Dear Friend's Wedding

 Yesterday our friends got married in the Church and we were honored to be a part of their celebration. We've known Melisa (she spells her name with one "s" and mine is with two) and Victor for 2 years now. Our daughters met in cheer-leading and have become best of friends. It's funny how things change as you get older. When you are a kid you make friends with your neighbors and schoolmates, after school you make friends with people you meet at work, and after you have kids you meet friends through the friends they make. :) Melisa and Victor asked us to stand in with them and be their witnesses as they received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Their family entered the Catholic Church this past Easter receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion. We were happy to see them make this step and receive this grace giving Sacrament.

 

Ashleigh was so happy to see her parents get married. She sat and stood next to me during the ceremony and one time she said to me, "I can tell my mom and dad are crying." :)

 

Victor and Melisa wed at the Catholic parish in Kyle, St. Anthony. We are parishoners at Santa Cruz in Buda, the two are about 10 miles a part. Sometime we do attend Mass at St. Anthony's as well, it's a beautiful parish. So we were happy to meet and get to know their priest and deacon.

 Madeline took this photo. :)

 

The kids did great at the ceremony when Stephen and I had to stand up by the alter or do the readings. But of course the silliness started as soon as the ceremony was done.

 

My handsome hubby and beautiful daughter.

 Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Medina!

 The kids looked so cute, I love seeing them dressed up!

After their ceremony was a reception at their home. Many family pitched in to help make it so special and I loved all the details. We had a great evening getting to know their extended family. Lots of laughter and yummy food!

I love October

I love October. The start of Autumn is just such a wonderful time of year. For us Fall has been great when we lived in California, Oregon and here in Texas. Unfortunately earlier this month we missed an October wedding. My brother Tason's best friend Drew got married to his long time girlfriend Melinda. Drew is a really cool dude. He's got an infectious smile and he's always greeting everyone with a bear hug. Stephen and I really wished we could make it out to their Southern California beach wedding but it just didn't work out that we could travel at this time. Luckily my parents attended the wedding and my mom took a ton of pics and videos.

Tason was Drew's best man. Oh and if you look at the above picture, yes the guys all wore flip flops with their suits. It sounded like it was a lovely Fall wedding. And the newlyweds are even back from their Hawaiian honeymoon. We were able to help them out with a Hertz rental discount. :)

I've also been enjoying all the Fall and Pumpkin photos my family and friends have been sharing of their babies and kiddos on their blogs and Facebook. Made me want to look back at some eGo photos of Madeline and James on past Octobers. Hopefully we'll have some time to visit a patch before Halloween this year! At least Stephen got my fake pumpkins down from the attic. They are displayed and glowing in our upstairs windows facing the street. When James saw them yesterday he stomped his foot and sounding upset he said,

"I don't want pumpkins, I want it to be Christmas!"

Mississippi Wedding

Bree and I have been friends since 1998. We both started out as print staff assistants at an Architecture firm in Newport Beach, CA. We both worked our way up to the Color and Graphics department and at one time shared a double cubicle together. We became great friends! Bree is such a beautiful person inside and out. I always enjoyed hanging out with her, getting to know her circle of friends and family. So when Stephen and I got married, we asked her to be a part of our wedding party. I'm so glad we have kept in touch through the years and that I was able to attend her gorgeous lakeside wedding in Mississippi!

Here is the happy Mr. and Mrs. after they said their "I do's". The evening wedding couldn't have been more perfect. It wasn't too hot out, and the thunderstorms stayed away.

Doesn't she look absolutely stunning in her gown!? I thought she looked so gorgeous! Madeline thought she was a princess and kept wanting to give her so many hugs.

The pretty wedding cake with handmade sugar flowers.

I've heard of people having a Groom's cake. I thought this one was too cool and way manly don't you think? The wedding site was at a lakeside lodge.

James thought the "animals" all around the lodge and on the walls were really neat. He kept checking all of them out.

So I have to share the story of James going missing at the wedding. My kids love to do this and scare the heck out of us! Madeline went missing at cousin Angie's wedding in Iowa 3 years ago when she hid under the bridal party table playing hide'n'seek with her cousins - she wouldn't even come out when the DJ made an announcement that she was missing. We finally found her. Well at Bree's wedding we were outside the lodge talking to the bride and groom while the kids were running circles around us. Suddenly I noticed Madeline was next to me but James was gone! It was dark out already. We immediately called out for him and Stephen checked the pier. I prayed my worst nightmare didn't come true and that he went on the pier and fell in the lake. We all started frantically looking for him and I asked a woman to stop the band and make an announcement he went missing. The bride found him inside the lodge. Another guest inside tipped us off that he was inside the lodge and hiding under the stairwell. Why was he hiding under the stairwell - he wanted privacy while having a bowel movement!

I love this picture of Stephen and Madeline. Boy were they dancing machines that evening.

Bree and Ryan cutting the groom's cake. They did get a little cake on each other's faces.

Here I am with one of Bree's best friend's Melissa. After Bree left the Architecture firm I stayed in touch with her and her friends. Melissa only worked down the road so often we would meet for lunch. Bree and Melissa also played on our coed softball team the Spring of 2003. She's so sweet, we've kept in touch through the years sending Christmas cards and she often sent me a birthday card. She's married now with a daughter who also goes by Maddy (Maddie).

Overall it was a fantastic wedding. We had a lot of fun. And it was great to see everyone. I took a lot more pictures which you can view here.

And here's a flashback pic of Melissa and Bree coming to visit us just days after we brought Madeline home from the hospital Christmas 2003.

Another wedding!

Yesterday we went on another road trip, we drove to Houston for one of my childhood friend's wedding! Oh gosh I think Erica and I have known each other since we were 4, we grew up in the same neighborhood but then eventually her and her parents moved to Texas. We've stayed in touch all these years. And when I got married, her and her mom made it out to California for our special day. So it's only fitting that I make the 3 hour drive out to hers! I am so excited she has found Mr. Right! It was a lovely evening - and Stephen and I enjoyed our kid-free night out!

Here is the happy couple, Erica and Kevin.

Erica and Kevin looked so radiant and in love! They are expecting a baby boy this September! Definitely an exciting year for them!

Erica's father made a speech and he mentioned me! :) He was talking about his daughter whom from an early age was a go-getter and destined to make a successful life for herself. He said when they moved to California (in the same neighborhood as my family) Erica wanted some friends to play with, so he suggested "why don't you go knock on some doors then...". Well needless to say Lee told all the guests Erica knocked on mine and we became very close friends, lifetime friends and that I was there yesterday evening. So very cool!

Here is Erica, myself and my brother Tason. Life was so fun and easy back then, just sitting on the curb and eating some ice cream.

Stephen and I really enjoying the evening out at Erica's wedding, can't you tell? I wish her and Kevin the very best! So excited to see their family grow and the plans God has made for them. To see all the photos I took at the wedding, click here.

Sean & Chandra's Wedding

Last night we went to a wedding of our friends and neighbors. It was at the Doubletree in downtown Austin, a beautiful location. Above is the slide show of the entire night and below are some of my favorite pics...

"M&M" don't they look pretty!?

Madeline and I.

The bride & groom!

The hood kids :-) Madeline, Quinten, Mia and Gabriel.

Stephen and I.

Doing the electric slide!

Our friends and next door neighbors, the Wrights.

Sean with their son, Quinten.

Chandra with their daughter, Kayla.

Jimmena and I.