A Little Cheese With That Wine?

I think there were maybe three thing that ran through my head when Mary and my's best friend Morgan told us she was engaged. The first, shock and excitement for her and Cooper. The second, a ton of eagerness to help in anyway with the following engagement parties, wedding planning, dress shopping and showers. And the third, was to start wondering where we were going go to go for her Bachelorette trip. 

There were several back-and-forth discussions with the four other people who would make up the Bridal Party. The Man of Honor, Andrew, was incredibly interested in either New Orleans or Mexico. But it was Mary who saved the day and suggested what ended up being an epic weekend: Napa and San Francisco. 

In total, we visited five different wineries, but we'll get to each in their turn :) Up first was the beautiful and majestic Castello Di Amorosa. Our bride was enchanted with the idea of visiting a castle  while we were there. Of course we made it our first stop!

They had a lovely assortment of tasting oils to choose from, all so good!

They had roosters walking (and running) about free

But seriously, what a wonderful view...

Castello di Amorosa was so beautiful....that the group ended up buying a case. I definitely didn't expect that so early in the morning, but we couldn't say no! My favorite wine from them by far was the 2010 Il Brigante, a very rich, fragrant and full bodied red wine blend. It's smell was so enticing and it tasted even better. Another favorite of the group was the 2012 Zingaro Old Vine Zinfandel. You could really taste the mix of spice and berry in it. When the Sommelier said it would pair perfectly with BBQ, all of us KC'ers immediately jumped on that band wagon. Mary bought a bottle for us to take to dinner:)


 And now a small sneak peak at our next stop...

Any guesses?!?

(Belated) Christmas Fun

The last holiday post, I promise! 

With all the formal photos out of the way, so to speak, I am sharing some candid photos from Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning!

Dad and Mary

Jackson with Uncle (cousin to everyone else) Kevin

Little Jackson was missing his own puppies back home...

Uncle Andy...being all masculine and cutting grapefruit for salads

We've always played games, conversed or worked on the annual Christmas puzzle while Christmas Eve dinner was being prepared. So while the parents were busy planning the feast of prime rib, potatoes and so many more options that we all had to be rolled away from the table.....

the cousins chatted...

Kendy and Claire, being a goof...no surprise there!

Jackson meeting Cousin Bri

made merry and.....

...PLAYED HEADS UP! 

I don't know about you, but we all LOVE this game. It is incredibly entertaining and with so many different slide decks to choose from, the fun is endless. 

Of course we played the Christmas slide deck first...Mary volunteered to show others how the game was played

It caught on quickly....

Everyone was quite animated...and this was before the 'Act It Out' round!

Clearly, we weren't as good at guessing non-christmas 

Jackson wanted to play as well, but then got too distracted with the blankets :) 

After the marvelous roast beast, and several bottles of very good wine, we all settle down in our kerchiefs and caps to be refreshed for the morning. My parents had surprised everyone with matching sweaters this year so we there that family :)

But have you ever seen so many happy faces?!

Bri and Grandmére, I love this photo

The below photo is a close second of all the photos of the family opening presents Christmas morning.  Our Uncle Paul has always give unique gifts. I remember several unique gifts. One year he gave us all huge rocks. I admit, at the age of 12 I didn't think that a rock was an adequate Christmas gift. But the rocks turned out to be geodes! He also used to give us brain twisters and complex puzzles to tease us with. While in recent years he's changed a bit and has started donating money to different charities in the families' names, his fun originality still comes through. 

Mike and Kevin were both new to Tunakan Family Christmas. They'd both married into the family and had yet to celebrate one with us. So Paul, in typical Paul fashion, gave them their 'Right of Passage' gift: all the complex puzzles that the cousins had previously received with the challenge to solve them by the time they left! 

Mike and Kevin took it in good fun :) 

Jackson was a little busy with the bows to smile for photo!

Mike being a good sport and showcasing his cousin Secret Santa gift. I mean, you never know, maybe his calves WILL get cold up there in PA!

I'm so grateful that everyone indulged me and posed for so many photos! I've noticed that we've not always been very good at taking photos of the times we are together, unlike the previous generations, and when I mentioned it everyone agreed. 

-Elise 

More Christmas Traditions (more than a little late)...

And right after I promise to be more diligent, I continue to neglect...I'm sorry! And I don't even have the excuse of holidays and travel. Is it possible to have a New Year's Resolution with it's not the New Year? If not, then I give you a Spring Resolution: I WILL DO BETTER! 

Now that I have cleared that up :).....

Here are the rest of the formal family photos taken at Christmas. I mentioned in the previous post that every other year the entire of my dad's side of the family gets together for Christmas. Every year I am more grateful for getting this time together. With it, I feel that despite the distance that separates us, my sisters and I have been able to remain so close to our cousins. 

Grandmére and her eldest, Paul. His full name is Bulent Paul, after his father Tahir Bulent. My grandfather immigrated from Turkey in the '50's.

Claire, Mary and Me with our parents and Grandmére!

Claire, Mary and Elise 

Grandmére and her youngest, Aunt Anne

The Nelsons: Rowan, Tessa, Aunt Anne and Bri

- Elise