Annie gets married!

Hi everybody! Well, it happened. My favorite, baby, and only sister said her vows a week ago tonight and married a wonderful guy. I couldn't be happier for them. The wedding was wonderful. I cried during the vows. Annie cried during the vows. It seemed like many guests were tearful as well. While we were standing up by the altar, I grabbed my two kleenexes that I'd packed for tear-dabbing (damn the mascara)...one for me, one for Annie. As I gave away my kleenex, I heard some whimpering from behind me. I glanced toward the two other bridesmaids, who were smiling happily. Where was the loud, wet sobbing coming from? I turned around...sure enough, it was non other than Bobby. I grudgingly shared my kleenex. He didn't give it back.

The only disappointing part of Annie's wedding day was the fact that my camera died a few pictures into the day. With new batteries inside. I just about chucked the piece of crap out the window. There will be more on this story in another post. In the meantime, please enjoy these photos of the happy couple that I found while rummaging through facebook. I love facebook.

I am bummed that I don't have many pics of Julia and Mary from the day. They were super cute. They were a fantastic pair of flower girls and, despite being rather naughty during the service, got good reviews from the rest of the guests. I guess flower girls are supposed to be the comic relief during the wedding anyways.

By the way, the above photo is NOT from the wedding. It's my darling sister in an 80's cocktail dress...another lovely picture from facebook. :)

Here's the wedding party at the reception.
Annie and friend/former roomie Michelle. Thanks Michelle for taking pictures on this most lovely day!
Annie and Mark posing for pics outside
Mark's family singing, "honey" to Annie during the reception.
Mark nibbling Annie's garter off.
The electric slide. I danced most of it, but gave up for a chat with Annie at the end. Annie had put this on her "do not play" list, but it came up anyways. I was glad to dance it. I dont' care if it's repetitive, doo doo. It's FUN. and good exercise. You, of all people, should know that!
Mark, HONEY.
The happy couple.
This is a random photo of my my family at Christmastime in 1986. Annie is two, bobby is about 6 months. I think I just turend seven...and that would make Jason about twelve.
The bridal party
Stupid blurry picture! this would have been a nice one.
Annie and the flower girls...aka Julia and Mary. The had so much fun!!!
Random picture of Annie from years ago. She has a burrito in her hands and has wrapped it in what looks to be Bungee Cords. Weird woman.
Flowers!

Uh, Mom, I think I forgot my veil. Could you call dad and have him pick it up? I'm sort of getting married today.

DICK! HELP.
Bride with her Bare Minerals Make-up. ahhh.
Hair, Boom, and coffee. Nice combo!
Here we are!
Happy couple again. Nice shot.
Peek!
Blue steel, the look from zoolander. This girl has her game face on!
Happy couple, with Mark trying on what looks to be a rather fashionable pair of jeans. Or they might not be...I am about as good at fashion as I am at deep sea treasure hunting. Which is pretty lousy.
To conclude, don't forget that Annie wears cocktail dresses from the 80's

*In Public
*Without drinking first
*and Looks Good in them!

Happy Wedding, Annie and Mark!

In Da UP

Hey Der!

We spent the weekend driving across northern Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan to attend a friend's wedding in Marquette. Despite the constant cold, rainy weather, it proved to be a fun-filled weekend. The kids were actually pretty good in the car. (A special thanks to the Show Machine, Nemo, Milo, Otis, Dori, Larry, Bob, Merriweather, and the cops who didn't pull us over despite our kiddos sleeping on the van floor...)

I accidentally put the photos in in reverse order, so here goes.

On the way home, we went on a hike somewhere in the UP. The girls were getting restless and we wanted to get them good and tired for a nap...SO....we drove sixty some odd miles looking for a rest stop. When no rest stop would come, I told papa to "JUST PICK SOMEWHERE!@!!!!" (Mama's coffee, water, and BLADDER were simply finished. nuf said.) So, papa pulled off the road at some random old logging site for a hike. We braved tall wet grass and a "sort of" path, and the girls examined various types of pine trees, moss, and lichen. It was wet and took a little bit of imagination...but I think we had fun. Julia enjoyed petting the moss, Mary thought the milkweed was simply delicious. When our hike was finished, we made a big bed out of the back of the van and attempted "naptime." Before we even got up to highway speed, we passed a BEAUTIFUL rest stop on the side of the road, complete with potties and real hiking trails. Drat. Mama, you should be more patient!!!

The fall color was gorgeous. I'm sorry this picture is not, but say "oooh and ahhhh" to yourself anyways. I have never seen Fall Color like there is in the U.P. Wowzers.

Before we left, Mary took a turn at the wheel. Beep Beep!

After breakfast at the HOliday Inn. Two tired, stuffed kiddos. Julia ate TWO whole servings of eggs benedict...Mary dissed all the breakfast food and went straight for the bbq ribs. Good thing we were at a buffet.

Wedding reception: Jessi, Jamie, Dan, and I danced "THRILLER." Jamie commandeered the DJ's computer and we had a blast. We stopped their ghetto rap crap (nooone was dancing anyways) and danced to a barrage of Michael Jackson, along with Mr. Robato, The Devil Went Down to Georgia...and even Convoy. I have not danced to Convoy since I was at a tiny bar near camp about seven years ago....but it was just as fun....

Papa and Julia take to the dance floor. Mike gets kudos...he spent half of the wedding reception putting our kids to bed. What a guy. I owe him big, which is why he is enjoying a captain and coke tonight.

Julia....dancin the night away.

Mary...eating. Another buffet. This time it was a huge pile of corn. We saw that corn again just this afternoon.......

BIB.

The Flower Girl, part II

Julia's first encounter with a curling iron and hairspray. She has never seen either one of them since I don't use them at home. She thought we were nuts. And she HaTED the hair spray. She would only let me use it on her (not the hair lady) despite the hair lady's degree in hair spray. Oh well.

Julia, all dolled up except for the dress....which went on at the very LAST minute...

Lindsay and her Dad

Papa and Squish

The girls

A cute photo of the three flower girls.

Three kids is difficult, but taking pictures of five little kids? Are we crazy?
Julia would only hold still for the group photos if I let her hold her glass of sprite AND the straw.

Lindsay and her flower girls

Dan, Lindsay, and the kiddos

Julia and Mary spent a good deal of time fighting over/playing with this alligator/xylophone thing from Aunt Mary. It is actually Mary's toy, but the closest she could get to playing with it was smacking Julia's hand while she was holding the mallet.