Entries Tagged as 'ella'

Hawaiian Bridal Luncheon

December 1st, 2010 · 1 Comment


With my mom.


With my mom and dad. My dad gave me these flowers!


Festive Hawaiian Table


With Cousin Dawn


Cousin Kelly, Kelly’s daughter Margo, Mom, Mom’s friend Maureen


Cousin Kelly’s daughter Margo


Cousin Marla, Marla’s daughters Mya and Ella, Cousin Kelly and Kelly’s daughter Katie, Aunt Connie


With my niece Jessica and Cousin Kelly’s other daughters, Tessa and Charlotte


Aunt Connie and Charlotte


Mom & Cousin Dawn. I don’t know what they’re pointing at.


Aunt Connie, Mom & Cousin Dawn. I don’t know what they’re pointing at.


Ella


Aunt Deb, Cousin Erica and Erica’s daughter Ella


With Aunt Deb, Cousin Erica and Erica’s daughter Ella


Aunt Sue and My Mom’s Cousin Jane


Jane’s Daughter Jessica and Jessica’s Daughter, Abigail


With my sister-in-law Amanda


Cousins Skyonna and Katrina. I babysat for Katrina very regularly from her birth on!


Cousin Sky. I kept thinking she was older, but she is only 14!


Me!


Me and my mom.


Time for gifts.


Ella, My Niece Jessica, Abi


My Aunt Sue wrote a poem for me inside this card.


Ella helping out. Or something.


Jessica & Abi


Ella & Jessica.


Cousin Marla, her daughter Mya, Kelly’s daughter Kate, Aunt Connie, Cousin Kelly


Cousin Kelly & Aunt Sue made these coasters for us using our engagement photos.


Margo with a lei!


Everyone was so generous with the presents!


My mom gave us this sculpture that looks like two pieces but really is one.


Ella & Tessa helping out.


Maureen gave us these personalized towels.


Abi and Ella helping out.


Abi and Ella helping out.


My cousin Erica and her daughter Ella.


Ella drawing.


Abi and her drawing.


Chocolate macadamia nut brownies.


With Aunt Sue and mom.


With all of my mom’s sisters: Alice, Sue, Wanda & Connie


With all of my mom’s sisters: Alice, Sue, Wanda & Connie


Jane’s Husband Gene and my dad


My Aunt Ali


Tessa trying to see how many leis she can wear!


Cousin Skyonna


Charlotte


Charlotte


Margo


Jessica


Sister-in-Law Amanda and Niece Jessica


Dad


Mike came to pick up Katrina. They are engaged too!


Jessica being crazy!


With my Uncle Dave

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, my mom hosted a Hawaiian-themed bridal luncheon for me. My parents really went all out on this one with the food and drinks. We had

  • Salted Macademia Nuts
  • Chocolate-Covered Macademia Nuts
  • Taro Chips
  • Fresh Coconut Pieces
  • Fresh Pineapple Chunks
  • Fruit Salad
  • Lettuce Salad w/ Toasted Macademia Nuts, Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, Bacon and a homemade Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Sweet & Sour Meatballs
  • Kalua Pig on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
  • Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
  • Pistachio Pudding Salad
  • Orange Dreamsicle Puff
  • White Chocolate Macademia Nut Brownies
  • Hawaiian Party Punch (with or without Skyy Pineapple Vodka)

Amanda, Stephanie and Jessica were in charge of decorations and party supplies. They did such a great job with wall hangings, garland, plates, napkins, utensils, drink umbrellas and stir sticks, leis… so much fun Hawaiian/tropical party things.

Since my brother lives and hour and a half from us here in Chicago and my parents live about two or two and a half hours from my brother, many times we meet there and do things around the Milwaukee area. Or even just hang out at my brother’s house because it’s kind of a central location. This is great, but also means that I don’t see a ton of my family that lives farther away, farther north. It was so great to see so many of my aunts and cousins. I was so happy that many of them were able to make it to the party.

I did not want anyone to feel obligated to bring gifts, I just wanted to see everyone, but my family was so generous and brought gifts anyway. My aunt Sue even wrote a poem for Dallas and I. And she and my cousin Kelly handmade coasters for us with our engagement photos on them! And we received so many great things for the kitchen and bathroom. And new luggage. And a beautiful Kenyan wedding sculpture. And I could go on and on. A big thank you to everyone for being so generous!

Thanks so much to my parents, Amanda, and my nieces for planning everything. And to all of my aunts and cousins for coming out and making it a great day. We will be thinking of everyone while we are away in Hawaii and you will be there with us in spirit, I know!

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Fish, Friends & Family

December 2nd, 2009 · 4 Comments

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Beijing Noodle No. 9, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas

On Friday we only slept a few hours, which was not good, since we’d been out at the crazy dance party the night before. We got up and met everyone down at the buffet to eat breakfast. Dallas then went back to bed, but I got talked into walking around a few casinos. After an hour or two I couldn’t take it, and neither could Ross, so we went back to the hotel to rest. I walked into our hotel room and I thought Dallas said “Ross is on the way,” which I thought was weird since I’d just walked over with Ross, but he actually said “Guy Voss is on the way.” So much for that nap!

Guy is a good friend of Dallas’s from back in college. He and his wife Amber live in the Las Vegas area with their two kids, Liam and Ella. We saw Guy and Amber at Killian and Liz’s wedding last year, but we hadn’t seen Liam since he was 2 months old, and now he’s 5 years old! Compare a photo of Dallas and Liam in 2004 to the photo of Dallas and Liam last week:

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Dallas & Liam, Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas

Ella was a little shy, but as adorable as ever. I was glad we could see everyone, even if it was brief. Oh, and I was all smoky and felt like death warmed over, but Amber said that on the way home Liam said “Daddy’s friends are really fun,” so maybe it wasn’t so bad. Or maybe he was just on a sugar rush because we accidentally let him drink a whole soda!

I feel exhausted just typing this out, but next up we got ready and went to dinner at the Rio. That’s where Dallas’s parents and Caroline and Jordan were staying. The Carnival World Buffet there is the longest buffet I have ever seen. Crazy. They had everything.

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Jordan, George, Kathy, Dallas, Caroline :: Rio, Las Vegas

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Jordan, George, Kathy, Dallas, Caroline, Rachelle :: Rio, Las Vegas

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Ross, Rachelle, Dallas, Matt, Molly :: Rio, Las Vegas

Since sleeping is what you do when you leave Las Vegas, we then went over to the New York New York Hotel & Casino to see Zumanity. This is the Cirque show that you have to be 18 to see. Enough said.

After the show we hung out at New York New York. I tried really hard to rally by drinking more, drinking coffee, getting cold air in my face, etc. When we finally went back to our hotel, I had to go to bed early. I say early, but it was at least midnight, probably past. In Vegas, that is early. Anyway, I had a great time, but I think I’m still recovering. And trying to get used to not drinking beer at breakfast.

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A BBQ – Sort of

September 10th, 2006 · 1 Comment

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Our housewarming/birthday bbq sort of just turned into a party because the weather outside wasn’t the greatest. It didn’t rain, but it seemed like it was going to any second. Plus, it wasn’t that warm out. Oh well. It was still a fun time. Lots of great food and good friends, and tons of sake and beer. More on the food coming up!

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Kelly’s Baby Shower

November 9th, 2005 · 1 Comment


Misty & Kelly


Bailey in the backyard


Dad, Jeff, Richard – Guys were banished outside


Skyonna & Stephanie


Sisters – Sue, Wanda, Alice, Connie, Mary


Misty, Kelly, Jeff – Looking at photos from their summer vacation.


Misty, Kelly, Jeff – Looking at photos from their summer vacation.


Dominic – The only boy.. he won a shower gift!


Kelly, Mya, Ella – Stephanie made this necklace for Kelly.


Kelly & Mya


Kelly & Jeff – Stephanie made this necklace for Kelly


Mya, Stephanie, Kelly, Jeff – Can you fit another person on that chair?


Mya, Stephanie, Kelly, Jeff


Mya demonstrating how the baby hat works


Kelly with the blanket that Jeff’s sister, Joanne, made


Kelly with the blanket Joanne made


Joanne Made This Blanket


Kelly & Jeff


Ella


Kelly & Stephanie Hugging


Kelly & her Grandma


Mya & Stephanie


Mya & Stephanie


Kelly & Rachelle


Jeff’s Mom, Kelly, Kelly’s Mom


Jessica sleeping after a long day.

Besides going to Wisconsin this weekend for my mom’s birthday, I went up because my cousin Kelly and her husband Jeff were in town from Virginia for a party in their honor. Their first baby, a daughter, is due to make an appearance in early February and we’re all so excited!

Here is a movie clip I edited together of some of the youngest cousins singing some unidentifiable song (.mov, 1m9s, 1.4mb).

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If This is What Being 30 is Like Then I’ll Take It

September 10th, 2005 · 1 Comment


Cousin & Allison


Allison & Kristin


Cousin & Dallas


Dallas


Rachelle


Allison, Kristin, Rachelle


Dallas & Allison


Rachelle, Justin, Lori, Danny


Kristin


Allison


Allison, Cousin, Rachelle


Rachelle & Danny


Andrew & Erin


Cousin


Cousin & Rachelle


Cousin & Rachelle


Scott & Rachelle


Amy, Steve, Dallas


Rachelle & Allison


Dallas & Cousin


Andrew & Erin


Benjella & Scott


Justin & Greg


Ed & Jill


Jen & Chad

Last night I had a birthday party at Moonshine and surprisingly I didn’t get sick, and I hardly feel hung over today, even though everyone kept buying me shots! Thanks to everyone who came out and to all of those who have sent be birthday greetings and gifts over the last few days! I’m lucky to count you all as my friends.

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