January in Seattle... snow, Kobe, Nuggets...

Just some random pictures from our snowy Seattle January...

the trees outside our back patio

This is taken from afar, but it serves as photographic evidence of the funniest/scariest morning ever... after I find out that my district is the only one not cancelling school, I trudge out and try to open my car door. It won't open. I try the other door. I panic that my locks are broken because they've been fussy lately. I call my partner and tell her that I have no way to get to school today. Then, this massive semi (above) comes sliding backwards down the hill (you can't see it very well, but it's steep!) and finally stops right.in.front.of.my.car. When I collect myself, I go inside, find some de-icer my Mom gave me for Christmas in my 2005 stocking and try again. It's not frozen and I know this but I try anyway. Finally, I go to try the trunk and see "Toyota Camry" written on the back. Yeah, it's not my car. My car is on the other side of the street. Hey, I thought I parked there the day before, it had the same letters as my license plate and it was the same shape/color! What's a girl to do?

Kobe looking cute on one of my snow days...

Kobe looking cute on another day... (he loves that couch)

Yeah, we were THOSE fans, cheering for the visiting team...
(it worked!)

Vegas, Baby (2007)

Pictures from our weekend in Vegas for Shiri & Matt's wedding.... January 21, 2007.

A beautiful ceremony!

Gaby sporting her Pats cheerleading outfit, trying to help the home team win at ESPN Zone

The lovely bride and I

Pausing for a picture while walking around our hotel's casino (MGM Grand)

Aww, Mommy and Gabrielle, waiting for the airport shuttle...

Aww! Look at that smile!

Waiting for Shiri's shuttle with her...

"Taste of the World" at the Coca Cola Superstore

What happens in Vegas... stays in Vegas.

Happy 30-2, Derek!

Derek Turns 30 (-2)! To celebrate, we spent the night drinking sake bombs and jowlin' at our new favorite (but not comparable to Zanmai) Sushi restuarant, Umi Sake House and singing along with the dueling pianists (slash making Derek go on stage) at Chopstix. And, then, on his actual birthday night, there was cake -- ice cream cake. Mmm, ice cream cake.

the good time gang - us, caitlin, ryan, james

Eli, Derek, sake bombs....

Group jowlin'!

Yeah, we're cool....

Pianist about to sing a song about Derek and his "friend..."

When jowlin', things get a little touchy-feely sometimes amongst the guys...

Officially old!

RI/NH fun with friends!

I love the opportunity Christmas gives to visit friends I see far too little of during the rest of the year. And so I spend my time traveling between NH, MA and RI to see them all. Here are some pictures of my oh-so-photographic friends:

after dinner at Papa Razi's... Eric, Josh, Danielle and me - in a Derek sandwich

after cocktails at the Grille on Main... Kirsten, Jill, Andrew & I

Sarah & Allen in front of their new house! :)

After a lovely dinner with Shiri at the Outback in NH

Mom, Dad and daughter!

Gaby showing off her Pats cheerleading outfit

Happy New Year!
(Jill is dressed to impress at her NYE party in Boston while I... am just dressed).

My parents are my friends too...especially when talking about wedding planning :)
(out at the Firefighter's Club)

Benson family fun

So there was Christmas family fun... and there was the after-Christmas family fun with the Benson extended family. Derek weathered it all like a true member of the clan including seeral hours at Grams' & Gramps', a full shopping day with the aunts and female cousins and dinner at the new EG Tavern.

Pictoral highlights, starting with the obligatory posed pictures.... hey, it's rare that we get all 5 cousins, 4 uncles and 2 grandparents in the same place at the same time, looking at the same camera.

Cousins Marisa, Kristin, Amanda, Jay & me .... all 18+ now. Watch out, world!

180th take of Ma', Pa' and the kids

And now, on to the rest...

Derek & I with Jay & Kara...

Uncle Don & Aunt Elaine

Aunt Linda & Penny

Youngest cousins get some extra chat time this break

...the other end of the table

Christmas Morning / Night

And on to some pictures from the actual Christmas morning and night celebrations.... (Benson Christmas day pictures are being combined in the next entry, "A Benson Christmas")

Mom initiates Derek into the family.... with a Tom Brady keychain and a Red Sox bottle opener

Happy, Happy, Happy Feet!

Dad likes his new blankie....
Nana gets a new celll phone!

Christmas night at Kris & Mike's house... UNO fun!

Aww...Ben & Hannah before bedtime, still in their Christmas best :)

Christmas Eve fun!

Thanks to the Denver snowstorm, Derek was able to spend his first Christmas entirely in Rhode Island with the Armitage/Benson family -- and still, he wants to marry me. Here are some pictoral highlights of the Christmas Eve festivities:

Derek chattin' it up with the ladies....

Aww...shortest to tallest

Mom and her patient

Uncle George & Aunt Molly; Grams & Gramps - in coordinating colors!

Family portraiture fun: Martha, Eryk & Bob

Three of the four Kneeland sisters... Aunt Molly, Grams and Aunt Sally

Aww... Jay & Kara

Aww... brother and sister - pretending they like each other! :)

Yeah.