2014 Christmas Recap

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! 

I don't think it's too late to wish you good tidings. I'm squeezing it in under the "I haven't put away my Christmas decor yet" deadline, although the tree is already out because you know, fire hazard and all.

Here's how we celebrated in 2014.

I commissioned Audrey to do the chalk art. Didn't she do a lovely job? Take note: washi paper tape is not strong enough to hold a strand of seven vintage ornaments. The three big bells did not survive the fall. 

We spent the day before Christmas playing games and decorating cookies and generally having a good time. All that was missing was opening gifts. My Sour Cream Cookies are a must at Christmas. It pretty much goes like this: no sour cream cookies, no Christmas. The same is true for Valentine's Day so grab the recipe now.

For the past two years my side of the family has celebrated at Adventureland Inn. We all get rooms (gifted to us by my mom), bring in our supper and hang out for an evening. This picture wasn't even posed! They were all climbing on each other's back so I told them to look at me and it only took two shots to get it. I know! It's a Cousin Christmas Miracle!!

 We headed to Texas to celebrate with Bill's family. We spent the days talking, putting together puzzles, playing games, playing non-stop air hockey and foosball (Ben, all day long), going on walks (and runs), worshipping, visiting the Gainesville Zoo, and stopping at a motorcycle store. They were thrilled to see a pile of people come through the door but unfortunately, we left them sorely disappointed as we didn't purchase a thing. 

The day we visited the zoo was the only day I pulled out my big camera and as it turns out was the day my niece came down with a fever so she and my sister-in-law are missing. However, I mentioned that Tayla might like a Capybara and now I need to see if Amazon sells them. 

Part of the zoo has an elevated walkway to watch the animals from above. It was fun to see zebras, camels, kangaroos and more all in a large space.

This reminds me that I should direct you to Denise's blog The Animal Bridge. She and Roy traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti for week and a half. I think you might enjoy reading their stories but beware, However, I must warn you, Denise is a vet. Vets are very used to looking at animal wounds and such and marvel at them. They also take pictures of them and naturally think the rest of the world is enamored by such things. It's not really that bad but I feel it my duty to warn you there are some slightly grody pictures. 

We are thankful for our families and God bringing us together for another year of celebrating Him. 

Lucy loves everyone. And this beanbag. 

Thanksgiving, 2013

A little recap of our Thanksgiving Day.

Cold temperatures couldn't stop five of us mother runners from pounding out 6 miles before we feasted. Besides not seeing our fifth runner, you also can't see my awesome Turkey Trot shirt I got from last year's race. It's the only time I can wear it because it has a cartoon turkey on it and seriously, where or when else can I wear it?!

We headed over to my brother's house for lunch with them and my parents. I will tell you more about what I brought or tried to bring tomorrow but for now these boys have gotta eat!

The girls would like to eat too.

We came home stuffed.

Hope your day was great, too!

Aunt Denise Gets Married, Part 3

It's 2:00 on the dot. 

The ushers/groomsmen have seated all the guests and the groom is excitedly awaiting his bride. I'm not sure exactly how excited he was because I barely saw him that morning and I'm thinking Roy didn't see Denise either and since these two were inseparable at the rehearsal, I mean to the point that Denise's Uncle Don, who's a pastor, could have married them that night and they would have been just as much happy, and given the fact that they counted down the weeks, days, hours and minutes publicly on Facebook, I guess it's pretty safe to say, Roy was excited. (Also, I'm terribly sorry for that awfully long run on sentence. I just felt it all needed to be said in one sentence whether grammatically or punctually correct.)

The parents have each lit their respective child's single candle.

And the ring bearer and the flower girl have each made it down the aisle with no calamities. 

I'm showing you the wedding pictures Audrey took. There isn't much difference between standing and singing (All in All), standing and praying, standing and hearing the wedding message (very good, including some knot tying), standing and repeating vows and standing. Here, however they are standing and lighting the unity candle.

At some point, after the singing, knot tying, candle lighting and vow saying, it was time for Luke's big job. He stepped up, was given the rings from the best man and matron of honor...

Brought the pillow forward to the bride and groom...

And stepped back to his spot. He did well the entire time though his shoes were tight and bothered him quite a bit and he quietly wiggled around trying to make them more comfortable. It brings no comfort to an eight year old when all the men tell you that rental shoes are always that way and there's nothing to do but grin and bear it. 

Okay, you missed it but a kiss to place in between the rings and Denise receiving her flowers from Tia. I promise you, they kissed.

Luke and the flower girl are almost done except for getting back up the aisle together. Even though they rehearsed it the night before it, they had a little bit of a time getting their arms linked correctly. Made for more cute stuff.

Roy and Denise dismissed their guests themselves and we hung out until it was time for group pictures. First it was in the back of the church and then we went back into the sanctuary where we let Luke take off those shoes. 

And inspect the flower basket.

They reassembled themselves for formal pictures though.

I think I stopped Audrey from taking pictures of everything the photographer was taking (mostly because I hated that from my own wedding and it slows down the photographer) but she did capture this one. Of course, Tia and I are missing but here's the last link to the family. Yes, the little links are missing too and hopefully some future little links will come along... uh, I'm going to stop with the link thing.

You've seen Luke plenty and Jabin from the rehearsal and just to let you know, both Jabin and Ben were at the wedding as well.

Ben enjoyed the day when he could stay out the camera's way and hang with Jabin. 

I think Audrey caught him just as he looked at the camera.

Yup. He's outta there.

Time for cake! 

They are all happy and smiley because they're married and it's cake time.

And it's stuff it in your new bride's/groom's face time.

This is just a coincidental shot but it is literally my favorite shot of their entire wedding. I think words would fail to do it justice.

The entwined arms punch drinking thing is much less dramatic.

Denise and Roy put together a crossword puzzle about themselves for guests to fill in while waiting.  

It was a small wedding, which is fine of course, but it does mean the bouquet and garter crowd is a little thin. Here two single men and two boys (single) were gathered to catch the garter. You can tell the men didn't make a dash for it and instead my son ended up with it (to the great sorrow of the other little boy, who's parents picked him up and distracted him with something shiny).

The sun was starting to set and the horses needed to get home, so the bride and groom left to bubbles and cheers and well wishes.

And someone yelling "Kiss Her!"

 Roy and Denise left for their honeymoon and I have no pictures of that. 

I think 95% of these pictures were taken by Audrey. She took many more and I simply can't share them all. 

More than anything, we are all very happy for our Aunt Denise and our new Uncle Roy!!

Part 1 Part 2

Aunt Denise Gets Married, Part 2

With the big day is finally here, we set ourselves to preparing for the bridegroom. "She clothes herself with strength and dignity" is well the best thing to be adorned with but sometimes a little blush and mascara is called for. 

Thus the takeover of two entire bathrooms. For just the women. We were all fine with that. 

Denise's friend, Bobbi, who is wearing the blue shirt, did up Denise. Her daughter, Amber, is doing Tia's hair. Bobbi ought to be sainted for somehow getting curls, hairspray, foundation, blush, eye makeup and lipstick on Denise. It's no secret that dear Aunt Denise likes to keep her skin free and clear but she knew this was an extra special occasion for her beloved and decided to she could doll up for him.  

I'd say she dolls up very nicely. 

Tayla took time too.

Now this is the little flower girl. She is a very sweet thing and pulled the flower girl part off with perfect poise. I asked her if she was excited to get to wear make-up and she said "Very."

Same song, second bathroom. 

I had Audrey do my hair at our hotel and then I finished up once we got to the church. Then I walked into the first bathroom, Bobbi took a look at my make-up and gave me some pointers and then touched me up a bit. She later apologized profusely that she was so forward and frank with me. Hah! If you know me for five minutes, forward and frank is my middle name. I felt as if we were kindred spirits with make-up being our eternal bond. (Anne Shirley, anyone?) 

And here's what she told me: Anchor the eye. Well, that's how I interpreted it. I needed more mascara, a firmer line across my eye, a smidge more eye shadow and I needed to fill in my brows. Now this was something I had been recently thinking about and she just confirmed it. I would say the amount of makeup I wore was more than normal but just like we reassured Denise (and also what my mother had told me on my wedding day) a little more was better. You don't want to look undone. (My mom has probably fallen off her seat by now after reading what I just said.)

Same song, no bathroom.
Just kidding.

Bill's dad asked us if we would be able to do Mom's makeup. Sure. Then we discovered he didn't bring any of her makeup. (But really, in the long list of things he had to arrange for himself and for her, forgetting makeup is the very least of them. Besides, between Bobbi and I, we had plenty.) Tia did up Mom's hair and I took on the makeup.

Here's a fact: While I apparently have spent enough time perusing beauty blogs to know about filling in eyebrows, I know NOTHING about properly applying lipstick. I didn't get that far in my research. It's even harder to apply it to someone else. 

You can tell by now that we have moved outside for pictures. It was an overcast day but not chilly. Roy has friends who own this carriage and two beautiful horses. The horses were perfectly calm while we climbed in and out. 

Family and friends came from far and wide to celebrate.

The story behind the story. A wedding photographer is no walk in the park. This lady worked up a sweat (but we couldn't tell).

Roy's sister also stood up with Denise. 

Luke's suit? It's too much. He is too much. And his dad is too much! Bill took good care of getting Luke in his suit and to where he needed to be. It's a good thing too because once I got to the church, I left him to fend for himself and the boys.

Babe, you don't need a daisy to decide for you. I already love you!

Tia was Denise's matron of honor.

We moved to a different location because wedding guests were arriving.

Flower girl can pull a mean cross-eye!

Pictures were over for the time being and we had a bit of down time to catch our breath, grab a bite to eat, and whatever else. 

Denise and Tia covered themselves up with a bed sheet for a few bites of sub sandwiches. Tayla photobombed without knowing it. 

 It was the big day and now it was the big moment.

Part 1 here Part 3 here