a few more wedding day scenes.

until confirmation, my mom brought this guy to sunday school.  he spent many weekends at our house!

his bride is lovely...but i wish i could take those spacers out of matt's earlobes.  but then, i'm his aunt.

i made it with no help from you.

I was a little nervous, I'll admit it, but I made it through the wedding photos!

This is my nephew and his bride.  Love you Matt and Danelle!!

das wassup

i finished going through kristin and mark's photos on saturday.  i miss them. ;)

this is the bride with her sibs. xo

they used to all have the same initials: kj.  now the girls are ke and ko, but the suffix is the same. 'son. 

oooh.  i am just remembering when they were little and i was a teenager and they were so cute.  they'd run laps livingroom-middle room-kitchen when i was babysitting and trying to herd them into their room.  stinkers. ko is expecting her first baby; girl, what goes around comes around!!

sigh.  oh how i love mari's kids.  adult kids. ;)

last week theo's preschoolers had a trip to an orchard.  'course, his mom was hetta that morning, and in so doing, delivered him too late to go on the wagon ride with all the other cutie pies.  we enjoyed checking things out, starting with the chicks.  and then the pumpkins. and the cows.

and since we brought our snack, we ate it before we headed back home to get our vip her lunch.

recently we brought h's mom to the beach...these are from my phone, i love-love-love the beach.



Unclouded the sky above

unbelievable love!

my darling niece became a little missus on saturday afternoon.  i woke up early to get my 'hive on, zipped thru micky d's for a little latte action, and scooted the flex right out west to delaner.  i was loaded down with devices of all sorts, well prepared to take care of the hair for the bride, her mama/my sissy, and two of the bride's maids/my nieces.  it was a perfect day for a wedding.  PERFECT!
i was acting as the photomatographerish aunt.  i may or may not have taken 1,131 photos.  you know, you'd hate to leave something out.  plus, i can't believe how many 'blinkers' there are in my realm.  the bride, the groom, the m-o-h (matron of honor), the fob, the mob...and the gmob, too! come on folks! don't be talking and don't shut your eyelids.  there is plenty of time for those activities on either side of the fraction of a second when i am operating the digital shutter.  i am not a professional photag, the photag-ees should be gentle with me! 
truthfully, my whole body hurt today from being so happy yesterday.  i told my sister this afternoon how happy i was to be able to share in the day; kristin's happiness is our joy!  the wedding and reception were outdoors.  a good 8 hour stint out in the fresh air and not very much sitting.  PERFECT day for an auntie.

kristin and jeannine rode with me from kate's house to the wedding location.  we listened to this song.  the bride cried.  i beamed.  LOVE storyhill.  i had a mad crush on chris (on the left. he's taller than he looks in this video.  really tall.) since the first time i saw him in duluth when i was 18.  and now we are married.  not to each other, of course.  it's just fun to say it that way.  sigh.



AND, i made a few fascinators for funsies.  i wanted my sisters to wear them during the reception...they did for a few minutes and a few pics.  yay!  mine was a purchase, waiting to be worn again.  quick!  lets plan an event fascinator worthy!

happy congratulations, kristin and mark!  we love you & we loved celebrating your wedding.  take good care of each other! 

****the drawing will be held on Monday.  i need someone else to draw a name out of the drum, to insure randomness.  and the hubbinator has been sleeping for quite some time already.  pretty sure he wouldn't be super fired up to draw a lucky winner at 12:37 a.m.  12:37???!!!! i gotta get to bed!  be back later with the name of the lucky weeeeener!!  xo****

lest you forget...

My baby turns one this month, shopping is my middle name, and I have a lot to learn.

Our Judah had a helmet.

After four months, we've decided to stop helmeting him.  His head shape has improved dramatically; while our orthotist has been very encouraging and recommended we continue, we've missed his sweet face.  Here he is, trying to go undercover in his camo sweats.

Jenny Shopping McLover
I miss wearing setsi shoes that my current double wides do not allow.  If I were invited to the Royal Wedlin', since I am living in Pretend Town at the moment, I would have worn these shoes with my tailored suit dess...

...and this subtle and beautiful fascinator.  I would have been in The World News, I'm sure.

you can find this fascinator here on etsy.

Or maybe this dress would've been my pick:

 or maybe this one?

and H likes this one...

and for my niece's wedding in september, I'd like this little number:

I never new that Nordstrom carried so many plus size dresses.  I just always felt that I could only shop at one store: Lane Bryant.  I recently purchased and returned this dress.  It is just a little too summery for K's wedding, and it was actually too big on top (i'm 2-4 sizes smaller on top than on bottom). 

I should really search separates.  I love to shop.  I have so much fun even grocery shopping.  Especially if there are coupons involved...

It's been an enjoyable little shopping trip with you!  It is just great fun for me that Judah gets to be shown off, we can dress shop, and I can tell you what I learned in the last 24 hours: sometimes I make great assumptions.  And you know what they say about ASSuming...

so, lest we forget, tell those people in your heart that they are in there.  Tell them, don't just show them, that you do, indeed, love them, and that they have that place fore'er.  Because no matter how much you brag about him on your blog, and no matter how many people hear you gushing over him, sometimes he, or she, simply needs to be encouraged with the simple words, "I love you, and I am better because of you.  Thank you for being here in my heart, and for sacrificing and for doting and for living with me here. I feel loved."

the deal is sealed!

Happy Valentine's Day!

That is the Bride's veil hanging in the salon window.  She brought it along to see how it should go, but it was forgotten in the rush to get to the church.  I got a call about and hour and 15 minutes before the ceremony.  Luckily I was still getting ready at home.  Suvi and I swung by to pick it up, and I couldn't resist the photo.

finishing up the loose ends while she waited for her flowergirl and attendant to get their hair done

the happy couple look scary in this photo...but it is the lovely bouquet i was trying to capture.  i just loved the black ribbon with the pink flowers

What can I say?

My niece is getting married on Saturday evening at our church there on Willow.  You should come.  7.  There will be ca-ake...!

But what should I say in the card?  What stands out to you in your own experience, or in words others have shared with you?

In a face to face with her, I talked about communication, and being humble and unassuming (i think that is a big one), and, um, making sure she spends a lot of time face to face/everything to everything with her husband.  Pivotal.  Ooh.  There is just know way to avoid the double entendre here, is there?  And you know, sometimes you like plain cheese pizza, while other times you really crave something with a little more of a gourmet attempt at pizza.  Right?  Well, I talked about that with her, but I want to write something more.  Not just the seasons of love, ups and downs,  ...more. 

What would you like to say to the bride you, now that you are further from the wedding day?  Or, what have you observed or received in confidence in the form of a marriage education?  I would tell me that one fight doesn't mean it is over.  On the totally rare occaision me and the mister might have a slight disagreement (probably has only happened once or twice in our five years of bliss), I always feel like its over.  My life is ruined and now what am I going to do.  He always assures me this is not the case, and so far I have to believe him.  No.  I do believe him.  :)

Any boys sneaking a read out there?  What do you think? 

glass slipper

Yesterday was so easy and cool,

today i am totally sticky and sweating it.

It? Life. It is one of those, "life ain't easy, Cinderella, get back up in that attic," sort of days.

I am not quite sure if I am feeling like the over-worked princess or the egocentric big footed, step sister, trying to jam my foot into that delicate slipper.



I had a nice lunch time get together with the Childhood friends out in D e l * n o. Theo doesn't know the other kids, having only seen them a couple-three times. He is at the following age, now, wanting to interact with other kids, but not fully a friend seeker. When the two other boys noticed him (after more than an hour at the park) Theo was talking about the Thomas trains. The other boys are not so familiar with Thomas, and I don't think they have television. They were ready to include him in their play--they lined up their chairs like a choo-choo, but my Lovebug didn't quite get it. I was happy they seemed to welcome him, and feel horrible angst over him finding friends in church.



I don't want to put my issues on him, sweet baby boy, and I think every mom wants their child to fit in. I was always on the fringes, now even more so, and it is very important for me that he have Christian friends. My heart is so torn. I was even thinking that we should probably move out there. I have NEVER wanted to live in that town, but I so want the kids to be close to those kids. I don't want to live in a place where I feel judged for the length of time I breast feed my baby, or whether or not we choose vaccinations, or eat oreo's after lunch. I don't want to teach my children that faith is lived by the law, rather than by grace. I want to teach them that we are meant to live our life to glorify God, and do his will, and live under the protection of the gift of Forgiveness, since we are going to falter. I want to raise my children with children like the one's I lived near from the time I was 10. Without the other painful things that occur when we let the innocence of childhood fade and let that purity get a little clouded with "grown-up" thought. Oh! My precious babes! I want the best for you.



And so, instead of stuffing a cheese burger down my throat on the way out of town 3 hours ago, I should have been seeking guidance and comfort through prayer. Music is a great gift, and Sugarland was playing in the car (Theo's request, Suvi sings along) which helped to soothe me for the drive home. Saying this out loud to my dear husband, my dear friend, helped, too. Seeing the words depicting my emotions is so healing for me.



We are late to a House Warming, and I still gotta shower. But now I feel cleansed. Sigh.

And glass slippers are not appropriate for a BBQ, so I'll wear my flip flops.



Wishing you a sweet summer weekend of fun and PEACE. Muah.

pjl

This is my nephew, Phoenix-he's 9, having fun at the wedding last weekend. There was another boy his age, but P was Before he went home for the night he gave me a hug. The first real hug he's ever given me--it melted my heart!

marry-ed

Luck.

Today we celebrated the bride-to-be in our family. It was fun to see all gifts that will help her build her life with her husband someday soon. I am really excited for the wedding, and to watch her catapult from girl to woman in a matter of about 30 minutes! We wish them luck!

And...in unrelated news, I am really missing the Copper Country today. My heart is aching to be there.

Wishing...

we had 12 million dollars, because, why wish for only one million? Wishing I had slightly longer hair for Kate's wedding. Wishing I knew if I should sing at her wedding. (yes, she asked me. no, i did not volunteer) Wishing to use my brain in a satisfying chunk of word groups. Wishing I were an industrious cleaner and award winning activities director. Thankful for my husband and our home and these napping babies that keep us hopping.

Yesterday I read a woman's blog, and her profile, and I was envious. Envious that she could use foul language without apology. Envious that her writing is so very clever, and that she has made her web page profitable. And that strangers, like me, read her thoughts. And enjoyed the dose of reality in her words, and the honesty about the difficult times in life. Today I read another woman's blog (js) and I am envious of her creativity with her children. It takes time and a certain commitment not to commercialize these little people. Today I turned off the TV. They didn't even turn it back on. I allowed 15 minutes of Mr. Rogers. When the baby was fresh I didn't mind my live in babysitter, Mr Trutech Television, helping me mind the kids until we got outside. But now my preshie is 5 months and 3.5 hours old. No more TV. Okay, not so much, then.

Whatev'.

We had quite a thunderstorm last night. It woke Theo around midnight, and Suvi woke also, perhaps because her roommate was standing on his bed saying calmly and consistently "Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?" At one point I had both kids in the bed with us. Suvi dear had a snack from the ol' cafe, although the stores are getting quite low, and drifted back to her sweet sleep. Theo decided to flip and flop and get mom and dad's bed acquainted with his restlessness. He had milk-twice. I offered him oatmeal around 1:30. He declined. My eyes are sandy today because of all the activity. I get nervous in storms and think that my little muffin sucks it up in his little sponge of a headball. Habtamu got up to use the bathroom and I said to him, "We can't have anymore kids until we get a bigger bed." Ours is a full size. "Okay," he answered. It was middle of the night craziness, the flashes of lightening, booms of thunder, the drumming of the rain on the windows where are gutters need fixing. Which is why I didn't get clarification on his "okay." Okay we can get a new bed, or okay we can't have any more kids? Well, we wont get anymore if I keep letting those little beggars in to snuggle/kick us in the sleep. We will be getting a bigger bed. I'll keep wishing.