My little sister got married!

On Saturday, May 16th 2015, my little sister got married!!!  To Will! Yay!  It was a wonderful wedding in the Texas Hill Country and the weather cooperated.  Thank you God -  No rain the day of the wedding or during the ceremony/reception so they were able to have it outside.  

Starting with Thursday, Aunt Ricki rode with me and the boys to the lake house.  She kindly sat in the middle of the boys in the backseat and entertained, handed out snacks, sang songs, and whatever else could be done to prevent a meltdown until we got there.  We got there just in time for Campbell's nap and for Austin to snuggle up with Ricki and watch Toy Story.  I went over to our condo near the Horseshoe Bay hotel to check in and unload our car full of stuff.  My mom, Lauren, Will and his parents, and Stacy had already arrived earlier in the week.  David and Stephen road together and arrived just in time for dinner Thursday night, conveniently. :)   We had dinner at the lake house on Thursday with Will's parents and a few other friends and family members that had already arrived.  

On Friday morning, we woke up to a huge rain storm which seemed like it might rain out David's golf game with Will, Stacy, and some of the other groomsmen.  It passed through quickly and they were able to play.  That left me to grocery shop, 711 donut and coffee stop, and shower/hair/makeup myself with both boys in a two story, non-baby proofed condo, which was not easy but we managed.  Pop came over to stay with Austin while Campbell napped and I went to the bridesmaids luncheon.  It was in a pretty room at the HSB resort.  All of Lauren's bridesmaids and house party were included and it was given by Cecile and Carolyn.  The orchids in the center of the table were so pretty!!  Pop survived with Austin and Campbell slept the whole time.  After the luncheon and golf were over, we headed down to the HSB hotel pool for a bit.  Pop swam with Austin and MiMi arrived just in time to splash in the fountains/splashpad with Campbell.  I was trying to prevent showering, etc again before the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner that night so I avoided the pool.  They mostly stayed in the hot tub since it was a little cloudy and windy.  

The rehearsal started at 5pm so David, Austin and I left for that and left Campbell with MiMi and Big Deal.  The minute we arrived at Escondido, Austin walked straight down the rock steps to the golf course to watch the golfers play.  Obsessed....  We had to bribe him with M&Ms to participate in the rehearsal.  Austin was really shy and nervous at the rehearsal.  It helped that Annabelle was more outgoing and encouraged him to practice.  We decided that the little kids would not walk the double flight of stairs, but would come in on the lower level and just walk down one flight.  He even got to hold his white ring pillow (in a ziploc to prevent dirt stains).  He was super cute when David told him to go give Aunt LaLa a hug, then I took a quick picture.  After rehearsing, David took Austin back to the condo to stay with MiMi and Big Deal for the evening.  I rode the wedding party bus with the youngsters (ha!).  

The rehearsal dinner was at Spicewood Vineyards.  They served the vineyard's wine and had passed appetizers.  They served chicken, brisket, veggies, and salad buffet style.  There was a band and dancing too!  The toasts started and Mr. Weeks went first.  I prepared a toast and, of course, was super nervous about talking in front of the large group of 130+.  I talked about how Lauren is the "third forgotten child".  I mentioned how she fell out of the Target shopping cart at 9 months and got a black eye the day before mothers' day out pictures.  Then I told the story about when we went to Chesters hamburgers in San Antonio for dinner and my parents were in 2 cars.  We finished eating and drove home only to find that Lauren was not there.  Each parent thought the other had Lauren but she was still sitting at the counter watching the chef flip burgers.  The restaurant worker asked what her parents names were and she said "mommy and daddy".  She was about 5 years old and this was before cell phones.  She may be the forgotten third child who has WAY less photo albums than me - the first child and grandchild, but she is the most kind-hearted, easy-going, fun little sister. At least she has photo albums.  My kids have this blog so let's hope and pray the internet doesn't go black.  Ah!  After the toasts, the band played and everyone danced.  Fun night!!

On Saturday morning, we got up early (too early) with the kids, and went to explore the 18-hole miniature golf course.  Austin played pretty much the whole thing while Campbell tried to jump off every step, walk in every rose bush, eat the sand from the sand traps, get hit in the head with the clubs, etc, etc.  Annabelle and Allison played with us for part of the course, and MiMi joined too.  I headed back to the condo to shower while they finished up.  David dropped me off at Escondido at 11:30 for hair and makeup appointments.  The bride arrived, along with the other bridesmaids, a little bit later and we all enjoyed hanging out in the womens' locker room, eating lunch, sipping wine, doing hair and makeup, and then getting our dresses on.  My mom and I helped Lauren with her dress and all of the pretty buttons up the back.  The photographer arrived around 4pm to start shooting us before dresses, and then after.  So fun and pretty!  

Austin arrived with David to be in some of the pre-ceremony pictures.  He looked so handsome in his little tux!  When it was time to start, Austin went with the wedding planner and other kids to wait in their "holding room", i.e. the fitness center.  We lined up ready to walk down the aisle, or should I say, steps.  Since I walked down before Austin, I had a great view of him and Annabelle.  He walked with his pillow, dangling in one hand, haha.  He didn't smile, but didn't cry.  I will be curious to see if any photographer got any pictures of him smiling.  Oh well, it was still cute.  He sat with David on the front row and watched the ceremony.  MiMi had Campbell walking around to the side of the guests' chairs.  Since it was outside, when he made noises, they weren't that noticeable, I hope!  It was all so pretty and the weather was great!!  Lauren was beautiful!  After the ceremony, we took pictures - bridal party and some immediate family shots.  Campbell even got to be in a few before MiMi took him back to the condo with the babysitter to go to sleep.  The Escondido event planner's daughter, Bre, stayed with him so that MiMi could come back and enjoy the reception.  After Will and Lauren shared a private dinner together, I helped my mom and the wedding planner bustle Lauren's dress so that she could dance and walk around easily (MOH duty - ha!).  Dinner was buffet - chicken, salad, prime rib, rolls, etc.  Austin had a blast at the reception - he loved watching Aunt LaLa and Uncle Will dance their first dance.  After he had a chance to warm up to the music and dance floor and after he had eaten, he was ready to dance.  He danced with me, daddy, LaLa, Will, cousin Mary, MiMi, Carrie, etc, etc.  Of course, we took a break from dancing for wedding cake - both chocolate and vanilla.  Yummy!  Austin was so lucky that he got to stay until 10:15!  MiMi, David, and Big Deal took him back to the condo for bed and took the babysitter home.  They missed the passed chicken biscuits as a "midnight snack"- yum!  I was able to stay until the end and ride the bus back to the condo.  There were sparklers to send Lauren and Will off and they got into a horse-drawn chariot - just like a fairy tale!  So pretty!  It was such a special and beautiful night.  The boys are excited to have a new uncle!!!  Yay!  We are again so thankful that the weather cooperated.  A huge thunderstorm rolled through HSB around 4am that night - we are God held it off until then.  And it rained all the way back to Houston.   I am sure I left something out but tried to capture it all.  Here are some pictures of the wonderful weekend in the Texas Hill Country. 

Could his smile be any cuter?

Beautiful luncheon for a beautiful bride

Splashing with MiMi

Rehearsing with Aunt LaLA

Sisters!  Beautiful dress and gorgeous color of bridesmaids dresses

DiDi and the flower girl, Annabelle

First dancing

Cake with BB

Loving the cake

It's a fiesta!!  

Sombrero kid

My boys, missing C

Horse drawn chariot for the princess and her prince

YAY!

Bye, have a blast in Belize!  To many many years of life together!!

Mother's Day

On Mothers' Day, we went to church as a family and then met my family at Lakeside for brunch.  Austin was very interested in the buffet style of eating.  He kept wanting to see what the options were and know what everyone had on their plates.  Good thing there were like 4 different pastas, including mac n cheese.  We discovered that Campbell really wants to use a fork to eat.  He ate almost all of DiDi's omelet by taking bites off a fork.  Mr Independent already!  Uncle Stephen, Aunt Ricki, Aunt LaLa and soon to be Uncle Will also came with DiDi and Grandad.  We even got to go outside afterwards to check out the golf carts.  Austin and Daddy went for a quick ride too.  It was a fun morning celebrating the mommies.  That afternoon, we had the Stephens and Barretts over for dinner and play.  We kept it simple and picked up BBQ.  Austin also helped me make homeade ice cream- MiMi's favorite!  We set up the bounce house and the cousins bounced, between the rain showers.  We are thankful for DiDi and MiMi!  

Month of fun

During April and May we hit up the Childrens' Museum, Blessington Farm, and the zoo.  We are now members at the museum and the zoo (thanks to Mimi and DiDi) so we will be back for more visits soon!  MiMi went with us to the museum and Blessington farm.  Of course, a favorite activity at the museum was the bottomless hole to swirl golf balls down.  Anything with a golf ball is a hit in our family. At Blessington farm, we picked strawberries, rode the barrel train, slid down the huge white slide, went round and round in the tubes, and pedaled in the pedal cars.  It was so fun, but also exhausting!  Peyton and Sadie were in Houston for a few weeks and joined us at the zoo.  We have also pulled out the baby pool a few times since it is hot and humid already. Campbell LOVES the water, almost too much.  When we are in the backyard, he almost immediately walks to the hose and asks in his baby noises for me to turn it on.  He loved it when Austin sprayed him with the hose, and sure drank alot of water.  We are going to have to be careful with that boy!  There are some other random pictures from the past month below such as the Bob the Builder ride at Chuck E Cheese for Morgan's birthday party. Also, Austin's school had their annual spring show and I tried to get a picture of the blond boy on stage hiding behind his friends on the 2nd row.  I think he had a little stage fright. It has been a fun end of spring.  Now on to tackle summer with two very active boys.....

Golf ball swirling at the museum

Painting at the museum

LOVED this ride over and over - Bob the Builder

Swimming with a golf club

Goggles required

So proud

I spy Austin

This must be back from April because he is in jeans

Picking strawberries with MiMi

Check out those berries!

Getting dizzy

Fun slide!

Barrel train ride 

Choo-choo

Selfie on the train

Zoo with Sadie

Hiding in the zoo playground

For the first time he wasn't scared of the goats!  He wanted to brush them

Showing Sadie the animals

The house was quiet and he came out of his room dressed like this - my little Bob the Builder

This boy loves cords - he got the biggest smile in Ulta when he spotted the wall of hair dryers

Testing out big brother's scooter

Campbell, put the ball on the tee- he knows exactly what this means

Good hit!

Great hit!

Driving with Nolan, our neighbor (could be his twin brother)

Watching the yardman

Boy in hats eating snacks

Cuties

Another swim!

About to go down

Mommy can't look away for one second.....