The Evening After
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The time had come for the final gathering to celebrate the wedding of my niece the day before.  The plan was to gather at my brother’s house in the evening, so we spent the day poking around the Getty Museum.

By the time we arrived at Rip’s house, people were beginning to filter in to the party.  The wedding had been a small affair, so this was an opportunity for more people to share in the happy couple’s new legal status.

looks yummy

I headed into the kitchen to scope out what was most important to Butterfly – the dessert table.  I reported back to her that she could rest easy; there was a cake.  Apparently someone knew there was a cupcake thief on the loose, so this time there was your standard layer cake with no serving utensils in sight.  Butterfly was foiled!

hip hugger

The bride was carting a baby around as soon as she walked in the door.  Apparently someone thought she needed the practice.

Speaking of small people …

perfect targets for my camera

I spied these two little munchkins across the room.  That little blond is my brother’s niece.

pssst!

She had figured out I had targeted them.  I’m pretty sure she was telling her little friend, “Don’t look now, but that lady is taking our picture!”

weak from lack of sugar

Butterfly waited patiently for someone, anyone, to cut that cake.  She couldn’t find any kindred spirits – you know the sort, those people who believe in eating dessert first.

money tree

This is one of the more unique gifts given to the bride and groom.  Looks just like a scrawny little plant with some money attached, doesn’t it?  Well, it’s a little more than that.  It’s a Mexican milkweed, and it happened to have a passenger.

the passenger

This little fellow is the caterpillar of a monarch butterfly and the milkweed is their plant of choice.  The gentleman who brought this gift raises these plants and caterpillars as his personal quest to help repopulate the monarch flyway.  The little guy munched away all evening, quite content to hang out on the plant and enjoy himself.

our second cake

Finally the cake was brought out and Butterfly only had to suffer through a few more toasts and speeches before she could satisfy her sweet tooth.  It was worth the wait.

don't fall off the chair

I caught sight of Rip inside the house, watching the festivities with his little niece through the front window.

It was a sweet conclusion to an enjoyable series of events.  I’m sure the bride and groom have plenty to remember with love and laughter.