Welcome Summer!

 We celebrated the First Day of Summer with apple juice pops on the porch and tried to go to the Splash Pad in town, but it was not running (which really stinks for the first day of summer).  Instead we came back home, played in the awesome sprinkler I built!!! and made homemade ice cream in my amazing ice cream maker!

YEA, SUMMER!

Tiny Talk Gets Baptized!

It's been quite a while since I posted a Tiny Talk!  This week I could not resist, though!  David was baptized on Sunday!  In the same baptistery I was baptized in and probably in the same robe...

Pretty cute, huh?  Elizabeth was just as excited as David and to everyone that spoke to her, she said, "David is getting bab-tized this morning!"

Tonight, David gave me a loud kiss.  As he was walking away, I heard him say, "I thought being baptized would make my kisses quieter.  Perhaps when I grow up they will."  I have no idea where that came from!

A few days ago, David asked: Were you born in Texas?
Mom: Yes, I was born in Cleburne.
David:  What was Cleburne like in older times?
Gee, thanks!  It was smaller.  And there was no Super Walmart, only a little Walmart with no McDonald's inside.  McDonald's had an outside playground with a metal slide and a hamburger you could climb up inside...

Overheard from Elizabeth today:
When I grow up I'm gonna be a baby doctor... I mean an ice skater.

I can't get any pictures of Rebekah lately because she's moving too much.  She's also saying more & more every day.  Among her favorite things to say is, "MOM!!!!!!!" but she has also started saying yes ma'am when I ask her a question and we're still working on thank you!

What a week this has been!

Our wild week began last Friday. I document it here so I will not forget. Dad ran the "airport shuttle" as guests started arriving. First Mark, whom we had never met in person, then Aunt Sissy, Lauren & Jordann, and Maid of Honor Sarah. I made pizza for supper and the good times began!

On Saturday, Grandma & Grandpa & Will were trying to get home from their mission trip to New Mexico. Meanwhile, we went to Glen Rose to the Dinosaur Valley State Park. We saw some dino tracks, a few people went for a swim & we had a picnic.

By Saturday night, more were coming back together and we had Mexican food at our house for supper - Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt Sissy, Uncle Bubba & Aunt Wee, Me & Dad, Mark & Lauren, Andy & Ashton, Will, Jordann, Jesse, David, Elizabeth & Rebekah and Sarah.

Sunday some ladies from Grandma's church hosted a gift card shower for Lauren. It was lovely.

We had grilled hot dogs at Uncle Bubba & Aunt Wee's house. Good times.

On Monday, Mark & Lauren got their marriage license & we had a massive trip to Wal-Mart. I was getting food for the week and Sissy was getting the food for the bridesmaids' brunch, lunches at the church while decorating, and wedding reception. Some of the bunch went to Chick-fil-a for a missions fundraiser. The rest ate a meal cooked by Aunt Sissy at our house.

Tuesday we started cooking reception food - meatballs, German chocolate icing, cupcakes were delayed because we didn't have the cupcake liners yet. Uncle Glenn (father of the bride) arrived by car about mid-afternoon with all the wedding decorations, dresses, cupcake liners! and some furniture for us! Another bridesmaid flew in from Canada. (that was Tuesday, right?) Aunt Wee cooked lasagna & we ate at our house. I finished the flowers that night while Sissy & Glenn went to meet Mark's parents who flew in from Canada.

Wednesday morning, Lauren & Sarah prepared a lovely brunch for the bridesmaids, mothers & grandmas (and me & Elizabeth). The rest of the bridesmaids arrived from California. David ate his PB sandwich in the office & played lego.com games while the ladies ate, visited, and Lauren passed out gifts. Here's the girl cousins:

Wednesday afternoon, the ladies beautifully decorated the sanctuary with green tulle and black & white photos of Lauren & Mark.

Elizabeth practiced walking down the aisle with the two bigger flower girls. She loved all the attention!

The rehearsal dinner for now 35 people from Texas, California and Canada was at our house. I was a little busy & didn't get any pictures. We had amazing BBQ, cooked by a firefighting co-worker of Dad's. Wow. Finished off with Blue Bell Groom's Cake. It was a wonderful night. The guys headed to Uncle Bubba's house for a Halo Killin' Party and the girls stayed here for a Toenail Painting Party.

Thursday morning, was spent getting the fellowship hall ready for the reception. Again, it was beautiful. Lauren had so many unique ideas and it played together beautifully - bamboo & floating candles on each table, a cupcake tier, a candy bar, a well-wishes tree instead of a guest book.

Thursday afternoon Mark was ready to get the show on the road.

Others waited in the sanctuary.

(photo by Uncle Bubba)

Bridesmaids chowed down in the choir room.

Elizabeth made it down the aisle... crying with Aunt Wee helping her. She settled into the pew with her plug, blanket & coloring book and was fine for the rest of the ceremony.

David made his walk down the aisle as ring bearer... but didn't stop. He walked across the front of the church and back up the other aisle! Aunt Wee caught him at the back & then he fell asleep on the back pew!

The wedding was beautiful, moving and humorous. It was perfect.

(photo by Uncle Bubba)

(photo by Grandpa)

(photo by Uncle Bubba)

We are so blessed to have been a part of this week. So thankful that they chose to have the wedding here where we could be this involved. So loved everyone and were equally loved in return. We made new friends and watched as two families (and two countries) merged to form another. It was amazing.