The Fun continues- We partied allllll week!

Date night! A group of awesome siblings decided to put together an epic party at The Sequoia. There was to be dancing, food, drink. The invitation went out months in advance so that sitters could be lined up. Chris was able to switch shifts so that we could attend. It was a red themed evening! Chris claims he missed the memo but I thought I remember telling him?

 My good pal Char made me laugh the whole night.

 The DJ was great and the dance floor was packed with long time friends.

 There was a photo booth and near it an open window with freezing air. This felt amazing after dancing on the dance floor. It was such a fun night to share with my best friends and their husbands.

Can't wait until next year!

Sister Christmas

It was the first Christmas in 30 years I haven't spent it with my family in my childhood home. I've always viewed myself as open to change, but turns out it is actually really hard. Traditions are who you are with, right?!! We had a fantastic day together.

It was fun to have Steve's mom there, she had some Marsh ish ways. She cracked us up and was just happy to be included.

 Chris made Wynt some personalized Dave socks.

 And honey the dog socks for the girls.

 Steve was very creative and used his potting skills to make all the girls gifts this year. The cousins had pots for succulents, I lucked out and had a vase and a bowl, and Wynt a mug and a vase. Spoiled!

 You can see the hilarious honey pup canvas on the floor?

 A more formal placement!

 There was football, guitar, singing, but I think we forgot a dance party this year.

 I was in my PJ's all day. It was most awesome. Some of the best times aren't well photographed. This is one of those days!

 Dave prepared a Christmas poem/song to the likes of Mike Meyers in So I married an Axe murderer. It was pretty awesome!

 There was more Islands in the stream sung by Chris and Steve. Dave really finds it hilarious when they do this duet. It is pretty amazing.

Oh what blessings we have. Our family has changed, our sisters still stand. We will keep our tradition going, our silly things we like to do just because. We have an oatmeal bar in the morning, and soup for dinner. We exchange gifts and plan on being together all day. It is a rare celebration where we plan on being together the whole day- no errands or other stops! It doesn't have to be on Christmas day, any day can be Christmas with my Sissies.

The Gorman Wedding

We had such a lovely time being a part of this wedding! We arrived 3 hours early for photos. Thanks to the cousins, my kids were happy and quietly laughing with them! I was able to sit and have a cup of tea with Wynter and the Mother of the Bride and Groom. It was a nice relaxing start to the event!

 Here they are!

 We took quite a few photos- we don't all get dressed up too often!

 The ceremony was outside (brr!) but it wasn't rainy (yay!). There were pomegranates, flowers, and beautiful wood frame to set the stage. The last 2 weddings I have attended have asked everyone to turn off phones during the ceremony. I love silence and no phone noises but I am also a sucker for photos! It is odd to attend an event and not have any photos of the kiss! I followed the rules and there are no photos of the ceremony!

 Mother of the Groom & Mother of the Bride~

 There was a beautiful wine barrel display of some lovely couples who had passed away. I can't believe it has only been 3 years since Ron has passed. We miss both Aubin parents dearly.

 I've got my sista with me!!!

 There was lots of dancing by the Britton crew

 Owen downing sparkling cider- a first? Or maybe a second or third?

 Ara was enamored with it and loved using a straw!

 The happy couple is heading to bora bora for their honeymoon!

 We were laughing at Wynt's place setting "witching stick" perfect for that witchy woman:).

We left about 830 pm, both kids asleep on the way. We needed to rest up for our next day.... an early morning and all day celebration at Aubins to celebrate our sister Christmas!

Rehearsal Dinner

Our Christmas week started off with the kids being in a wedding! My brother in law Dave's cousin Lauren asked the kids to be in the wedding months ago. Lauren moved back to the area a couple of years ago, and would often help with the kids. She also shadowed Chris in the ER over the last year- a shift a week! So they got to know each other on a deeper level this year as well.

The rehearsal took us to Arden Hills Country Club. I hadn't been there since I went to Prom with Colin Baxter in the Spring of 1999!

It was decorated for Christmas which was beautiful.

 We don't get fancy too often, so it was fun!

 Wynter's girls were junior bridesmaids.

 Wynt had been ill with pneumonia for 2 weeks and this was her first outing. It was so good to see her back on her feet!

 The wine cellar at the Firehouse was amazing! It was one of two and about the size of half of our house! Our dinner was held in one of the banquet rooms adjacent/in the cellar. It had a nasty musty smell- I don't even want to know how old it is-- the basement of an old Sacramento building! EW!

 Lovely family!

 There was a 4 course meal and one long table!

 These girls light me up!

 Uncle Chris devised some sort of football game?

 These handsomes!

 YUP. And that was just the first night of fun!