Dinner in Brooklyn

Last night we went to Brooklyn Heights to have dinner with my sweet cousin Sara and her husband Steve. Sara is the oldest daughter of my mother's oldest sister Nancy. We didn't spend a lot of time together growing up, since she lived in Bellevue, WA (just outside of Seattle) and I lived in Salt Lake. She is 5 years older than I am, which isn't a big deal now, but it was back when we were younger. She moved to New York City years ago to pursue a career on Broadway. Sara has an incredible voice and loves to sing. When I moved to New Jersey, we connected and have spent the last couple years becoming dear friends. The more time I spend with Sara, the more I love her. She is such a sweet, loving, genuine person who has a wonderful attitude about life. Sara is the only family member in this vacinity and I'm grateful to have her in my life.

Last year over Labor Day weekend, John and I took Reagan to Brooklyn to have dinner with them and we had a fabulous time. Of course, we were back in Brooklyn with them for their wedding (October 5th, 2007). After I had Avery, Sara and Steve came to visit us in December. In January, they invited us to come to their house for dinner, but that's when John's mom Nila went into the hospital and things were kind of crazy. We kept trying to find a day to get together, but we just couldn't make it happen. So, after endless attempts to get together, we finally went to their appartment last night and they cooked for us. Steve made delicious flounder with brown rice and Sara made a salad. It was a wonderful meal and it was fun to finally catch up in person. Sara entertained Reagan by playing the piano and singing her songs from her favorite movie, Toy Story 2.

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I thought it would be fun to post some pictures from their wedding, since I wasn't updating my blog back then.

My sister Benee and my parents came to town for the wedding, as well as my mom's two sisters Daryl and Collette and Collette's daughters Marlo and Amber. My mom's sisters Collette and Nancy actually delivered Marlo and Sara on the exact same day, St. Patrick's Day. They share a birthday, as well as the title of "First Grandchild."



Here is John helping Steve put on his bow-tie just before the wedding ceremony.


Mr. and Mrs. Steven Orlando! Here they are coming down the aisle, just after they were married.


Sara and Steven dancing at their reception


Here's my mother with 3 of her sisters, Daryl, Collette, and Nancy (my mom comes from a family of 6 kids, so her sister Cora and her brother Brent weren't there)


Here I am with Sara ... this was on Friday October 5th and Avery was born on Friday November 2nd, so this was exactly 4 weeks before I gave birth. I love looking at these pictures of my pregnant belly :) Yep, I'm one of those weird women who loved being pregnant!


Speaking of being pregnant, my cousin Amber (on the far right) is expecting! We are so excited that she and Jayson are going to have a baby at the end of December ... they will be amazing parents! Anyway, here's me, my aunt Collette, her daughter Marlo, my cousin Sara and Collette's daughter Amber.

I thought this was a cute picture of John and me at the wedding.