Oh What A Night!

Congratulations To Our Grand Niece, Claire and  Husband, Corey

Well, it's almost 10:00 in the morning and we just got up.  Yep, we just got up.  I am sitting in our room in the Glidden House, a hotel/party center in downtown Cleveland, the former home of the paint magnate.  We celebrated my nephew Pats' daughter's wedding and New Year last night. After the dancing, we ended up at Dave's Cosmic Subs until 2:30, finishing the night off with a beer and a sub sandwich.  Needless to say, this is not our normal New Year's Night.

Yesterday started with a drive through a blizzard on RT 86 on our way to Cleveland.  It was bad until we got to the Ohio line when it was better, mostly wet snow or rain and we could drive at a comfortable 65 mph.  We arrived at my sister Linda's around 2:30, in time to see our niece Julia, her husband, Hampton, and their two-year-old Anna, our main reason for stopping.  Both of my sisters and their husbands were there as well, getting ready for the wedding.  We stayed until 4:00, Anna mostly sleeping alas, then drove to University Circle in downtown Cleveland and checked into our hotel. 

The ceremony was at 6:30, in what looked like a sunroom, with lots of windows and light. It was a brief but touching ceremony, and my niece, the bride's godmother,  performed the marriage. Afterward, we had drinks and appetizers until 7:30 when we all adjourned to the dining room.

Family Waiting For The Bride

Mother Of The Bride And Son, Jack

Here Comes The Bride

Claire's Best Friend and Siblings

The six-piece band was already set up and acted as master of ceremonies.  The groom and bridesmaid gave brief but heartfelt talks and then about 150 of us sat down to dinner, chicken or short ribs, all delicious.

Sealed With A Kiss

The End And A New Beginning

And then the fun, the night began, with the music until 12:30.  I don't think the dance floor was ever empty from 8:30 to 12:30.  The band was great, the group was excited, and we all danced the night away.  

My Sisters And Walt (and Evie)

Sibs

Evie, Our Niece,  Julia, And Her Mom,  Ellen

It was fun to be with family, my sisters and their kids and grandkids, all thirteen of them, most in college or out.  Everyone was happy, of course, because of the special night for Corey and Claire and was made better by the fact that we all rung in the New Year with music and dance.   O what a night!

Nephew, Niece, And Brother In Law

The Girls

Emily And Shay, My Grand Nieces

My Sister, Ellen, And Family

Evie was clearly into the music, the dancing and when it was all over, she convinced me to walk a short distance to Dave's Cosmic Sub, where the young ones were gathering.  We sat at the bar, enjoying a final beer and sub, talking with Pat and Courtney, the bride's parents.  It was a fun way to end the evening.  We walked back to our hotel in the cold, wind whistling and collapsed into our beds at 2:30, exhausted but happy.  

Cheers From Parents Of The Bride