Sunday, February 27, 2011

Wine & Chocolate Soiree VIII

Last night was our eighth annual Wine & Chocolate Party!  We skipped last year due to Wesley’s birth, and we were a few weeks past Valentine’s this year, but we pulled it off.  I can’t speak for everyone, but Dwayne and I had an excellent time and Kyla is pretty sure the grown-ups were just killing time while the real party was happening downstairs.  The girl who says “crowds make me tired” when we go out among strangers is quickly blossoming into quite the hostess in her own home.  Hmm, maybe she is more like me than I thought….

Thanks to my friend (and, coincidently, my sister-in-law) Julie who brought The Good Camera and recorded some of the highlights of the evening.

 

I love this shot.  Julie, unfortunately, is taking it, which is why she is the only sibling not it.  This is me & Wes, my brother Keith with his boy, Parker, and my brother Brian with his fiancée, Sandi. Although she lives in the Portland area, she attended SPU and actually knew some of the people at our party beforehand!

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Rochelle was at her photogenic best, so she gets her own section.

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And Marcie is her usually stunning self.

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The food and fountain. 

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The Ericksons arrive.

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Deanna and Eric managed to leave 2/3s of their kids with grandparents.  See those smiles?!

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Brian and Sandi were all smiles, too.

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This may be the only picture I have of Julie, AKA Photographer.

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Keith, Joel, and Dwayne take time out from talking tech to smile.

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Joy reminds us why were are at this party…

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Oh, and to talk to new and old friends.  And their babies are probably chatting it up, too.  (Ann and Joy are both due mid-summer.)

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I get to hold a 3 month old little lump of Benjamin.  Finally, I got his name right!

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Margaret got both herself and two young kids to the party on her own.  And on time (that is not a typical Shultz trait anymore than it is a Need trait).  Jeremy came a little later straight from work.  Thanks for making this evening work, M&S!  I can’t imagine having this party without you there!

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There’s Jeremy! (And Eric.)

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Wyatt & Eric find a lot to talk about. 

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Elizabeth, Scott, and Sandi find a convenient location near the food.

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That’s right, Keith.  There’s lots to try. 

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Cheers to good friends and in-laws!

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Sarah shows off lovely Anna.

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Look at these lovely ladies—Ashlynn’s eyes are identical to her mommy’s.

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Melissa, this is even a better picture of those beautiful blues.

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Rachel and Karis tried to break into the kids’ party but were finally convinced that it was even more fun upstairs!  (Okay, I’m kidding a little, but it was so fun to have these friends here.)

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I kind of like this angled shot of this dress I have worn almost every year.  It was a bridesmaid dress for Kristen’s wedding 6 or 7 years ago.  This is one bridesmaid dress that has gotten a full life!

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As been alluded to, there was another party going on downstairs.  We had 2 babysitters and 18 kids (down from the original 25 RSVPs).  We only got a few shots of the kids—they’re quick (and absorbed in Kinnect).

 

This is my favorite shot, of course.  I’m running low on time, so I will just have to put in the pictures and hopefully caption them later.

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Thanks, everyone, for coming!  And Wilcoxes, I hope your kids are well soon and that you never have to miss another one of these parties.  We missed you!  (And all the other families too sick or on vacation who couldn’t make it this year.)

1 comment:

Blessed said...

VERY FUN! Thanks for sharing! We were SO SAD to miss! WON'T happen again! :)