Christmas in Cape Cod 2007

Kevin and I went to Cape Cod to celebrate Christmas with his family. I'd met his mother and brother before but he was waiting to propose before he brought me to the big family Christmas.

Kevin's mom Kathy and his brother Andrew

Kathy's Christmas tree

His mother lives in an apartment attached to her friends Dave and Dolores's house, so we had Christmas Eve dinner with them and their son, also named Kevin) and wife Monica.

Kevin A toasting the engagement

Christmas Eve snuggles

On Christmas we went to his grandparents' house for some traditional Chinese food. His mother's side of the family is Grandpa Buff, Grandma Ruth, Kathy, Aunt Nesie and her husband Steve (not pictured), Aunt Mary, Uncle Dickie, Kevin, Andrew and cousins Katie and Chris.

Kevin's maternal side on Christmas Day: Grandparents, Aunts, Uncle, and cousins

Grandparent's Christmas Tree

Investigating the Chinese takeout

The day after Christmas, we went back to Dave and Dolores's for a family engagement party. Kathy's family was there again, as well as family from Kevin's side, and Kathy and Dolores's book club.

Kevin's father's side uncle, aunt, and cousins

Snacking

Ice cream cake is my favorite!

Cheers!

Since my grandparents also live on Cape Cod, about an hour away in Truro, we went to go visit them the next day.

With Grandma Catherine


Grandpa James

It was a wonderful holiday and visit full of wonderful people.

Our Christmas Tree 2007

We got our Christmas tree this weekend. Have I mentioned that I'm super happy?

Found the perfect one.

Got the tree home!

Assembling the tree stand

Holding it for stand tightening

Perfect spot

Nomar likes the tree.

Nomar helping me study Trusts and Estates

Thanksgiving 2007

The happiest of Thanksgivings! Kevin and I got engaged the day before. I think my parents love him almost as much as I do. My mom said he already seemed like family when she met him a year ago.

My parents' smiles are possibly even bigger than mine?

I'm eating this entire bowl. I really like stuffing.

Cute couple.

Our Engagement 2007

The day before Thanksgiving, Kevin proposed on the steps of the New York Public Library. He wanted to propose before the holidays; we were spending Thanksgiving with my parents and Christmas with his mother's large family. It wasn't our first holiday together, as we had already spent Thanksgiving together in Charlottesville in 2006 with his mother, brother, and cousin Katie. But it was our first holiday together since wedding magazines had suspiciously appeared in our apartment.

Proposing!

Kevin texting his friend Briggs right before proposing.

He proposed in New York, where we plan to live when I graduate law school because I have a job waiting there. Presumably, he chose a library because as the wife of a writer and writing professor, our home will be one? He made his high school friend Jon jump out and take pictures as it was all happening. Clearly, Kevin gets me.

I said "Definitely!"

This is the only time I have seen the planet spin while sober. It is really something.

Celebrating.

I am happy.

Super happy.



NYPL picture.



Popping some champagne!


Cheers!

We stayed overnight in New York and checked out just in time to miss the Macy's Day Parade. Ha! Actually, I think I saw one float. That totally counts right?

Macy's Day Parade (sort of)


Thanksgiving dinner with my parents the next day - very happy!
(More in next post on Thanksgiving.)

PILA Semiformal Dance 2007

UVA Law's Public Interest Law Association (PILA) hosted a Benefit Auction and Semiformal Dance at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. For once, I didn't take a million pictures, so enjoy a few good ones!

Me and my sexy date Kevin

My law school bestie Sarah (I'm a step up so I can keep up.)

Our gang missing Audra and Jane

Jackie, my partner in costumed-crime

Akure, Tiffany, Andrea, and me at the Doubletree

Key West, FL 2007

While we were in Florida for Megan and Ed's wedding, Kevin planned a trip for us to Key West. I'd never been before. So fun!

Southernmost Beach Cafe

Looking heroic in front of Caribbean waters

Southernmost Point, Key West!

Dock at Mallory Square

Kevin got a really big beer for sunset watching

Sunset did not disappoint

Watching the sunset

We stayed at the Chelsea House

Coincidentally, Janice and Darren left with Janice's family for a cruise from Key West the next day so we met them for brunch at the Banana Cafe before heading out.

Kevin, me, Janice, Darren at Banana Cafe

Megan and Ed's Wedding 2007

Megan and Ed got married! The wedding was in Florida where Ed is from, and Ed's mom helped with a lot of the arrangements. In Florida, there's always a threat of rain, so they kept the ceremony short and sweet. Thanks to their strategizing we were all inside right as it started raining outside.

Megan and her dad

Megan's mom doing a reading

Vows during the ceremony

The first thing we did before cocktail hour was take a big group photo of everyone at the wedding. I'd never seen that before and I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Kevin and I copied that and the style of their invitations for our wedding. Suffice to say, I like their style. The cocktail hour was really fun in part because Megan and Ed actually attended their own cocktail hour. Again, it was the first time I had seen that, and Kevin and I copied that too.

Awesome group photo. 

Darren and Janice with the bride and groom during cocktail hour

It's been five years but I still remember that the reception was beautiful, and the dinner was delicious, and they had an amazing cordial bar (with chocolate and coffee liquors) and a chocolate fountain. I loved that bar. And we all had a wonderful time celebrating and dancing together. It was really fun.

Laurie, Jamie, and Janice

 

Fake table photo missing Laurie (I think she was dancing?)

The beautiful cake

We were all so happy for the two of them. By the time they got married I had known Megan for 10 years. I had seen her be very happy before, enjoying herself with her friends, but since she met Ed, it seemed like she was permanently in that state of happy. When I met Ed in 2005, I thought he was great anyway. The reason I thought they were great together was that Megan was her best self with Ed. And all that beaming back and forth they did- wow. In five years, you can just look at them and see they haven't lost the magic. In many ways, they're even better now. They even run marathons together and have an amazing baby boy William.

Even though this picture is from far away, I think you can see how happy they are.