A Few Reception Pictures

Here are a few pictures I took as we were setting up for the reception and taking a few family photos. Then I put my camera down until the next day.











The next morning, the very first thing that Thomas and Emily did was go back out to the dance floor (in their pj's) and practice their moves. That made me laugh.

I was dressed first, but Kelly says she packed before I got dressed. She has such great taste in clothing.

It felt so great to take a nap.

Backyard

Mom and Dad,
Here are some of the things we did in the back yard to get in ready for the wedding reception.

Here is a "wall garden" of succulents that Matt and I put together. He then built a frame to go around each garden and painted the frames in yellow and purple to go with the garden chairs.


Of course there would be a garden even if there was no wedding. I feel like I'm in a Beatrix Potter book watching Mr. McGregor work.


One of the clever things Matt did was drill holes through all of our flower pots and then connect each one to the sprinkler system. He put bubblers in the middle of each pot and it has kept everything thriving and we don't have to worry about forgetting to water the pots.

During the rainy days of winter, Emily and I worked in the garage painting the old chairs shades of yellow. Matt built 3 new chairs and Emi and I painted them blue and purple. We added pillows and I'll have to take a picture. I love the color in the yard, it looks so cheerful.


Bob made several little glass butterflies to go in the pots and a large dragonfly for a garden box. I LOVE them.




Our dogwood was in bloom - a little strange for June.

Matt, the boys and his dad put in the fountain I gave him for Christmas.

Somehow Matt timed the roses to be in bloom perfectly for the reception night.




Matt and the boys took out the old wooden bridge and put in the stones and new rocks. We added a pot and it looks so nice.


I didn't take too many pictures the day and night of the reception. But everything looked lovely. We added lanterns and small lights around the yard. Look at Marie's blog "A New Family" for pictures of the wedding day. Hopefully I can find some more pictures of the yard the night of the reception. It was so fun.

Inspired by Her Goodness

If you have the time I recommend reading Anne Marie's blog - see to my right sidebar. She is just finishing a 3 week experience of working in a leper colony in India. Anne is a dainty, feminine, pretty, girly girl. She has a heart of gold and has every desire to be and do good. My 3 favorite posts (and are best read in this order)are HANDS written on May 28, I can't even begin to explain her experiences and insight, it's better to just read them yourself. One line that really touched my heart was, "They may not have hands, but they all have gratitude." The second post is LOOK UP from June 1, and the final sentence sums up her tender feelings at the end of this day, "I try to remember to look up to my Heavenly Father who never lets the prayers of my heart go unheard, no matter to what sky I LOOK UP." And the third post is SEEING. Her experience of seeing a small disabled boy who was ignored by all the passing crowds and her response to him just softened my heart. The sentence, "He was made invisible by the visibility of his differences.", makes me want to look more carefully with my eyes.

Many times I have been inspired by music or dance, but perhaps more inspirational is to see someone's heart trying to be good.
I hope to be like Anne Marie when I grow up.

Doug's Fortnight

This blog makes me feel like I'm bragging. But I just remind myself that 50% of the reason I write a blog is to keep my parents in touch with my kids. They live 3 states away and can't possibly be here for every event in our lives.

Doug graduated from the 8th grade this year and will be moving on to high school. It's nice, then, that before he left Hoover Middle School he was honored for a few things.

At the Sports Banquet he received Most Valuable Player for the baseball team:


At the final Band Concert he received the award for Most Outstanding Band Student:




At Graduation he was given the award for the Highest Achieving Student:


It was so fun for us (his number one fan club) to cheer for him and enjoy his moment in the sun. I know, I know the hair is crazy but I love to see Doug smile. He is a great kid!