What A Week!!!!

We had a very busy yet exciting week. My younger sister Laura's wedding was planned for February 14th. In preparation for the wedding family started arriving almost a week prior. My older sister Katie and her family were staying with us. It was a full house--12 in all! We knew we had a busy week ahead of us but did manage to fit in some fun time.
Andy took my three older kids and my BIL took his three boys and they all went to see the Harlem Globetrotters. The kids LOVED it. They had a such a good time and they even had decent seats!

My brother David and his family were also in town for the wedding. They have a little boy just about 7 months younger than Ethan. They came over to hang out quite a bit and the boys got to know each other a little bit better. This one particular night Ethan was climbing into the back of his big Tonka dump truck and Nathan would push him around in it. Of course, as soon as I got my camera out to take pictures they stopped. I also missed a cute picture of them giving each other hugs!


We spent a lot of time shopping and getting miscellaneous things done for the big day. Katie was the unofficial wedding planner. She has many amazing talents and now she can add another one to the list. She even hand made all the wedding announcements(all 350 of them!!). Laura just showed her which one she wanted and she copied it perfectly, you would never have known!
My big job for the week was throwing Laura's bridal shower. Laura wanted to wait and do it just two days before the wedding, that way more family members would be in town to attend--especially my mom! She was able to leave her mission in Philly and come home for a couple days for the wedding. It was SO GREAT to be able to see her even if it was just for a short time. My kids were so excited to see her and had been anxiously counting down the days.

Laura and some of our nieces waiting for the shower to start





Katie made this for Laura to display at the wedding. She actually made another one too, but I didn't get a picture of it. They were both amazing!

Ethan warmed up pretty quickly to mom mom after not seeing her for 6 months. It just took a little cake bribery and then he was ready to snuggle!

My mom's birthday happens to be on Valentine's day--the same day as the wedding. We really wanted to have some time with her so we decided to celebrate a day early. We surprised her by taking her to breakfast at Kneaders and having her open her presents there. We had a good time just relaxing and catching up and just spending time with my mom and sisters. After that Laura, Katie, and I all went and got a massage. I don't get them very often, but I really should. It is so relaxing that I don't ever want it to end! That evening we had a big family dinner in Orem where we got to meet all of Jon's family. I have to say that they are such a great family. They were all so nice and welcoming and I had a great time getting to know them.

Here are my twins with their new friend Drew. Drew is actually Jon's 11 year old nephew. Drew is so awesome! He sat across from us at the dinner and can carry on an adult conversation and is SOOOO polite. I got such a kick out of him! I thought it was so funny when they were taking our orders and he didn't want to order off the kids menu so he ordered the salmon off the adult menu! He seriously is a little adult!


The happy couple!


Ethan was excited to get to sit by Becca. He loves being one of the "big" kids. I do have to brag about him though. He sat in his chair for 3 HOURS and was PERFECT!! Such a good boy!

THE BIG DAY

I first have to say that my sister has been looking forward to this day for a very long time. She has dated many many guys and has had many opportunities for relationships that could potentially lead to marriage. I am so proud of her for staying true to what she knew she wanted in a future husband, and it definitely paid off. Laura and Jon seem to have been made for each other and we wish them MANY happy years together!

The day was absolutely perfect and couldn't have gone more smoothly. Laura was absolutely beautiful and was just glowing, and Jon was so handsome, what a cute couple.

They were married in the Mount Timpanogos Temple in American Fork and then the reception was held at the Old Historic Courthouse in Provo. I hadn't been to the courthouse in years and I had forgotten how amazing and beautiful it is. It was so elegant that it didn't need much decorating, but what Katie did was just perfect. I took about 150 pictures throughout the week and so many didn't turn out. I think it's time for a new camera!


Me and my sisters! What would I do without them?


Laura and Jon and all the grandkids on our side of the family--all 18 of them!!

These are all my brothers and sisters together. Let's just say that trying to get a picture of all of us was quite an ordeal. My brothers always have to be funny and I am lucky I got a picture of us.

In between the wedding and reception Laura had a dinner for 100 of their family and close friends. They also had a small program planned. Some friends and their parents spoke for just a minute and then Laura(who is a very accomplished violinist) played the violin while Jon accompanied her on the piano. They did an outstanding job!

The cake. Isn't is beautiful?


Laura and Jon's first dance as husband and wife. Katie noticed that through the whole dance Jon was singing the words of the song(The Luckiest) in Laura's ear. I thought that was SO romantic!

Laura dancing with my dad

They are changed and ready to start the honeymoon!

This is what they found when they left! Their friends did it and it was really cute!

Waving bye one last time! Now it's off to Cancun!

We are so excited for them to start their lives together. We are even more excited that they will be living close by until they leave in the fall for Medical School in Missouri. I sense some free babysitting coming on!!! YAY!!! Congrats Laura and Jon!