Wedding Shower for Christin & Joe

Despite Thanksgiving week, our loss of Uncle Phil and the fact that Kathy was at a family reunion in San Diego--she and Amy Cerra managed to have planned and then carried out a delightful wedding shower for Christin last Saturday at Marks

 in Dundee.  My only job was to "get her there" so I told her we were going to meet some cousins before heading to the Bancroft Christmas Craft fair.  Amy met us as we arrived and explained that they wanted us to go to the 3rd floor for lunch. There, she was surprised by aunts and cousins with cameras ready. It was such a wonderful setting-we had a living room for appetizers, and wine before lunch and later for gift opening and chocolates.  We also had a private dining room for lunch. 

 Many contributed to a  group gift card, and/or came with  other special gifts -from wedding week flip-flops, tropical Bath and Body gifts, artwork by Amy, a tropical wedding photo frame, a deer ornament (dear), and Andrea took many many pictures to create a Shutterfly memory book. (forgive me if I left something out) 

How lucky can a girl get? I know she was surprised and also welcomed by such a wonderful gathering :D 

Beautiful guests :D

Diane and Kate

Andrea and Lydia (twins, right?)

Lydia and big sis Maddy

Jenny and Christin

Beth joined us and then headed out to Pudgy's for a big busy night!

Adorable private dining with outstanding Hawaiian flower centerpiece-thanks K!!!!

Welcome to the family-Lydia, Andrea, Amy, Maddy, Di, Jenny, Kate and Christine

Lunch was fab!

Artisan chocolates-yum!

Fun!

Adorable deer ornament from Maddy--she got it at Spruce
 and we shopped there afterward (great find!)

Custom tropical photo frame from Kathy

Just like home except someone else made the food and did the dishes :D

Amy and Christin 

The surprise moment!  

Probably explaining my Big Job was to get her there…………..

This is a melted crayon multi-media art piece by Amy -you can see knives and forks and plates and  lemons and oranges--that I bought last August at her studio sale

 Props to you Amy :D 

                                                                      ~~~~~~~~

Mary Vavrus and Abi had to leave for Minneapolis on Saturday morning but sent their love and a vegetarian cookbook. Emily was with us in spirit and sent Gift from the Sea  by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  Nicki was also there in spirit as she awaits all of us to arrive  in Maui!!!

Bride and Mother of the Groom getting pretty excited now!

Thank you Family-you are the best!!