Stuart and Stephanie's Wedding Day

It was a wonderfully busy, happily-stressful, joy-filled, tearful, exhausting week and today I'm somewhat rested, dried out and ready to blog.

On 4.4.14 Stuart and Stephanie were married in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for time and all eternity. And, in case you've ever wondered, this is what joy looks like!

We were so fortunate to have all of our family here for this wonderful day! (Even though we are missing Kevin, Ryan and their families from this pix... sad face)

I can't even begin to express what it was like to sit in the sealing room of the Salt Lake Temple with many of our posterity. I think that it must be close to heaven!

Stuart specifically told me he didn't want me behind the camera so I obediently turned over my camera (after a few shots) to one of Stuart's friends and will wait for the wonderful photos from Brittany Cascio. She does such beautiful work.

I don't know what was being said here but I love the happy smiles of these wonderful people who are my children! How did I get so blessed?

I love these happy sisters (and Stu too)!

Speaking of... I couldn't have asked for a better close up of my Stuey.

And with my family you know we love to have fun...

This reminds me of a similar photo from Camille's wedding.

I love that they did this pose... it is my favorite...

And why not for little-Joanie too?

Oh, and these big boys? When did they get so grown up? Mama has on 4" heels!

This favorite hails back to a day at the beach almost 28 years ago. It's caption is, *Strong like booll*

And my precious babies... *all growed up*!

And these ladies? We've been BFF for almost 30 years. They've been with me through many ups and a few downs. I am so blessed to have women like this in my life. We've all realized how rare and precious our friendship is! It is one that is not oft repeated!! Kristi commented how wonderful it is that they come to help me with these weddings.

Little dressed-alike cousins.

And this... Rebekah meets her little Fiona-niece! What a blessing family is.

The only sad thing about these photos is that since I'm not the one taking them there are so many that are missing... but those memories will live in my heart just the same.

Olympic Cutting

I moved my small tv into my sewing room, something I frequently do with a large project (Annabelle's quilt took all 8 Harry Potter movies plus!) my goal this week was to get most of the dresses cut out... WHILE IMWATCHED THE OLYMPICS.

I still have two more to cut out but it's time to call it a day. 

“No lace. No lace, Mrs. Bennett, I beg you!”

Anyone who knows me knows I am a little quirky! One of my quirks is quoting movies/books... it just makes me happy.

While at JoAnn's last night I proclaimed aloud, "No lace, Mrs. Bennet! No lace!" Luckily Stephanie is used to me enough that she didn't even bat an eye. Finally I said, "Do you know that quote?" Her reply, "Something Jane Austen?"

And those naughties at Orem JoAnn's truly had NO LACE! Nor any matte bridal tulle! Are you kidding me? The perk is that I drove to Spanish, got the tulle and could measure an exact amount for the LACE! (5 yards)

Today Grampy and I drove up to Draper JoAnn's to find the lace for Mrs Bennett Lewis' veil, who has her bridals on Monday.

Spencer and Deborah's Wedding

I'd like to introduce the newest couple in our family... Spencer and Deborah! I sure love these two. They were married by Bishop Black at the Ave K Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lancaster, CA on November 12, 2011. What a happy and long awaited day.



There is only one problem with being the mother-of-the-broom (I did that a-porpoise)... I can't be behind the camera like I usually am. I didn't realize how few photos I got until I started editing them this evening. (Sad, sad story) But I'm grateful for the ones I do have.

We were grateful that little Riley could be with us on this happy day.



Deborah and her sisters did all the decorating and the cultural hall looked so pretty. Deb and Spencer did a good job planning what they wanted.

A mother and son dance... I'm so proud of my son (I almost said boy... but he's not a boy anymore.  He calls me his little mama!)



Then it was time for Deborah to dance with her Papa. The song was I Loved Her First... let's just say THERE WASN'T A WOMAN IN THE ROOM WHO WASN'T CRYING! (And sweet Bek... I will save your cry-photo for our eyes alone!)



Deborah and her beloved Papa...



Now this is when we all really lost it!! Spencer came and cut in to take his bride!



Look at these sweet lovers...



I'm so happy for them... look at the love...



And who was controlling all of that beautiful, tear-provoking music? Our wonderful in-family DJ's... Kevin and Camille.



Deborah's sister made the wedding cake. This is such a classic pose.



I appreciate that both Deborah...



and Spencer were kind and careful with the cake.



And here at the tail end are some very sweet cousins getting acquainted.

BROCK, RILEY and CADEN

11-11-11 Fun

We told Spencer and Deborah we would take care of food at their reception. I suggested we serve chips and salsa (A friend in our ward did this and it was a wonderful success). When I talked to Auntie P about my idea she said, “I think we should make little taquitos! I’ll call Camille and ask her if she wants to have a taquitos-making night!” (Camille was always her able-bodied-assistant when we made taquitos for P’s annual Christmas party. So I ran the idea past Spencer and Deborah... they were thrilled!

We planned our trip down so we would arrive early enough to make taquitos. Stuart, Gordon and I went down in Gordon’s Buick. Camille and Kevin went down in her little Mazda. Silly side note... we left a full two hours before Camille and Kevin, but because of all of our potty stops, meal stops and picking up Spencer and El Pollo Loco for dinner (whew!) we all arrived at Auntie P’s house about the same time!

After dinner we were all there in the kitchen... the girls cooking, the boys chatting, and it felt just like all those other fun gatherings at Auntie P’s. I love that feel of tradition and connecting. Sonny came up for the day so I got to see her too! What a wonderful blessing.

I DO LOVE THESE FUN GIRLS!

We initiated Deborah in the arts of taquito making... showing her how to roll the meat in the softened shell and then secure it with a toothpick. Ah, we do love this girl. We are so glad she's in our family. (Can you guess which are the bride's hands? Hmm, not hard!)



Poor Kevin's back was hurting (9 hours in a car will do that to you!), but he didn't want to miss out on all of the conversations so Auntie P brought out her special quilt (that someone very nice made for her) and he laid on the floor.



After the taquito fry was completed I caught some pix of everyone.

SPENCER, UNCLE STEVE, GORDON, DEBORAH

I'd just turned around from taking this pix when I caught Stuey in the act of eating the last of the pollo! Yummy!



Before Sonny went back home that evening I gave her a haircut (have scissors will travel... that's my motto). I cut P's hair too, but since we both were busy no one got a photo.



What a wonderful, happy, fun-filled evening with our family!

"Take A Picture..."

"... it will last longer!!"

We all know that playground taunt when one is stared at. But today I have a very real need for that advice! I'm making another wedding quilt! Spencer and Deborah are getting married on November 12th!

I asked them for their color choices and received an answer that "I can live with"... BROWN & GREEN! Oh my, how I love that color combination. It may be hard to part with this lovely when I'm finished.

My problem comes in the fact that when I want to make a scrappy-looking quilt, you know the kind that looks totally random, I'm not able to just approach it in a random way. What would happen if two block of the same color got positioned together? No, NO, NO... that will never do for an OCD girl like me.

So out comes my design wall (read- a large flannel sheet tacked up on the wall) and hours of careful placement and arrangement. But when you are talking about 336 pieces of fabric do you know how easily that design wall plan ends up in a muddled mess... I speak from experience here... it happens with too much regularity to suit me. So after having a minor anxiety moment I devised a plan. Not a new plan, of course, I've used it before with great success.

TAKE A PICTURE... IT WILL LAST LONGER...

I took photos of the design wall, from left to right of the first half of the quilt (yes, it is king sized), then uploaded them to my computer. Luckily I have a laptop, so I brought it in, set it up on the end of the ironing board and referred to it for careful RE-placement of my design. (Notice that my design wall has to turn a corner... that's what happens when you think sew big!)



I take one row at a time and stack the pieces on my ironing board, still arranged in my carefully placed blocks. I chain piece the three sub-segments together.  This is an offset block it goes together in two steps. When I get to the second step where I sew segments A & B together I pin their companion segment C to them to avoid more confusion!



Now you may wonder why I'm writing all of this out so carefully. Yes, I love to share good ideas... but mostly it is because next time I get into that minor anxiety moment and I'm thinking "I sure wish I could remember how I solved this problem last time" I will have the answer right here on my blog.

C & K Wedding Album

Last week I got an email from one of the companies where I've published my books. They offered me a 40% off discount if I'd get my act together and finished an existing book. Well... how can a girl pass up a deal like that?

I started working on Camille and Kevin's wedding album a couple of months ago when we finally got the photos they had taken (deep sigh!). This was the impetus I needed to get serious. This is one of my favorite pages.



And here is another one...



If you'd like to look at the whole album click here.

(I had fun with more textures from Kim Klassen!  I talked about her when I was working on this photo of Camille for the album.)

Happy Wedding Day

What a great couple who know that the right way to start their lives together to get married on April Fool's Day. These two sweethearts know how to find the joy and humor in life. I just makes me happy to look at them.

Meet Mr and Mrs Jared Munn



This has got to be one of my favorites of the pix I took of them. I love the expression on Jared's face.



This one is special too. I identify with Michaela who is so happy for her brother and Debra.



And these sweet little girls? How can I not love them?



What a glorious day... thanks for letting me capture the moments.

199- Kindness and Generosity

Our Honeymooners got home last night late from a wonderful, restful, well-deserved vacation. What a wonderful tradition a honeymoon is!

All of their wedding gifts have been happily waiting in our front room for their return and big reveal. Shirley and Kay (Kevin's folks) plus Kaia and Elise were here with Gordon, Stuart and I to watch them (and help!).



I am always so overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of friends! What an outpouring of love and support.

Kaia and Elise were so excited to help Daddy and Camille open their presents.



And of course there were surprises and *revenge* gifts.



I will say thank you to all of you for your kindness and generosity to this sweet young couple.

190- Camille and Kevin's Wedding Day

... what a blessing! Kevin received his clearance at Wednesday at 4 pm... 46 hours before their marriage for time and all eternity! What a beautiful day!

Please meet Mr and Mrs Kevin Maynard...

And there to welcome them was Kevin's youngest, Elise. What a precious moment. (Brennan, Kevin's son, and Christian are cheering them on as well.)

Then hugs with Kaia.

At this point Joe came to me and said, "You give me that camera. You don't need to worry about it today." What a sweetheart. Although I normally want to be behind the camera THIS DAY I was pleased to have someone else take over.

Hillary took us immediately for a group photo so that those who wanted to leave could do so. I can hardly wait to see her photos.

We all shouted for joy on this VERY joyous occasion! And yes, a marriage is always a joyous occasion, but this one was made even more so by the tender mercies of the Lord on our behalf.

Gordon, Joanie, Camille, Kevin, Shirley, Kay... what a happy day.

Camille and Kevin with his sisters, Amy and Deidra.

Kevin and Camille with 7 of her 10 siblings. Erik, Kevin (yes... brother Kevin), Kristi, Stuart, Spencer, Rebekah and Doug.

The first time I saw this pose I fell in love with it!! It was at Kristi's wedding. So here are Camille and her brothers.

Right after the brothers put Camille down here's Stuart and Kevin getting into the act.

Now THIS is a wonderful group: Camille, with; two sisters, two sister-by-choice and two sisters-in-law! What a lucky girl!
Deidra, Amy, Desi, Camille, Rebekah, Katie, Kristi. What a sweet group of girls...

... with beautifully pedicured toes.

And much thanks to Auntie P for capturing this on with my camera. My babies... I started bawling the minute I saw this!

I was so pleased with their wedding cake. I loved the design they created and the flowers Rebekah arranged on it. And it was so yummy! I'm sorry that every single layer was eaten-all-gone! (Yes, even the top layer. Kevin doesn't like leftovers and the thought of year-old cake just didn't appeal to him. LOL)

They were such a classy couple; no cake mashing here.

OK... this was another moment on my Cry-day. The daddy daughter dance. I love this tradition. Gordon twirled her off to her new husband...

And this is the look of pure love.

You know the Disney Princesses? Meet Princess Camille.

Years ago... real close to 50 my big sister, Annie taught me to swing dance. We swung.

We hugged. I cried.

Somehow I totally missed the bouquet toss, but Camille's only un-married former roommate, Jackie, caught it. You're next Jackie!

And I'm quite sure that Alex, Desi's husband, coached Kevin on this one! What a funny. Brennan can't quite believe it.

Kevin said he thought it was rigged that only Stuart and two 8-year olds were there for the garter toss.

Again... I was without camera when the happy couple drove away in Kevin's BMW convertible... what a classic shot.

And there it is... the end of MY photos. I can hardly wait for all the rest.