtesy of Alex Citrin).
Then there was the cake. The cake whose mix Alex bought, and whose icing and baking I put together. A stoned little Frankie stuck her thumb in it, so I had to do the best icing job I could. It was the first devil's food twinkie cake I've heard of, at least.
Nina turned 24 on the 25th of February, and Allie on the 27th. The Saturday in between, Allie and Alex held a joint birthday party at their apartment. Natasha, Jess, and Sarah made some surprise visits for the occasion, and before the crowds came, a few of the girls ordered Chinese food. I got diced chicken with peanuts in hot pepper sauce (which came with the usual box of white rice) and split an order of vegetable dumplings with Jess.