Best Day Ever

Once graduation got over it was full on 

WEDDING MODE!

I had been working on it since she got engaged but was also trying to plan for graduation and other things. After that was over I had 2 weeks and lots of loose ends and last minute stuff to get moving on.  I have to say it all came together with the help of many amazing friends and family.  

Andrews family was awesome to work with.  His mom put in tons of time on their yard and helping gather decorations.  Mackenzie had lots of cute pins on her wedding pinterest board so we just stole the ideas and went with them.  I borrowed and borrowed stuff and also created some stuff and assigned other people (Darla) to create some stuff and in the end it all came together and was AMAZING!

It took 2 days of decorating and food prep (not counting the 1000 mini cupcakes I had made earlier in the week) but it was all worth it.

Here's how the day went down...

May 31, 2014

Wake up and shower, make up, and hair.  Then head to the salon to meet Becky to do Mackenzie's hair.  It was a team effort but I mostly left it to Becky.  I helped curl and braid it then I handed bobby pins.  Then Shelly did her make up,  After that we went home and got dressed then headed to the temple.  I helped her dress then went to the waiting room with the rest of the guests.  I was sitting there anxiously awaiting the time when Robert came in followed by

MY SISTER!

I was soooooooooo shocked and surprised.  She told me she couldn't come and I was really bummed, but totally understood.  It's a long way to go and a lot of money for 2 days.  I was hugging and crying and hugging and crying.  Then I finally turned around and the whole room was crying.  I kind of made a spectacle of myself but I don't care.  I was sooooooooo happy.  It helps to fill the void of having my mom gone to have my sister there.

Soon after that surprise we headed to the sealing room for the ceremony.  It was beautiful.  The sealer did an awesome job and I know my sweet momma was right there with us. I could feel her.   My Darla told me she could see her sitting beside me with her hand on mine.  What more could I ask for.

After the ceremony we got Kenz changed and then did a few pictures outside.  The sun was really bright and it wasn't ideal picture taking so we didn't spend too much time with that.

We all went to Johnny Carinos for a luncheon courtesy of the Binghams.  The food was delicious and it was a good time.  

After that we headed to the house to finish prepping for the reception.  On the way there we could see the storm coming from that direction so I was praying all the way there it would pass quickly.

The storm came and the wind blew and the rain fell.  People held the tent down so it didn't blown away while we tried to decide what to do.  Kenz said we're not moving it so we went with it and continued doing what we could.  

The storm passed and the final decorating took place and the pictures began and by the time the reception started the weather was beautiful!  Lot's of people came and the food was fabulous.  The day turned out to be amazing and I have had so many people tell me how beautiful the whole thing was.  It couldn't have happened with out all the help we received from family and friends.  My girl was beautiful and happy and I hope it was everything she wanted it to be.  I have to say it was definitely one of the best days of my life.  There is nothing I want more than to see my kiddos happy.  Mackenzie has waited for this for a long time and it was so awesome to be able to help make her day great.  It was also a huge added bonus for me to have Gina there and to feel my momma so close.  

We had great support from our family and many people came from far away.  Gina of course, and Aunt Bonnie from CA, Darla, and Aunts Leigh and Juanita from Salt Lake, Lehi, Brei, Rachel, & Taylor from eastern Idaho, and of course Jordan with the added bonus of Nicole from Poki.

Our help was amazing.  I worked my Darla to death along with Becky, Robin, Aunt Lu, Stacey, and Angie.  Colleen, gma Miller, and Kim did flowers, Sean and Jen did food.  Very delicious food I might add.  Emilie did some of the photography and Kassidy did the rest of it.  Many helped with clean up and I think we all went home exhausted.

Yep,

BEST DAY EVER!

love love love these kiddos!

Just a small sampling of the many beautiful pictures.  

That's All

And then, May came...

Well, we did it! 

All of the crazy has been accomplished.

Let's start with the first thing...

Remember that half marathon we were planning for?  

Well, we did it!  

I can't say that I did it well, but I did do it.  I was quite proud of myself.

The training schedule went out the window long before the marathon took place

but I was determined to do it anyway.

It took us about 3 hours.  Robert could have done it much faster but he stayed with me the whole time.

Before...

WINNER!  Ok, I mean finisher...

After

After we got done we made our way home to get ready for Colten and Amanda's graduation party that was going to be happening at our house that evening.  I had salads to finish and food to prepare all while I was having a hard time walking.

I survived and Kim and her family got here to help and things got done.  The people came and the food was delicious and I think the kids were happy.

 The next day when I woke up I was pretty sure I had been hit by a train at some point in the night.

My body hurt from my jaws to my toes.

(I chew gum while I run)

I really wanted to just lay there and die.  

Instead I got up and went to church and taught my sunbeams.

That night was seminary graduation so I also had to function enough to go to that.

My body finally quit hurting by Tuesday.  Not too bad, it only took 3 days.

Monday night the 19th was graduation.

I really can't believe I have another one grown up and am just left with my baby.

It is awesome and sad all at the same time to watch my kids grow up and move on with their lives.  I feel like some days I was trying to hurry it along while other days I was trying to stop time.  Somewhere in all of that I blinked.

When it comes to kids you should never blink.

In that split second babies become toddlers, who become kids, who become tweens, then teens, then they are just gone on their own life adventure into adult hood.

Still not sure how it all happens but I have so me pretty amazing adult children so I guess I'll have to get over it.

I'll save the rest of my crazy month for the next post.

Until then...

That's All

Whirlwind

Holy moley did life ever get crazy. 

 Here it is almost the end of April and I haven't blogged once since the beginning of March.

I have a very valid reason for that can be summed up in  4 words...

MY DAUGHTER GOT ENGAGED!

She is getting married May 31-yes, of this year.

So now the crazy busyness makes sense.

Since then I have been trying to plan a wedding with a daughter that lives on the other side of the state.

I think we are getting there.

I hope.

In the meantime Robert and I went to SLC to go to the Hale Theatre and see

Les Miserables. 

And Darla

It was awesome!

We also got up early to do a session at the Oquirrh Mnt. temple and then

got to do a little wedding shopping at Ikea.

On April 5th Kelly had a baby for us and I got to be there when sweet Fallyn was born.

The next weekend I took Colten to ISU for early registration.

Just look at that smiling face.

From there we drove to Rexburg to pick Mackenzie up and bring her home for about 10 days.

We were on wedding overload during that time.

While she was home we shopped and shopped and planned and shopped.  

She also got to take her endowments out on April 18th

.

On the 19th her future sisters in law gave her a bridal shower.

They did an awesome job and lots of friends and family came.

Including Emilie who surprised her by showing up from
Provo.

On the 20th her and I left after church to head back to Rexburg where Gina was visiting.  

Lehi and Brei had a new baby and Rachel was going through the temple to take out her endowments and baby Maverick was being blessed.  

I wanted to see her since she was this close so I went and stayed with Kenz for a couple days and was able to help her unpack and stuff.  

It was fun to get to spend that time with both of them, and I was able to go to the Rexburg temple with Mackenzie while  I was there and get some baby boy holding action in.

Now I am back home and back to planning.  

I think we have about done all that can be done at this point.  Announcements are ordered and I'm just working on a few little things and trying to stock up on needed non-perishable supplies.

I think the next 5 weeks are going to fly by.

Oh, and in the mean time I have a half marathon to run and a graduation party to throw for Colten.

So by this little run down you can see that my goal to attend the temple monthly is being met thus far but the 'spend less, save more' goal has gone COMPLETELY out the window.  

I guess I will try that one again in June.

That's All!

Hijacked

I have this super crazy funny boy.

He is pretty quiet, so the things that he does and says are sometimes quite unexpected.

I love that he has a quick sense of humor, and keeps people laughing.  Or just shaking their heads at what he says an does.

Recently, he enjoys hijacking my cell phone.

This is what I found.

Who wouldn't love this face!  

Gotta love this kid.

Last Sunday in church when we were finished with our lesson in sunbeams I was trying to fix Hannah's hair that she managed to pull part way out of her pony, she took my phone and asked to take 3 pictures.  I'm pretty sure she took about 12, and they all looked like this...

She is a crazy fun girl.  Teaching 3 year olds is AWESOME!

That's All!