Why hair bands are essential at a birthday party...

(Complete w/ pictures...)

Thursday night, we celebrated Jenny's birthday with my family in MI.  My aunt joined my parents and our family for dinner, presents, and dessert.

When it came time to blow out the candles on the birthday cake, I pulled Jenny's hair back behind her shoulders, and then I walked around to the other side of the table so I could take pictures of her blowing the candles out.

She got one candle out on her first try.  The other two proved harder to extinguish.

She blew and she blew and she blew.  Each time she blew, she leaned forward a little more.  Eventually, her hair that had been pulled back behind her shoulder had released itself and was now in danger of catching fire from the candles yet to be extinguished.

And then... FLAMES in her hair.  Not just a little spark, but actually flames.

Thankfully my aunt was standing next to her and was not afraid to reach over and put the flames in Jenny's hair out with her hand.  (Thanks, ADSC!!) 

I then quickly leaned over and blew out the remaining candles before going over to inspect the damage.

Thankfully, it was nothing major.  The flames were just on the ends of a few strands, and the smell of burnt hair was worse than the hair itself.

But, from now on, I am going to insist that all hair is pulled back and secured in a hair band when at birthday parties!