Getting to know each other

Usually the rehearsal dinner is a smallish affair, just the stars and supporting cast of the wedding. Or at least that's how I always thought of it. But Jer and Pamela are very social beings (which bodes well for Ruby's social skills) and they wanted more than a skeleton crew at their rehearsal dinner. It was held in the upstairs of the Pyramid Brewery--quite the happening spot, with good food and of course great beer. Very conducive for people to meet and talk.




It was a brilliant move on their part, because the two families, along with close friends from each side, actually had two opportunities to get to know each other--not just at the wedding reception.

For example, below is Courtney's niece Laurie and most of her crew (one daughter missing), who I've met before but didn't really know at all. Between the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception we had several chances to really talk. It was great to find out about her life in the small mountain town of Quincy and tell her about mine.




Courtney's brother Steve is an understandably proud grandfather to Kentaro. (They have three generations living in their house: Steve, his son Matt and Matt's girlfriend Melissa living upstairs and downstairs is his other son Kevin, his wife Emi and their precious boy Kentaro. So Steve is not an occasional grandfather.)




Here's handsome Uncle Matt taking his turn with Ken.




Courtney's other brother Tom lives in Thailand with his family pictured below. His wife Fon, her son Ou, and their daughter Sara, with the ubiquitous Kentaro.




Here they are, two good-looking Hawaiian brothers, though this photo does not do either of them justice. But they're still cute, even in a mediocre picture.



Kentaro was entertaining the crowd with his new skills of hand clapping...




...and walking!!




That's it for now. Next stop: the wedding!

Valori