Friends and Weddings

The wedding of a good friend from graduate school brought us to that southern California city known for palm trees and movie starts--Los Angeles.  The wedding was gorgeous,  the food was amazing, the weather was fabulous.  The toasts and speeches were heartfelt and genuine.   And best of all, the bride and groom really seem to be a perfect fit.

Charles was a groomsman, the first time he has been part of a wedding party.  Similar to the wedding I was in more than a decade ago, this wedding had a groomsmaid, or groomswoman.  My spellcheck doesn't recognize these words, but it should, because I suspect we will see more of this in the future. Good friends come in both genders. He and another close mutual friend from graduate school both stood up on the grooms side, along with friends of the groom from undergrad, high school and even kindergarten.  Both the best man and maid of honor were siblings of the couple.  There was a bit of an age range (given that people find themselves in grad school at different stages of life),  and earlier on Charles was a little worried he wouldn't fit in with the mostly younger group.  There was no reason for concern.  All were pals by the end of the weekend.  They hung out together after the wedding and by the time Charles got back to our hotel room, it was more or less morning. (I retired at the 'early' hour of 2:00 am).

In fact we got to meet delightful people of all ages during our long weekend in LA.

Charles and I both got to chat with the groom's grandfather at the rehearsal dinner.  He told me a little about his children starting out in business, watching his grandchildren grow up, and what it is like to be old.  When he found out we had four kids, he insisted I bring Charles over.  I wasn't sure if he was going to get scolding or congratulations.  Whatever the case it must have been good--they talked for some time.  

During the wedding dinner I was seated next to a former professor and mentor to the groom and his wife.  What a delightful couple to talk to!  As it turns out, he had had a dual carrier, working as an engineer and a professor concurrently.  She had worked as an RN.  They told me about staying at the Bel Air back in the 1960s, about starting second carriers well after the 20s, and even a little about raising their daughters.  It is fun (and helpful) to get a window on what is coming next--like dropping our kids off at college.

Awhile back, the kids had suggested I be a goddess of the kitchen in some sort of game we were playing.  Charles had worried that this comment would send me running back to school for a MFA or PHD.  He should not have worried.  The kids like my cooking--end of story.  The real worry should have come from me sitting next to these two at the wedding.  When I mentioned that I was a lot older that most of the couple's friends--35--he  replied that that was when he started his PHD program and that his wife had gone back for her nursing license in her fifties.  I can dream again....(I say this tongue in cheek, but it is honestly refreshing to be reminded not all career moves are made in the first half of life).

Music included Minuet Two by Bach, What a Wonderful World, and at the appropriate time, Here Comes The Bride.  During dinner there was laid back Sinatra-era music. Once the dancing had begun the tempo picked up a bit, and the DJ cross faded the songs, carrying the dancers into the next dance, and the next.

I talked Charles into going back for what turned out to be the last two dances.  The first of these dances we circled round the bride and groom and others taking the center of the dance floor.  The second, everyone broke off into couples. Then it was time for sparklers and farewell.

Ariadne Turns Three!

   

Aria at three.  She asked to get her hair cut, see the ducks and go to a museum.  We managed two out of the three and planned to do the last one the next day.  That solo museum date has proven elusive, though we have gotten there with siblings.  

The next weekend we had Grandparents and Uncle Matt over to celebrate.  Once again, Ariadne's birthday fell close to Easter.  When the cake I was baking literally disintigrated (bad gluten free flour?), Charles walked up the block to the bakery and picked up an Easter cake.  Ariadne was tickled.  Months later, she still reminds of the caked with the rabbit in it now and then.  

This year Ariadne was very clear about her birthday meal--cheese pizza and baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese.  We also had punch, as you can see.  Such a change from last year, when I had to more or less guess.  Conicidenally, three was also the age when Solomon declared he wanted a specific birthday dinner--brown chicken and parsnips--and started the birthday meal tradition.  

Gift opening followed dinner.  Below Nova is reading a book from Aunt Marianne and Sylvain.  They ordered two books with an Ariadne in the story (Ariadne is a name that does not show up in children's literature by accident!).





From there Aria blew out her giant 3 candle (also used for Solomon's 13th) and we all had cake.



 

Nova's 11th Birthday

Nova grew up so much between 10 and 11. The day of her birthday we had playgroup, and brought brownies to share with her friends.  A few days later we had our family party, with grandparents and Uncle Matt (both aunts are living out of state at present).  The dinner request was lasagna, along with a strawberry layer cake covered in white chocolate frosting.  

The cake didn't quit cooperate, so we got a little bit creative. The two cakes came out of the oven sunken like bowls. One did not survive transfer. We filled the sunken center of the remaining cake with the white chocolate frosting an swirled in the jam that was supposed to go between the layers.  

Ariande and Charlotte hanging out with Grandpa John. 

Grandma Roberta helping Charlotte a birthday gift from a few weeks before.  

Towards the end of March we had a sleepover birthday party with her friends.  They did some jewelry making to start things off.  Using beads and copper wire they fashioned rings, earrings, and bracelets.

Nova made a pair of treble clef earrings.  We ordered cake pops from a nearby bakery.  Nova ordered them with blue frosting, dark chocolate swirls and white and yellow sugar sprinkles--to look like the night sky.  

The Pinata has been too popular to retire.  Charles made it harder, by swinging the "branch" (broom handle) a bit here and there.  

After jewelry making, dinner and the pinata, the girls settled down to watch some movies.

The movies kicked off with Big Hero Six.  Charles took the late night shift, with his kindle. I covered the breakfast/dawn shift.

By the next morning there was some truth or dare going on, climaxing in singing while scootering around the block in pajamas (which I considered a tolerable amount of 'trouble').  Aria happily joined the pajama party.  With in a couple of hours everyone had rolled up their sleeping bags, eaten breakfast and were on their way.