Big Trip: Phase 3... THE WEDDING!

Our time in California this past week has been incredible.
We arrived in CA after saying a teary

goodbye to my sister and family in TN last Wednesday.

Then the wedding festivities began! Jeremy's brother

Aaron has married a beautiful, funny, warm, and inviting

woman named Abie and we are all so excited to welcome

her into our family. She is absolutely perfect for Aaron,

they are such a fun couple. Finally, all in one place!! From left to right, our

brother-in-law Jimmy, Jeremy's sister Jennifer,

you know who..., then Aaron, Abie, Jeremy's sister

Heather, and her absentee paper plate husband, Gerry.

(Gerry was unable to get time off from his job on the slope...

we missed him!) And it wouldn't be a picture of this gang

without at least one silly face photo. The rehearsal... the wedding was held in the most

beautiful of places behind Abie's parent's church!

It had a little creek running beside a grassy area.

And you had to walk across a bridge to get to it.

The weather was perfectly warm.. we LOVED it! Abie and her three flower girl nieces!

Hallie, Morgan, and Grace. And Friday night after the rehearsal dinner,

it was off to swing dancing lessons! Aaron and Abie

provided lessons for all of the family and friends that

wanted to come! Their friend taught the 2 hour class for all of us.... A typical night in the life of our trip! ZZZzzzzzzz
A plum-tuckered princess.
Aaron and Abie gave Morgan a tiara, shoes,

and jewelry as a thank you for being in the

wedding and as soon as the ceremony

was over, on went the crown!

Hooray, a new sister!

The ceremony itself was beautifully orchestrated!

I wish you all could have been there. Abie and her

father walked across the bridge and down the aisle

to a live band playing Holy is the Lord by Chris Tomlin.

It gives me chills thinking about it. God bless you two as you journey

through the rest of life together! (Get a good tan in Mexico first, will ya?)

Jeremy and his happy baby girl. She was such a trooper on this trip, as she always is, I guess. She slept in so many different beds, rode in the car for countless miles, was held, kissed, and cheek-pinched by loving relatives and was such a great airplane traveler. Sweet Annika, you are a complete joy of a daughter.

the Mr. & Mrs.

My little people getting ready to walk down the aisle.
Aaron waiting for his bride.

Drew and Gavin did so well standing up for the ceremony.

Beforehand, we had lessons on where they were allowed

to put their hands.... clasped in front, clasped behind,

or at their sides. (Up the nose or scratching body parts

was frowned upon!) They were SO adorable.

Jen and Jimmy getting ready to sing/play during the prayer & communion. What a talented duo! They live in Oregon,but will be up for a long stay during Christmas!!!!

Snuggles for her new Auntie. Morgan cried and cried after the newlyweds left the reception for their honeymoon. I guess she didn't expect them to go... and missed them terribly. :) It's hard not living close to them too. Not knowing when we'll see them next.


My children's two Great Grandmothers, Corrine and Jill! (Dave's mother on the left, and Anita's on the right.) All of my grandparents have passed, which is sad for me... and these two gals make it easy for me to call them Grandma.

The middle Bacon bits were the first dancers on the floor that night!

I believe that this post blows away the competition for being my longest picture post ever. There were too many good photos to leave any of them out. I hope you enjoy! We arrived home last night and have had a super relaxing day today. Can I just give a plug for my awesome husband of 9 years? This morning he ran to the store to pick up some food for our empty fridge and came home with a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, ran the bath water, popped in a Jack Johnson CD, and sent me to the bath room with 3 new magazines that had come in the mail! I think that was the first time I'd really relaxed in these past 3 weeks... Thank you, sweet husband. I can't believe it wasn't just us walking down that aisle. Were did nine years go? Well, I've got 4 guesses and they happen to be 8, 6, 4, and 8 months. I always thought it was impossible or cliche' when people say that marriage gets better with age and ya know? Ours has. I wouldn't go back for anything.