Flasback: Green Valley Holiday Parties

Some more old pictures - oh how young we once were!

Here are Damon and I at the Green Valley holiday party in 2005 held at Latitude:

In 2007 at Cabianca:

And at Upper Fourth later - we might have been drinking a little.

Flashback: Mike Parman Retirement Party

Heehee - more flashback photos!!!! This time from November of 2005 at the retirement part for Mike Parman, the former Publisher, and my former boss, of The Press Democrat. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May, Mike and his family were thrown into making quick decisions under difficult circumstances. One of those decisions was to retire from his lifelong career in publishing. He still is, and will always be, a leader who inspires me. He was a person who lead with his heart and he believed in others - he believed in me.

The party was held at Chalk Hill winery and it was beautiful - Michelle and I spent a lot of time planning the celebration. I joked that it was just like planning our wedding (which I was in the process of), complete with favors, table names, musicians and toasts. Here are Randy and Michelle and Damon and I (not sure why there is only a black and white of us).

Hope everyone is having a good week - its Wednesday!

Another Baby Shower

Last weekend we had two baby showers for the new little miss Hildebrandt. It was a busy weekend and the last weekend that our family would be our family - the dynamics will be utterly and gratefully changed the next time we are all together. It is good change, no great change, but it is still an end of a era of our family and it made some of us sad. And since I wasn't ready to have it be my last time with my sister - I booked a flight and fun hotel for the two of us in February. This shower was hosted by my mom's friend, Nancy, and was super fun. Here are the great decorations and details...

Cutest pregnant napkins ever!

The favors - a pink polka dot bowl with a sweet little candy - loved the ties on them!

Me and Michelle :)

Alicia with a number one pillow :)

Of course, I needed to have lots of photos taken with all the guests after all the beautiful baby gifts were open..

Miss Olivia and her beautiful mom joined us - I cannot believe how old Olivia is. My mom used to babysit her when she was little and we have so many great memories together. It still just kills me how much time has gone by - she is such a beautiful young woman.

More pictures from the next baby shower later in the week.

Flashback: Tahoe 2006

Another installment of my flashback photos - this one from Tahoe in February 2006. Damon and I try to go to Tahoe at least once a year - it is one of our many special places. We are truly lucky to be able to arrive there after a short four hour drive. This particular time we stayed at Cal-Neva hotel. I remember my parents stayed there when I was little and they brought me back a wooden jewelry box with Cal-Neva etched on the outside. I always dreamed that it was a fancy swanky place. Well - a few years have passed and they haven't made many renovations - but I really felt fancy staying there. We had plans to ride a snowmobile (Damon set that up all on his own) but it was so cold in the morning that his diesel truck wouldn't start - so that is still on the to-do of ours!

Damon's aunt got married there - so we decided to take a "ceremony" picture via self timer. Don't let the clear blue skies fool you - it was freezing!

We did make it up to dinner at the top of Squaw Valley - I really enjoyed walking through the Olympic museum. I am getting so excited for the winter Olympics, I only wish that we were able to go up there. Attending the Olympics is another thing on our to-do list - not that we are really into sports, but we both love the Olympics and the great energy surrounding it all.

I was very excited this particular evening - I won a ton of money on the quarter wheel of fortune machine at the casino across the street. I remember it so clearly - Damon was off at the three card poker table and I was sitting by myself. I think I put $100 in the machine and I played for hours until "hitting it big." The problem with playing for hours is that the complimentary alcohol just keeps on flowing, so when I hit the 1,000 wedge on the wheel I was a little tipsy and there wasn't anyone there to celebrate with me. And, I was laughing too because the machine ran out of quarters and they had to come and give me more. Fun times...

The view from our balcony...

We are headed up to Tahoe again in a few weeks and I am excited to see what sort of shenanigans we will get into this time.

Wicked!

One of the many generous presents from my fabulous in-laws this Christmas was a girls night out to see Wicked in San Francisco. It is always so much fun hanging out with Leana, Kris and Kris's sisters. We headed down to the bay area early evening on a Wednesday and stopped for dinner in Corte Madera before arriving at our destination. Can you believe that I have never been to a play in the city? In fact, I had never even been to where the theatre is. So sad, I know. I used to see plays all the time in Chico, but I never did growing up and my husband isn't exactly the play going crowd. The theatre was beyond beautiful and the play was great - I have so much admirable for actors, especially those that can sing.

And, I promise, there was a group of 6 of us, I just didn't take any people photos the entire night!

We ordered some cocktails before the show...yum!

And we ordered some ahead of the time for the intermission - what a great idea!

And there they are!

Inside the beautiful Orpheum Theatre...

My one picture that I took inside the theatre - they were all over the "no taking pictures" policy...

I was surprised at how broadway-esque the area was...even when we walked outside there were street performers and a muni station. Felt like I was in New York just after seeing The Producers or the Lion King :)

As always - thanks for the great memories Kris - you are too generous!

Flashback: Damon's 30th Birthday Party

I have been making CD's of old images for my family members and I have been loving going down memory lane through pictures. To spice up the blog a little, I will be having quite a few flashback posts. Since I am SO excited for two upcoming 30th birthdays this year, I thought I would share Damon's 30th birthday bash. We are really hoping that Leana and Tyler (who turn 30 in March and April) continue the Morelli party tradition with a big bash at the ranch.

Damon's party was the same year that we were married, so it was fun to see everyone again. I cannot believe how little Trenton (and Casen) were in 2006...apparently Trenton is getting an early start on the keg drinking (future Chico State Wildcat?)

Damon and Randy...

My mom and I getting the candles ready...

Ryanne with a funny pacifier :)

Damon sad to have a whole mound of candles...

This was one of Geoff's first trips back up to Sonoma County after officially dating my sister (since they realized that they liked each other more than friends at our wedding.) This picture is just how Geoff looks at Alicia, and it is just the way you would want your daughter to be looked at.

Casen and Damon (Casen was 4 1/2 years here and now he is almost 8!)

Hope that you enjoyed this little walk down memory lane :)