My BIL got married!

We are back from our week in CA. It was definitely a whirlwind of a time! We had stuff to do each day, and rarely had much time alone. I have pictures and stories to tell...

Here's Omar on my suitcase. (Stupid thing costs $50 to take to CA. Stupid fees from the stupid airlines.) As soon as we take the suitcases out of the closet, a cat climbs on. It's like a magnet. I think I took this shot after I packed, right before we left. Husband had to pick up the suitcase and dump Omar off. Poor guy!

My mother-in-law gave me these earrings during our trip. Her mother asked for, and received, them as a 20th wedding anniversary present forty or so years ago. She and her husband had just moved to HI with the Army. He was spending all his time fishing, and he asked what she wanted. She figure since he was gone so much, she wanted something good! So she picked out diamonds in platinum. I very much appreciate the gift, and love the story behind them.

We went to an A's game with my sister and parents, and Husband's brother, his girlfriend and Husband's two cousins. Please notice the jackets and hat. Summer in Oakland, CA is much colder than here in GA. There were fireworks after the game, and we got in line to go down on the field. BIL and his girlfriend didn't get in line with us, but somehow managed to get down on the field, while the rest of us didn't. So much for following the rules!




The wedding was on Sunday of our trip. The ceremony was at beautiful house in Sonoma, CA. The bride's mom works for the owners, and they have a huge piece of property. Their backyard itself wasn't immense, but they'd had 100 guests at a wedding the week before we came. It was very well landscaped, with a pool and vegetable garden. They also had horses and a barn. It was amazing!












The reception was on the Napa Valley Wine Train. We had a delicious dinner with plenty of wine. My in-laws and the brides parents brought their own. I stuck Rosenblum Petite Sirah, and it was so good! The view was wonderful too.









After the reception, we stayed up in Napa. Because really, who wants to drive an hour home after two hours on the wine train? Not this girl! So at our motel, there may or may not have been an after party. It was Husband and his brother and their two cousins, brother's girlfriend, and the bride's sister. We had several bottles of wine, but no opener... Husband's brother used the wine stopper we got as a wedding favor to push the cork in part way, then used a toothbrush to finish the job. The cork was in the wine, but not in pieces, so I call it successful!