PictureFull Wednesday!

With so much to catch up on, I am going to use Wednesday to fill you in on Aaron and Stephanie's Wedding Reception - but with mostly pictures and only a few words. CHEERS to my wonderful son Aaron and my fantastic daughter-in-law Stephanie. I am quite the proud and lucky mother.

The "official" pictures should be back from the photographer next week so I will give you another update with more words then, but these are simply the Very Few that we had from my camera. I mostly participated and did very little photo snapping - I was having too much fun!

Planning to Celebrate

It takes a lot of work to prepare to celebrate. We have been planning and working on planning for four weeks. The cool thing, though, is that it is absolutely all going to come off beautifully!

Four weeks from idea to party - with invitations, music, dancing, programs, candles, dinner, champagne, cake, favors, decorations, gifts, candy, pictures, EVERYTHING!! Now, it could certainly have taken longer. Every decision could have been second guessed, every choice questioned - and sometimes that happened - or rather, sometimes I happened [egad]. (I have been trying to be a well behaved mother-in-law during all this planning, but sometimes, Mr. Bryant tells me that I have gotten out of hand. I have had to call up my dear daughter-in-law to apologize, and although she assures me that all is well, I am glad for Mr. Bryant's reminders. I do want to be a good help and not overbearing. I do want to be a good friend to my adult children, and not a demanding soul. I do want to maximize manners and civility, really I do.)

But since this all is SO NOT all about ME, let us get back to the subject - planning and celebrating!

Invitations have been made, printed, and sent - and now a few announcements are going out as well, for those dear friends and family not traveling. Favors and decorations are being worked on. Scheduling for limos and photographers and the like is complete. Color schemes and cake flavor decisions are done done done. Totally, totally fun. I am so very lucky, to be allowed to be a part of all this fun stuff. And so very lucky to have a family that loves me. I just can't tell you. Congratulations, Aaron and Stephanie, and thanks for letting me play!!!!

Congratulations are indeed in order!

Congratulations, loved ones, on your wedding day!

Weddings

I find that I have a soft spot in my heart for weddings. Which is a surprise to me, as I didn't like weddings for the longest time.

They are quite a conundrum, you see - such emotional events, so full of joy and frustration and busy-ness and thoughtfulness. A time to hurry and a time to reflect, a time to rush and a time to give thanks.

ADR and SRR are planning their wedding and reception. We are looking for things that are old, new, borrowed and blue. And talking about food, parties, decorations, and flowers.

And that had me thinking about how much I loved my wedding bouquet. I only had it for a day and a half, you see. Then we got on the plane to Hawaii and I couldn't take it with me. The flowers were still beautiful and fresh, softer than soft. The ribbon was a beautiful satin. And I hated parting with the flowers. I hated it.

But I love my new life, and I loved my Hawaiian vacation, and I love that incredible Mr. Bryant. And it was all worth leaving the flowers behind.

Plus, I still have the pictures. :)

Thursday Theme - Remembering

Kimberly's Flowers

Five years ago this month, Mr. Bryant and I eloped.

Five years ago TODAY I was thinking about our upcoming vacation, how much fun we were going to have, and how excited I was to see my favorite cousin Michael after a year! I couldn't wait for Sonoma and San Francisco, and for the Pelican Inn and Muir Woods.

I hadn't yet experienced any of the nervousness, fear, concern, and euphoria related to the wedding. But I remember it all - the trip, the fun, the surprise, the fear, the drinking, the flowers that I could only keep for a single day, and the wedding. I remember afterwards too, when momma was mad and we were in Hawaii. I remember coming home and wondering what we had done.

I remember how different every day was, and how wonderful every day has become.

I miss you Michael, and think it must be time to plan another California vacation!

Two handsome men I love

And, while we are remembering....

remember that fabulous Give Away from earlier this week? With the great necklace from mrsfatface? Well, the comments were wonderful and I loved reading all about your favorite items from her shop! Many thanks to every entry. Random.org has provided us with a winner - comment number 5, left by RACHEL!

Congratulations Rachel, we will be reaching out to you so we can send you the necklace.

Thanks everyone for entering, more giveaways coming!