Bow Ties, Red Socks, FAMILY!

Nephew I met for the first time!

Thanks for coming east for the celebrations!

Modesty Matters to Me...

All the above photos were taken Monday, before she went to the temple for the first time.

I am thankful for a modest daughter, who didn't complain or pout or rationalize, but calmly put aside the frustration of an almost perfect dress and came up with a great solution.  Great example to sisters & watching cousins.  Thank you, to the newest Mrs. R for being fabulous and modest!

Thank you, Tiffany, for amazing flowers!

Thank you, Aunt Sare B, for gorgeous hair!

Thank you, Aunt Sara L, for make-up (& in advance for Friday's party)!

Thank you to all the host families boarding my extended family for the week!

Thank you to all the guests coming down on a hot, traffic-crazy week-day.  It meant a lot!

Thank you for all the family sacfirices to come & make our day special!

Happy Marriage Day!

Some of my favorites!

Elder Landbeck is there--it was too hot to take group shots in front of the DC temple where he stood last May before he left on his mission, but you get the idea.  We thought of him and missed him.

100 degree weather...hot, hot, hot!

Sister squeeze saying good-bye...

It was all about this couple today and their very own love story...

Getting Ready!

This petticoat is too short (once we figured out where she wants to wear it on her hips and I cut off the unnecessary/redundant upper casing)...

Hair by Michael Harrington.  3 braids joining into a low pouffy bun on side.

Friends since 6th grade--came to bridal shower last night!

New (thrifted $10) petticoat with 25 yards of blue tulle ($4 each) and counting (had to drive to next county over to get more, so add gas $) sewn to bottom edge.  Another 25 continuous yards should finish it off.  Fun to have a daughter!

Our Tall, Beautiful, Blonde, Brilliant Baby

Mrs. Becker, gifted/talented/enrichment teacher.

Mrs. Parks

Graduation from elementary school was today.  Roxie wanted to wear school colors.  See how she measures up to her teachers, and friend Ashley with a blue duct tape mortar board hat!

Roxie's awards included Presidential Educational Fitness Award, Word Master 1st Place overall, Patriot Program.

Picture source:  Mormon Mommy Blogs. 
I am thankful for persisent, kind friends who insist I delegate more.  Thanks to Katie W for taking mustache cutting home with her.  Thanks to my friends-turned hostess-hotels.  And I have more cupcake-baker friends than I ever dreamed.  Thank you, thank you. It is wonderful having so much love and support in making this family celebration a great party!

When I need a little MOTIVATION

Making decisions is hard.  Organize this!

Elijah Chair

This was a project during the school year for my Bible Study class.  I sent them home without seats (grand plans).  The students can add a seat, or hang it on the wall as ART!

Pinterest Makes it Look Oh, So Easy

Projects, anyone?  Maybe I am worrying a little bit too much about the crafting expectations of the guests; what will they think?  "Did you make that amazing DIY wedding decoration?" 

John keeps begging me to delegate more, outsource some of these projects.  The problem:  how do I ask someone to do something I haven't tried?  Here, follow these vague web instructions.  I don't mind starting things and then explaining them IF I KNOW THEY WILL WORK!  The original modge-podge+food coloring+ cooking in oven did not withstand water in vase.  So trying a few other ideas....The 10 day air dry trick has just enough time to test!

Looking for ground beef cheaper than $1.29 lbs.  Frozen @ Mars price.  And chix.  It's a busy time, but a good time, too!

Party Plans

I glued red beads (amazing thrift store find:  thousand or so RED beads for $3!) to the end of skewers to make one of my favorite crafted items for this reception DANCING taco salad bar party.  More later!

My Patriot

The elementary school has an incentive program:  learn the Star Spangled Banner, Paul Revere's Ride, all the states & capitals, memorize the Presidents of the United States, The Declaration of Independence, the Preamble, the Bill of Rights, the American Creed...and they will pay for a trip to DC.  The parent chaperones had to pay our own way, but we got a group train ticket discount.  And the students get a day off of school!  With the thousands of other school tours...

The reflecting pool is drained and being worked on.  The Mall is surrounded by chain link fencing and construction going on between the Smithsonian museums.  Crazy day.  We walked from Union Station to the Lincoln Memorial, walked back to the Air & Space to be there when it opened at 10, walked to East Wing Art and under the tunnel to Italian gelati and more art in West wing, then to Natural History where we spent more time reading about the bones, saw the mummy and Jamestown skeletons again (from a month or so ago).  Being there so recently and then again yesterday was nice.  But it was a long day, and I left Roxie with a good friend and her children so I could meet John and go to the temple.  The crazy storm downed trees across the tracks, so we all got home at the same time-late!