Canada Baby Shower

Along with Phil and Nikki, we hosted a baby shower for Grace and Alonzo the other weekend, the largest gathering by far at our place... ~30 people came by over the course of the afternoon! Click here for the full set of photos, or here or here for Nikki's post on the event


Here we are relaxing in the backyard.


To feed the masses we borrowed a commercial sized grill used for community barbecues at Eunice's work, and fired it up in the driveway for corn, quesadillas, chicken wings, and pork tacos.


What better way to complete a meal than with some yummy cupcakes from Sibby's Cupcakery? (not to be confused with Ryan's idea for a Cupfactory)


Jesse prefers double-fisting the watermelon!


Happy campers in the backyard.


Opening gifts in the backyard, with Ashley lending a helping hand.


"A surprise will appear in my pants."


Jesse and Eileen win a big hand in the traditional post-shower game of Texas hold 'em

San Mateo Wine Walk with Clarke and Katy

Clarke, Eunice's former Dove Consulting colleague, and his wife Katy swing by to grab dinner with us and check out the "wine walk" street fair in downtown San Mateo.

Experience Corps and SNBC Baby Shower

On May 23rd, Barbara Thomas (far left) and the Experience Corps members in Bayview Hunters Point threw a very special baby shower for Eunice in the "bistro" at Malcolm X Academy, complete with gifts, a potluck lunch, and a stirring rendition of "For She's a Jolly Good Lady"!!!



Cute outfit for the little guy...


The Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center SocCom (social committee) coordinated a baby shower for Eunice on June 19th, which included SNBC colleagues as well as Experience Corps volunteers from around the city. Here, Eunice poses with Richmond volunteer Andrea Ja.


Sunset volunteer Rich Dana showed up wearing a dapper hat and matching tie and shoes in honor of the special occasion.


Long-time volunteers Helen and Joe Friedman came out for the festivities as well.


This was perhaps one of the first baby showers in history where the games were planned by a male (thanks, Ray!). In a somewhat demented version of musical chairs, Rhoda Meer (far left) passes a "dirty" diaper (smeared inside with molten resse's peanut butter cups) to Star who quickly tries to pass it off to Juan before the music stops...


Even Rich Yurman and Oscar got involved in the fun and games!


In another baby shower game, visual-spacial genius, Nathaniel Carter, guessed the exact circumference of Eunice's belly using some orange string.


Mission volunteer Naomi Baskin knitted an adorable pair of booties for the baby.


Mission volunteer Geri Garcia's gift was a cute robe, perfect for baby's first bath.


And of course, no party is complete without chocolate cake. :) Thanks SNBC for a fantastic baby shower!

Sunru and Anne's Wedding in Boston

Fresh off a red-eye from San Francisco to attend childhood friend Sunru's wedding to Anne, we met up with the Tangs at our hotel before navigating Boston public transportation into Harvard Square.


Photo op with a statue of John Harvard in the rain.


Ryan and Melody lead the way to Baker Library in Harvard Yard.


The Tangs try (unsuccessfully) to stay dry.


Back at the hotel, Melody plays with her cool new coloring mat.


Jennifer shows off the bold outfit she'll be wearing for Sunru and Anne's wedding.


Emily and Eunice pose in front of the historic church near Harvard Square where Sunru and Anne's wedding ceremony is held.


Melody and David wait for the ceremony to begin.


Melody preps for her big role...


...as a flower girl!


Melody walks down the aisle like a seasoned pro.


Wedding party photo shoot


Valerie makes a face for the camera.


Our turn for a photo at the front of the church...


The Tang family (left to right: Valerie, Jennifer, David, Melody)


Ryan, Valerie, Jennifer, David, Melody, and Eunice


Even being eight months pregnant didn't stop Eunice from celebrating the marriage of one of her oldest childhood friends. Here, Sunru stops by to say hello during the wedding reception at the Fogg Art Museum.


The next day, we decided to head downtown. Here, Jennifer, Valerie, and Melody wait for the bus.


Melody tries to make grumpy Valerie smile...


...She gets a little giggle...


...then a full-blown smile. :)


After a weekend of getting around on public transportation, the Tangs became experts at navigating the "T."


We visited an old historic cemetary behind Park Street Church in Boston where Paul Revere and Samuel Adams are buried.


Afterwards, we met up with Jerry and Emily for a Swan boat ride in the Public Garden.


"Uncle Jerry" takes a turn at the wheel.


Sisters Eunice and Jennifer pose in front of flowers in the Public Garden.


We wrapped up our trip to Boston by revisting one of Eunice's all-time favorite dim sum restaurants in an old converted theater in Chinatown.

Jesse and Eileen's Wedding

Jesse and Eileen got married on Memorial Day weekend out on Cape Cod Massachusetts, where Eileen's family spent her summers growing up.

Rehearsal dinner at the Wicked Oyster, where Ryan and Lee punished the crowd with a re-worded rendition of "Jesse's Girl" to honor Eileen. Sample Chorus: "Should we tell her that she's Jesse's girl? How did he find a woman like that?"


Later that night at the "Land Ho!," after Grace and Alonzo arrive. Let the wedding festivities begin!

We stayed at the Cove, a wonderful hotel overlooking the bay.

The morning of the wedding: Ryan organized a game of Frisbee Golf for the Williams alumni at a local state park. The only problem? Poison Ivy all over the place. We played Frisbee in the lake instead, where Brian and I gave Jesse a little wedding day dunking despite his best efforts to evade.

The Williams Crew (+friends), enjoying a picnic on the beach at Nickerson State Park.

Now its time for business. Time to put on the bow tie and get ready for the wedding!

Lee helps Jesse with his bow tie, to no avail. We had to call out the big guns: Jesse's father, who made us all feel like little boys by whipping out 3 bow ties in 5 minutes.

Ryan, Jesse, and Lee. We know each other from our time together in New York: Jesse and Ryan were roommates, Lee and Ryan worked together, and we all became close friends through a series of excellent misadventures, starting with an all night trip to Atlantic City in a company rental car and a dawn swim in the ocean.... it was all uphill from there!

The full set of groomsmen, including Chris and Tom, Eileen's brothers. It was great to get to know Tom and his family a little over the weekend; Chris was able to make it out to Jesse's bachelor party so we already knew how fun yet charitable he could be...

The bridesmaids, looking far better than the guys: Elizabeth, Lisa, and Julie, Eileen's sisters, and Lauren, Jesse's sister. They're standing at the Wequassett, at the tip of the Cape right on the water where the wedding was held.

Ryan and Lee try to look official as they keep people on track finding their seats.

Here comes the bride, escorted down the aisle by Chris.

The forecasted rain clouds kept their distance, and the wedding site was enveloped by a magical fog for the ceremony. Just like out of a fairy tale.

The bride and groom standing under a Huppah sewn by Lauren, Jesse's sister and a frame constructed by Tom, Eileen's brother.

The deed is done. Excellent kiss!

Introducing Jesse and Eileen Brackenberry, I mean Brackenbury. :)

Best Man and Matron of Honor, following the adorable flower girls down the aisle.

The wedding party...

...and the newlyweds. Let the reception begin!

Ryan giving his best man toast... something along the lines of life with Jesse being like a self-timer. Long story. Click here to see a video of the toast, courtesy of YouTube.


Like I was saying... life with Jesse is like a self timer. Here's my first with them as a married couple!

The chair dance. Minutes before, Ryan smacked his head on a low ceiling on his way to the mens room. He was outside, bleeding into an icepack kindly provided by the bartender, when he heard the music start. Despite Eunice's protests, he threw his icepack to the side and ran to the dancefloor. He had a chair to lift!

Pregnant ladies on the dancefloor: Grace and Eunice show that you can be round and STILL get around!

The Williams Crew: Go Ephs! This was a seriously excellent reception: Jesse and Eileen hand picked all the songs played by the DJ, which meant one great song after another. Eunice was 8 months pregnant but couldn't find a song she wanted to sit out! What fun...

The next day, Eileen's family hosted everyone over to their summer home in the Cape Cod National Seashore. Its a magical place-- here we are following the trail down to the beach.

Ryan goes for a swim, despite the chilly waters. Eunice trys her hardest to avoid a soggy hug.

A giant afternoon game of capture the flag in the backyard woods, Jesse's dream post-wedding festivity. The gang gave it their all: everyone was showing off their gnarly scratched-up legs at the BBQ.

Ryan, Lee, and Jesse, out of our penguin suits.

The Baja Crew, reunited for another beautiful sunset, on the Atlantic coast this time around!

Sparklers and an oceanside bonfire, the perfect end to a beautiful day on the beach.

Definitely NOT a good idea: running into the frigid May Atlantic waters in your only pair of boxers. Good thing we had a roaring fire to get warm again!

A little late night swing dancing back at the Wilde house.
Here's the gang, closing down the wedding festivities. An unbeleivable wedding weekend. Well done Jesse and Eileen, and best wishes for a lifetime together.