Nieces and nephews

My mom and dad have 20 grandchildren.  There have been two occasions where we lined up all available hands for a picture; those photos are combined below.  Top half was taken on August 5, 2002 as part of the celebration of my parents' golden wedding anniversary; bottom half was taken on July 11, 2014 just prior to Margaret/Jeremy wedding ceremony.

It's a fine crew!

[click photo to enlarge per usual]

L-R Alison (bottom half only), Emily, Mark, Julia, Tom, Kieran, Clare, Kristen, Jenna, Joe (top half only),
Paul Jr., Michael, Patrick, Nick, Margaret, Kate, Kerry, Angie, Chris, Nicole

And here are the same two photos, just cropped differently:

MN wedding

[As always, click any photo to enlarge all.]

Margaret & Jeremy, with a few well-wishers.
Guess what:  everyone was pretty fired up to celebrate this wedding.
(Photo taken in House back yard on a gorgeous late Saturday afternoon.)

All nine of us traveled (from AZ, VA, CA) to Minnesota for the social event of the season:  the wedding of Margaret House (my estimable god-daughter) and Jeremy Elliott!  We had a great time throughout.  As was the case a few years ago, the House clan certainly knows how to put on excellent wedding weekends.

Happy b'day to K (lovely afternoon on W.A. Frost patio)

***
An aside:

Something I keep noticing:  the "next generation" - generally widely separated by geography their entire lives - somehow gets along unbelievably well.  It makes me very happy to observe how they interact at these formal family events, and also the effort they make to visit one another while traveling between times.  They (and the in-laws in my generation) have sparked things up for my Gales generation, and in an entirely positive way.  These family get-togethers are becoming funner and funner.

***

Just prior to the formal photo shoot and ceremony.

Panis Angelicus practice (Cullen accompanists offstage)

I do like this photo.

Summarizing the weekend:

CPG traveled with PJ and me (on Thursday, July 10); then we waited a bit for K (coming in from DC); found out EPG was on delay; finally got organized with car etc. and the four of us grabbed a quick lunch at W.A. Frost (to wish K happy b'day!)   Then checked into hotel, hung around with folks awhile there - fun.  EPG eventually arrived from CA.  Rehearsal dinner was at back yard of some friends of the House family - beautiful evening, everything worked out great there.  Back to hotel; cards/shenanigans well into the early morning hours.  At which time POC, NOC, PJr, Nedda arrived on a late flight.

Pre-ceremony family photo.

Reprising the 2002 photo of Ernest & Helen Gales grandchildren.  (That 2002 photo was taken
in the lot just north of the house in St. Joe, and included the single 2014 absentee (Joe).)

Wedding date was Friday July 11.  Ceremony was at a beautiful country club in the north end of town.  Easy trip up there.  We so much enjoyed catching up with so many folks before, during, after ceremony, dinner and dance - a great evening.  Even had a mini-reunion for 40th anniversary of graduating from Garrigan High School (Bob & Margaret Muller, Joe Illg, me).  Everyone very happy for Margaret and Jeremy.  Not surprisingly:  more late night cards/shenanigans back at the hotel.

I like this photo.  (Still pre-ceremony.)

Our table at the reception.

Saturday, July 12 - slow-ish start to the day; had lunch at Barley John's to wish POC a happy birthday - nice.  Pretty rainy.  Softball game was cancelled.  But nonetheless had a completely enjoyable day at the House house - they do a great job hosting large numbers.  Sampled some of Nick's home-brews; that boy is on the right track.  The party moved outside as the weather improved into a marvelous evening; various of us spent quite a bit of time with the "Polish golf" set (built by Dan Haag's dad).  Michael had brought along a Mike & Ally homebrew (along with Ally herself) plus a sausage hoarded from Phantom Ranch - this was amusing, and tasty, for the 13 Grand Canyon hikers in attendance.

Celebrating POC birthday at Barley John's.  Nice!

Party-goers at House house on Saturday (Barb, Clare, Dolores)

Basically repeated the experience of the prior two days:  just very enjoyable to move around within the group and catch up with folks.  Also repeated the experience of the prior two nights:  late night cards/shenanigans back at the hotel.  Including a nice tribute to the bride & groom as folks made their comments and gave their best wishes.  Said our goodbyes to the Lancaster crew as they were scheduled for early departure the following morning.

Psychedelic kitty continues to inspire all who see him, or her, or it.

Grandma supplied cookies at House house.

Sunday, July 13 - PJ and I took K to airport mid-morning, sorry to lose her as next visit isn't clearly scheduled at this time.  PJr/Nedda also had a morning flight.  Checked out of hotel; said goodbye to my parents and Steve & Liz.  Perfectly gorgeous Minnesota summer day.  Brunch with a good-sized group at some fine place in Minneapolis - delightful company (Dolores, Clare, Tom, Kieran; Carol, Jim; Therese, Mark; Jenna, Walter; Nick, Maeve, Socrates; us).  This was quite fun.  Then up to the Aster - all the remnants of our group met with Cecilia, Steve, Angie, Tilly - plus celebrity guests the Bumbernicks.  Great lunch and drinks; then a delightful walk across some old Mississippi Bridge that we've somehow missed all these years.  Airport; our first Uber ride; home.

Great trip. We are lucky in many ways.

Lovely afternoon in House backyard.  Ally, Mike, Beth, Mark.  Photo bombers at work.

Clare, Alison, Emily, Mark, Kristen

Grill-master sympathizing with Packer fan.

Liz, Nedda, Steve, Chris, Walter, Jenna.  EPG photo-bomb.

Mark, Therese, Mike, Ally, Mike, Mary, Jim.

Mike supplies 13 Grand Canyon hike alums with their favorite trail snack.

Godfather and goddaughter in
charge of evenly splitting our treat - 13 ways.

POC, Tilly at Aster for Sunday lunch.

Mississippi River bridge stroll after Aster lunch.  With Kevin & Lindsey Bumbernick.

Flagstaff 4th of July

PJ and I always find Flagstaff to be entirely amusing.  For the 4th of July weekend, we were joined there by NOC, POC, CPG, PJr. Billy, Sara.

PJ visits Arboretum; San Francisco Peaks in background.

My little wife at Flagstaff Arboretum.

PJ and I arrived several hours ahead of the rest (on Thursday 7/3); we made a long-deferred stop to the Flagstaff Arboretum; quite lovely; we won't hurry back.  After check-in:  lunch at our favorite:  Criollo.  The rest of the crew eventually showed up; walked into downtown Flag; snacks and beverages at Tinderbox Annex; dinner at Criollo; a couple stops betwixt/between.  Late-night games/shenanigans.

Martane's - amazing intersection of quantity and quality.

Striking gold at the t-shirt shop (so to speak).

4th of July was sporadically rainy.  We might have seen the local parade with the slightest effort at planning; oh well.  Much "should he?/should he not?" analysis regarding POC's potential participation in the local hot dog eating contest (POC reluctantly takes a pass).  The analysis included brainstorming not always appropriate methods for POC's posse to support his would-be participation.

Heavy-duty CAT-hoops at Mother Road Brewery.  (Notwithstanding Ed's silly grin.)

Massive and awesome breakfast at Martane's; wandering around downtown; PJr and CPG found ridiculous cat shirts at some shop downtown; PJ bought psychedelic kitty shirt for me; waited out the rain at some new place in downtown Flagstaff; then a lengthy, v. pleasant session at Mother Road Brewery.  Where cat-shirt-inspired games of "CAT" (in lieu of "HORSE") ensued.  Nicole turned in the shooting performance of her lifetime.  But still couldn't compete with YT.  Weather turned perfect, this was a fun experience.  Including our new friends Ed/Lisa.  Eventually:  dinner at some sushi place that was surprisingly good; more late-night games/shenanigans.

Nonsensical hanging around at Mother Road Brewery.  We did provide
invaluable encouragement to the pedal pub patrons.

5th of July - brunch at Josephine's.  Nothing wrong, but we recall why we had decided that it wasn't worth returning.  PJ and I stayed an extra night; the rest returned to Phoenix after brunch.  We wandered around Flagstaff, hung around the room, ended up with a lights-out meal at Brix.

We will keep returning, much enjoy Flagstaff.

I hauled along my trusty Narrative Clip, which contributed the photos in the short clip below.  The quality isn't always the best, but the camera does catch shots not otherwise taken (example at 2:07 of the video).