A few days before, David & Elizabeth worked on a little Independence Day book.
We used a potato to stamp some stars. This is Elizabeth's star paining:
The day started off cooking! Getting ready for the annual family reunion. Just about right; I forgot to take pictures at the reunion. It was a small turn out this year, but we had a good time. I especially noticed Momma's absence after lunch as the menfolk ended up outside visiting and the womenfolk ended up around the table inside. That's how it always seems to end up.
For the first time that I can remember, Dad showed up with flowers for me to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary! And he got my favorite color, purple. Very sweet. : ) Friday night we were able to ditch the kids at Grana's and went out to dinner, just the two of us. It was nice. So on our actual anniversary, I cooked dinner for us at home. This scrum-dil-ee-umptious dish is a Pioneer Woman recipe: Summer Stir Fry. Fabulous. You should try it. Garlic, shrimp, zuccini, red onion, anaheim pepper, corn off the cob, served with brown rice. Mmmmm...
After cleaning up from dinner (the kids ate peanut butter sandwiches, boy they missed out), we made ice cream. Dad & Uncle Phillip headed down to the pond to fish. Curt & Suzanne showed up. As it started getting dark, we headed out & started with some poppers. Dad had a small light show of assorted fountains & Roman candles & bottle rockets, then we broke out the sparklers.
Dad & Uncle Phillip had a little fun with big handfuls of sparklers. I don't recommend this.
Mom's "special" sparklers:
Elizabeth was scared of the fireworks and was still nervous about the sparklers until she saw Mom & Dad sparkling too and finally gave it a try. Then she was hooked.
We lit 'em as fast as we could to keep up! We also were able to see the end of the fireworks show in town from our back porch! Rebekah slept through all the fireworks.
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)
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)
My cousin took this photo with her camera's timer. I think this is everybody who was at this year's reunion.
See if I got this right (spouses included): One left in the elder generation. 13 present in my dad's generation. 13 present in my generation. 19.5 present in my kids' generation.
I'm not sure I've recovered yet... I got up early (like 5:15 early) with Grandma Saturday morning & we did something special together. Click to see what got us up so early... : ) Dad & the kids were still sleeping when Grandma picked me up.
I was back at home by lunch time. David enjoyed some play time in the sand box while Elizabeth napped after lunch. He got just a little bit sandy. When he saw his dirty face in the mirror, he was so proud of himself! He had to have an early bath, because we had more stuff to do on this eventful day...
While I was out with Grandma, I found this light-up Wall-E Christmas shirt! (I'm surprised by Disney this year - I've hardly seen any Wall-E clothes, toys, accessories, or anything. But Cars is still all over the place!) Ever since David decided to be a robot for Halloween, then Grandma introduced him to Wall-E about a month ago, anything robot is big stuff at our house! My first intention was that this shirt would be a Christmas present. But then I realized it's a Christmas shirt, so he should be wearing it before Christmas. But I'm positive he will wear it as long as it fits! Well, I think this shirt just made his day! And now, he was able to wear it for our visit to Santa!
David started talking to Santa immediately upon entering the sleigh. I'll tell more about that on Tiny Talk Tuesday! : ) Just wait... you'll get a good chuckle out of it!
From there, we got something to eat (the pregnant woman couldn't wait), I ran inside one store & finished my Christmas shopping (now I just have to finish the things I'm making!), and then Dad ran inside Lowe's to get some light bulbs.
And we finally made it to Frankie's Family Christmas Party:
Frankie's mom & Dad's grandmother were sisters. I think that makes all those kids cousins, to some degree, with David & Elizabeth... right? There were kids & people & food all over the place. It was a lot of fun. And I think it was about 10:30 when we got home. Whew.
