6 of Four

This year Andrew, Rachel, Chris and I decided to host a holiday party. Rachel wanted it to be a fun different theme even though we all celebrate Christmas. She was thinking of a fun and creative way to incorporate light. She came up with a Winter Solstice party. (in which she has been joked with it being a pagan party from her dad! 🙂 ) We went to great lengths to make it a fun time of fellowship among friends. Enjoy the pictures that tell the story of our party. Thanks to Chris, Ben, Matt and Adam for all the pictures!

Each guest was to bring a candle to add to the table. This shows the light that we all create as we come together. This is also a tradition that my family holds every Christmas.

I love how this shows all of the candles and everyone enjoying time together.

The beautiful table with our fifty hanging lights.

The cooks in action!

Where would the memories be if we didn’t burn the bread? : )

My handsome husband being very helpful.

Details

This was by far my favorite birthday celebration year! Chris is such an amazing husband. He was planning surprises upon surprises. He is one to set the bar that I will never be able to compete with. My brother is getting married tomorrow, and I was expecting a very low key birthday. I knew we would be busy with wedding festivities. Well, Chris planned on it not going unnoticed. After our trip to Ft. Lauderdale, my birthday came. We had a wonderful morning at our new local coffee shop, tilt, had a great lunch with Andrew and Rachel, enjoyed fun times with a flat tire, and then we had a fun celebration with my family that night. I wish I had pictures for you of all of it, but there has not been time to get them out of the camera! I was completely content with my birthday and had a wonderful time.

Then on Wednesday I had a shoot on my own and Chris was working in the office. When I came home we were heading out to a “birthday date.” Chris actually turned the date into a surprise party! Some of my favorite people were there. We have become so close with people in the photography industry. They are some of our best friends. You could take photography away and we’d still all be close. That is the best part. Among my wonderful guests were: Andrew, Rachel, Mark, Erin and Mel (Jeremy we missed you!). As well as Matt and Melissa Yung, Adam, Jenn and Hayden Linke and non other than Joy, Garrett and Graycen Nudd. I could not have asked for a better group. We enjoyed sushi at Wasabi and then Chris surprised me with cupcakes that he made by himself! He made them while I was on my shoot. That was probably what meant the most to me. His planning and doing something out of his comfort zone. It meant the world to me. Then we headed back to our place and enjoyed more fellowship. After most left, Andrew and Rachel enjoyed riding around our scooter. Then Erin, Mark and us toured are area by Centennial Park. Erin and I even received some scooter lessons. Memories!

Thanks to Rachel and Erin for my birthday picture!

To my husband, I will never be able to out do you on this birthday. You win. You made my day and gave me my first real party. I love you for making me a priority in your life and taking time out of our busy work days to make me cupcakes. 🙂

All in all, I am completely moved by my friends taking time out of this busy month to make me feel loved. You are all inspirations to me and have a part of who I am. I love you all.

Katie