Topic: Welcome Home Party!

Miranda Bennett

Date: 2015-03-12 20:24 EST
WELCOME HOME, KAYLEE AND TAYLOR! Maple Grove Manor has been festively decked out for the party, filled with balloons in cheery colors, a brightly-colored banner hanging in the doorway to greet the guests of honor with a happy "Welcome Home!"

https://lifeinthemeadowss.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/welcome-home-banner.png

A buffet table is set up and full of all kinds of food and refreshments for the invited guests, which consists of family and a few close personal friends.

http://www.albawaba.com/sites/default/files/im/AR_ED_Choice/fatwa.jpg

There's even a kids' buffet table full of various finger foods and scrumptious treats to make the younger set happy.

http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x9569456/childrens-buffet-with-a-selection-of-cheese-dishes.jpg

A table has been set up in case anyone's brought gifts for the newlyweds, who have just arrived home from a wedding and honeymoon in New Orleans.

http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/wedding_gift_table.jpg

And of course, there's cake because it wouldn't be a party without one!

http://homegirl.typepad.com/photos/birthday_cakes/welcome_home.jpg

((This thread will be open for a few weeks to accommodate posts before it's closed. Anyone who plays a family member or close friend is welcome to post. Any questions, drop me or Kaylee's player a PM. Thanks and have fun!))

Lyneth Granger

Date: 2015-03-13 11:26 EST
"C'mon, c'mon, it's a party!"

Brimful of delight at any opportunity to put on a pretty frock and mingle with her extended family, Lyneth had managed to drag both her parents to Taylor and Kaylee's welcome home party so early that they'd turned up in time to help Miranda and Rufus with the decorations. With Des and Piper helping to pin ribbons and blow up balloons, Lyneth had proceeded to descend on Humphrey in a futile but energetic attempt to get him up on his feet to dance with her.

Old Man Granger laughed at her enthusiasm, doing his best to boogie to no music from the comfort of his armchair in the study, half an eye on the clock as it ticked ever closer to the actual time of the party itself. He was rescued somewhat by the intervention of Jon's dog, Cosmo, who had been shooed away from the festivities for now, along with Loki and Knip. All three animals - both dogs and the Kneazle - had sought out Humphrey's study to hide in, and both dogs were more than happy to dance with Lyneth while Knip made himself comfortable on the back of the Old Man's chair.

As the clock chimed the hour, however, Lyneth could not be gainsaid, seizing Humphrey's hand and pulling him up onto his feet to come out and be a part of the party that would be starting as soon as people got there. She wasn't going to miss out on tackling her Auntie Kaylee and new Uncle Taylor at the first opportunity. _______________________ http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/EF2W5cWNSdbmGxRBzg/cid/152256910/id/2kRBMpXJ5BGCcpLu7EzHKw/size/c600x388.jpg

Bethany Daly

Date: 2015-03-14 06:37 EST
The first to arrive at the proper time were Bethany and Jason, carting their twins around in the multiverse's largest double stroller. As Lyneth descended on Brody and Evelyn, the adults had a chance to say hello without mishap, sharing hugs and warm words.

They were a unique little knot among the Grangers - Rufus and Miranda, their daughter Bethany; her husband, Jason, who was almost a brother to Des, who was married to Piper; all happily attending a party thrown in honor of Taylor, Rufus' nephew, and Kaylee, Miranda's cousin. One small branch of the Old Man's sprawling clan that had come together definitively just a little over a year before, and were promising to keep things interesting into the next generation as well.

Bethany embraced her mother and father warmly, exclaiming over the decorations. "This place looks amazing," she complimented them. "So when are we expecting the love birds?"

Kaylee Bennett

Date: 2015-03-17 16:26 EST
Of course, it wasn't until the house had filled a little with Grangers and friends that the newly-weds managed to arrive, neither one particularly at home in a crowd these days, but both prepared to endure the discomfort for a while in order that their family might be able to celebrate with them.

Hand in hand, Kaylee led Taylor into the big house, hoping they might be able to slip in unnoticed at the beginning, but that hope was dashed by the exuberant declaration of both their names by a certain half-Fae who seemed to have been deliberately watching the door for them.

As Lyneth crashed into Taylor, demanding her hug first from him, Kaylee couldn't help laughing a little helplessly at the way it seemed almost all eyes turned to them, holding them captive in the doorway.

"Well ....we're here." ________________ http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/PG7iJFiQN9lFThgnoPKAOw/cid/152702572/id/8iSJvuPM5BGjV7hYq2AFrA/size/c600x526.jpg

Taylor Bennett

Date: 2015-03-17 20:06 EST
Taylor had hoped for a quiet return home from New Orleans, but it seemed quiet was not in Miranda's dictionary.

He had reluctantly agreed to a party, more for Kaylee's sake than his own. He couldn't deny that he'd robbed her of a proper wedding and reception, though she had wanted to elope as much as he had. He thought it would do her good to have family around her, to let them see how happy she was, how far she'd come, and to give them an opportunity to welcome her home and congratulate her on their wedding.

He was hoping to let her have the limelight and remain somewhat inconspicuous, so it was a little disconcerting to find a small child wrapped around his legs, hugging him tightly. "Well, hello," he said, smiling down at the small girl doing the hugging. "You must be Lyneth. I'm ..."

He lifted his gaze suddenly to find a small crowd of people looking expectantly at the newly-wedded couple, and his smile wavered nervously. "I'm Taylor," he introduced himself. "It's nice to meet you all."

http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/2P15tQKkJ523UnbIu5QA1w/cid/152720272/id/LuwF7vzM5BGmr_IqiPOa4g/size/c600x577.jpg

Victoria Granger

Date: 2015-03-19 10:38 EST
Rather than let the newly-weds - and in particular, the groom - get more and more uncomfortable under the eyes of just about everyone in the room, a certain redhead decided to make her presence felt.

Handing off her youngest to Kaylee easily, she turned about and glared at the staring relatives. "Okay, people, move it along," she declared. "What, you've never seen two people in love before" It's a party, go and eat cake, or whatever. Chop, chop!"

A high-pitched giggle pinpointed Emily, one chubby arm wrapped about her father's leg, delightedly repeating what her mother had declared to the assembled guests. "Chop, chop!"

Grinning, Vicki winked at her daughter as she shooed away the intimidating group, turning to smile at the newly-weds herself. "Took you long enough, didn't it?" she laughed, opening her arms to hug Kaylee fondly. "Welcome home. And you ..." She bestowed the same hug on Taylor, given that Lyneth had him pinned rather neatly in place by the knees. "Welcome to the big wide world of being a Granger. Or is she a Bennett' Although Miranda's a Bennett now, and you're never going to meet a bigger Granger than she is ..." _____________ http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/g62KfuDqh2RR4b2WvOu6Fw/cid/152857360/id/0v1s00TO5BGNrNA7Xi33Qg/size/c600x503.jpg

Miranda Bennett

Date: 2015-03-22 10:13 EST
It was at that very moment that the hostess of the party swept in to greet (read that, rescue) the guests of honor from such an enthusiastic and quite possibly overwhelming welcome. It only proved how much Kaylee was adored and missed by her family that so many of them had come out to welcome her home. It wasn't so much those in attendance that was interesting to Miranda as those who were missed, and yet, she wasted little time pondering that, sweeping in the way she was wont to do to make everyone present feel comfortable and welcome, whether they were family or not.

"Did I hear my name mentioned?" she asked with a grin at the small cluster of Grangers and Bennetts. "Kaylee, darling!" she exclaimed, wrapping her younger cousin up in a maternal hug. Of course, she was the only other Granger who had actually witnessed the exchange of vows, but few present needed to know that. "Welcome home, dear," she said, adding in a soft whisper, "See how you were missed?" As was evidenced by the turn out of family and friends, though there were a few people missing. She knew Johnny and Liv were away, visiting their own families in New York, but she wasn't so sure about the others.

"And you!" Miranda exclaimed with a laugh, seeing Lyneth with her arms wrapped snugly around Taylor's legs, trapping him in place near the door. "Lyneth, darling, let the poor man go before you cut off his circulation!" she warned with another laugh.

"But he's my new cousin! And I want cake ....what?s circle nation?" Lyneth asked, not budging from Taylor, until Desmond stepped in to pry her away with a mumbled apology at the newlyweds.

"Not circle nation, Lynnie. Circ-u-la-tion," Desmond replied, enunciating the word slowly, one syllable at a time. He smiled as he tucked her tiny hand in his much bigger one. "Come on, let's get you some cake before you starve to death!" He turned to Kaylee and Taylor and offered them both a warm smile, "Welcome home and congratulations!"

Emily interrupted, tugging at her father's pants to get his attention. "Cake, Papa!" Whether she really wanted a treat or just wanted whatever it was Lyneth wanted was hard to say, but Jon laughed and rolled his eyes knowingly at Vicki before scooping his daughter up off the floor. "Sorry," he apologized to the newlyweds. "We'll catch up later. Welcome home, Kay!" he offered brightly. Whatever had happened between them in the past to make things awkward was forgotten, at least as far as he was concerned. "Welcome to the chaos that's the Granger Family, Taylor," he added before following Desmond in search of sweets.

"RUFIO!" Miranda's voice called across the room for her husband, who had been hiding behind the small cluster of Bennetts not far away. "Stop playing wallflower and come say hello to your nephew and niece, for goodness sake!"

At last, Taylor chuckled as Miranda summoned her husband - his late mother's brother - by the nickname she'd stuck the man with and that he hated. "I can see being part of the Granger Family is going to be interesting."

"Interesting?" Vicki spluttered a laugh. "That's putting it mildly."

"Come along now, children," Miranda lovingly scolded. "It's time to get this party started."