hailey gets married- personal photos

Last summer 

(almost a whole year ago now?!)

Our Hailey got married!

(Tyson & Hailey engagement photo)

I have to say-

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR KIDS HAS MARRIED SO WELL!

I honestly love each one of them. It's so scary & interesting really, to see who your children choose as a mate for life.
We are thrilled.

We held the wedding ceremony & reception in my dear friend's backyard, same yard as a year earlier where Chloe's wedding reception was held. This is a before picture. It's the perfect yard for a summer wedding. Absolutely dreamy & all shaded. It was a perfect venue & we feel so indebted to Kristal & Jeremy for allowing us to do this and TWICE! 

(another engagement photo)

This is the wedding cake - in the freezer before setting it up and delivering it. I think it's the only snapshot we got- I am so proud of myself because I made it!

It was a white cake with chocolate mousse filling and cream cheese frosting.

To beat the heat we had a late ceremony & reception.

It was too late for dinner so we served lovely - actually an amazing- assortment of appetizers. 

For the reception we served an assortment of cookies & bottles of soda.

Plus- the wedding cake. 

Tyson & Hailey August 27, 2016

I will post some of the professional pictures soon.

It was the perfect day for these two & I can't believe my friends and I pulled off another amazing wedding. Seriously- we've thought about going into business! (not really)

It's been nearly a year & Hailey is working as an ABA Therapist and Tyson has landed his dream job. He is a police officer in their town. 

Are they adorable or what?!

jack gets married

One week after Grandma's funeral-

we had a wedding!

Jack & Dolly

decided to get married & didn't waste any time.

Realizing his last semester of school was starting, knowing he would be super busy as a senior, wanting to go on a honeymoon.....

they gave us 40 days notice.

ya-

you read that right...

40 days.

I was okay with it- I just felt bad for her mom- until I learned that Dolly- she is a gem & she literally did all the work. Every bit. She worked her tail off getting this wedding put together & she did a beautiful job. The pictures here are just snapshots- someday I will get better ones but for now the snapshots are great.

They chose the date-

12-13-14

It was a popular day to get married & so fun.

They are a beautiful couple.

Perfect for each other....

On their- 3, 4, maybe 5th date they went sky diving.

At least that's what they tell us- no pictures= no proof. 

I tell him I went sky diving that day too- but didn't take pictures, ya right.

She is fearless & loves adventure like Jack. 

I routinely remind him that life is not just about adventure, but that life is a gift from God. 

The greatest adventure is being true to what God would have you do in this life- that also takes courage. So adventurous & courageous they are & I hope they will always be.

Some other fun pictures from the day-

not many... ugh... but some.

You probably don't know this-

but Jack loves weddings with dancing. LOVES DANCING

He is a dancing fool & so are all of his buddies.

They made up a play list & had a D. J. just for this part of the night.

Unfortunately most of the guests had left when the full on dancing started- it was quite the show. 

Jack & his college buddies have the tradition of having a special dance for the groom at each of their weddings. it's down right hilarious! We have it on tape & someday I hope to post it on YouTube so I can retire. 

I love this picture because Dolly's friends are looking at Jack like... 

um.. Dolly- this is who you married??

ha hahahahahahha! I love it.

Having Dolly as a daughter has been a huge blessing in my life.

I don't worry about Jack as much (big load lifted) because I know when his malaria symptoms start up she lets me know. She helps take care of him & he here. They are good for each other & she is a dream. I hope they have a load of red headed grandchildren - just for me. 

Dolly & Jack

12-13-14

the honeymooners are back!

Yesterday we picked up the honeymooners from the airport! It was so fun to see them. Don't they look happy!?For the honeymoon- these two spend 2 days & 3 nights in Disneyland. Then- last Sunday they got on a Carnival ship & headed for Mexico! Seven days & nights on a ship- sounds like heaven to me!? They say they went para sailing (sp?), jet skiing, walked on beautiful beaches, snorkeling, watched at least 2 movies a day & ate lots of gourmet type food!

Brian had the chance to speak a lot of Spanish & as you can see... didn't shave the whole time.

We picked them up & headed to Laura's parents home where we ate dinner & watched them open presents- thank you so much for all the wonderful presents & support from all our friends & family. It is so wonderful. I am overwhelmed with all the love & support we continually feel.

Trent & Laura's brothers have become Iphone friends & they let him play games on their phones. Brian married into such a great family.

It was sad for the girls & Trent that Brian didn't come home with us. Their bed & other things are not moved into their apartment yet so they spent the night in Laura's old bedroom. Brian did show up later to get his car & keys I took this last picture of the beard- it has to come off as he goes back to work today at the Missionary Training Center in Provo.

Lucky for Trent - the only gifts they brought home were two planes for him- perfect! HOoray- he is over the top excited to get them glued together & hang them over his bed. That was so thoughtful & eased the blow of Brian leaving home for good. I keep telling him, it's so worth it because we get to have Laura in our family permanent now.

I made (per Brian's request) Michelle's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. It's so rich there was even some left over. Hailey & I decided this morning that it's fantastic & maybe even better in the morning. Who knew?

Well- real life starts today for my favorite newlyweds. I cannot wait to get the wedding photos back from the photographer so that I can post some here!

***

p.s. school is officially out in 11 more days. This year is unusual ... I CAN'T WAIT.

wedding day~ in snapshots

It was a perfectly, beautiful day.

I can't wait to see the photographer's photos.

mother's day

Can you believe it?

A week ago today I got to talk to missionary JACK! Oh Happy DaY!

This year for mother's day- most missionaries out of the country got to SKYPE HOME! Talk about excited! It was fantastic to actually SEE missionary Jack.

He looked so good & so happy. He absolutely radiated. He's tan- he's skinny- he has a bit of an accent- it was wonderful to talk to him & see him. He was smiling more than I have ever seen him. Megan said it perfectly - he looked different because "he was looking up, and smiling & had confidence." If you follow this blog- you would know he used to avoid- or look down for pictures- he has gained so much confidence. He knows he is a servant of the Lord & what is better than that?!

Besides the wonderful phone call-

it wasn't my best mother's day... just keeping it real. I had to work, then came home to none of the chores I asked to be done- done... and a house full of company. I was ticked off. I am still bitter... so in other words I am a small person. Again, just keeping it real.

Monday afternoon it got better~ I took the girls & my sister in laws to get pedicures!

It was POURING DOWN RAIN & we nearly killed ourselves getting back to the car in disposable flip flops. But it was so fun.

Can you believe- none of these guys had ever had one before?

It was a perfect way to start off the wedding week.

wedding dinner

It's my first time as

"Mother of the Groom"

and I like it! It was so fun & much less stress than you'd think! Still the whole experience has been surreal for me- it doesn't seem possible- yet it does- that Brian could be... married?

Brian's close buddies.

There is almost nothing more important for your kids than good friends. These guys have been incredible for Brian all growing up. He has been friends with them since 7-8th grade & they have had a huge influence on him. Funny- of all these boys- he was the last one to kiss a girl & the first one to marry. I absolutely love these boys. Two of them are engaged & planning summer weddings.We only have a few snapshots from the dinner- so if you are reading this & have some pictures- please email them to me. Of course, we have thousands (I'm not joking) from the wedding day so that's really what matters.

On the menu- Brian & Laura's favorites:

gourmet cheeseburgers, fries, pasta salads, strawberry shortcake!

There was a little program- very little per Brian's request- the siblings gave the bride & groom presents to help them cope. Brian received lots of food- an inside joke about how much Laura eats..
Laura received baby food- an inside joke about how Brian doesn't like to lose at games & acts like a baby. It was cute & a lot of fun.

We had loads of company but hardly took any photos...

okay, okay- mother of the groom was pretty busy- but still fun.