Noah and Katie: Engagement Party!

Last weekend we drove up from Bloomington to Wheaton (wow - a weekend visit!) for Katie and Noah's engagement party - a great Saturday night celebration with food and 50+ family & friends. And of course we all got to hear the newly engaged couple tell the story of their last year and the romance that now leads to marriage. Wedding date less than 4 months away!

*as folks arrived to the front door Jim took photos for a photo-guestbook (trans. Noah's flash cards), which is why several photos are group shots in the driveway

Noah and Katie (center) with Gieser cousins Susie and Melanie, who will be the matron of honor

The couple with more Gieser cousins (and spouses and some of their kids), Susie and Wendy, also bridesmatrons (if that's a word)...

And here's Gieser cousin Steve with wife and two of their three kids (sorry Steve was blinking)

And Jul with our friend Steve - hey the last time we had such a photo was in Cape Town!!! Now on this side of the ocean, Ivester. Who will make it back to South Africa first next?

Ah yes, the food!! The Gieser kitchen has seen many years of group parties and people jostling (good-naturedly of course) for stuffed shells and chicken piccata along the kitchen island. Mom you did a beautiful job of decorating and "setting stage" once again!!

And then of course there's the slave labor dishing up cake & ice cream for the guests. Well but we love to do it!

And Lars loves to eat it. He's Elf as a young boy, after all.

Katie and Noah, what moment in telling your story was this?! Maybe when Dad asked some particularly relentless question like "Tell us, Noah, what do you find most attractive about Katie?" But you answered calmly and flawlessly! Welcome to the family.