Wedding week.

The invitations:

Not the greatest quality since I had to screenshot it. It's ridiculous that I need a subscription to modify my own pdfs in any way. Not doing it.

Friday, Aug 5

Centerpiece mock-up.

Bottle-gathering bar hopping.

This bar was our favorite. The first thing Jill said to the nice {female} bartender working there was, "We've never been in a bar before!" The bartender let us go through what empty bottles she had, and kindly offered to save the weekend stash for us to pick up on Monday.

We also purchased the fruit for the reception, and were blessed to find amazing cantaloupe, grapes, pineapple, and strawberries at Sam's Club. Such a tender mercy.

Saturday, Aug 6

Brooks turns one {month old}.

I dropped off Ellis' birthday gift.

He had turned 5 a couple days before.

Where does the time go?

Scarlett had made this awesome balloon garland from his birthday balloons and some good ol' masking tape. That girl has skills ♥

We helped Mar and Jonah move into their {Call Family-owned} apartment in Logan.

Jill came with us and helped me clean the kitchen. We reminisced about our time at these very same apartments back in our USU days.

Bill switched the swing of the refrigerator door - it no longer opens away from the kitchen, but towards it... 

So. Much. Better.

Sunday, Aug 7

Britt came over in the evening and we worked away on the signs for the reception.

I couldn't have pulled it off without the help of these two amazing ladies and Billy-my-hero, who may or may not have made a Walmart run on a Sunday night because we didn't have enough vinyl.

The ox was definitely in the mire haha.

Monday, Aug 8

Everything else day.

Jill and I had picked up the flowers... Friday? Saturday? We were again so blessed to find what we needed at Trader Joes. What we couldn't find, a florist we met there offered to get for us at a wholesale place. Another tender mercy.

Jill arranged flowers while I frosted the wedding cake.

YES.

I made the wedding cake.

I can't believe it myself.

I have watched so many how-to YouTube videos my brain is spinning.

My next door neighbor had a baby at home in the middle of our prep. Mar noticed the fire truck next door, and went out to inquire if everything was okay. Yep, just my cute young neighbor giving birth. Her midwife didn't show up in time, so her mom panicked and called for help. Momma and baby were doing just fine.

At this point of wedding prep, I seriously just look forward to being DONE. I'm so excited for the big day, but also know it involves careful timing, a clear mind, so. much. help., attention to detail, and extra special attention to Mar Mar. And it would be nice if I could feel and look... okay haha. 

We shall see.

The big day is tomorrow.

It's going to be AWESOME.

Her Main Squeeze - a bridal shower for Mar.

 

The spread:

Unfortunately I didn't snap many pics of the group... bummer! I'm glad I captured Wonderful Sweet Scarlett enjoying her macaron ♥

The games we played:

Lex found the games - they were simple and fun.

Jonah joined us for the final game - the Shoe Game.

Mar and Jonah were very good at this game.

We all enjoyed loving on Brooks ♥

Love these beautiful girls of mine! I wish Tay and Nae lived closer, and that Nae could have been there. I am always grateful for their help in all areas of party planning. They're the best.

I'm so grateful that so many family and friends took the time to come and celebrate Mar and her upcoming wedding.

I love that girl ♥

Call Family Reunion 2022.

Friday, July 22

 We made the beautiful drive to Star Valley, WY for the Call Reunion.

We arrived and set up tents and helped with a few other preliminary tasks, then met Jason and Lex at the Valleon for lunch.

I'm sure they weren't prepared for a large group in the middle of the day in this small town, so we waited a long time for our food {and it wasn't as good as last time}. It filled our bellies, and most importantly it was a fun time hanging out together.

Once the reunion officially started, we had fun checking out the many activities with M and B.

No one can resist the homemade bread and jam. Soooooo good.

We gathered to practice for our "spotlight" segment at the family meeting to be held later in the day. This little activity can produce some stress (there may be *some* in the extended family that view these types of things as a talent competition), but I think we rocked it. Our spotlight was about mi mamita (each family spotlighted their "first generation" family member). Mar wrote and was willing to perform a cute song, and the rest of us were just... backup dancers haha.

We went over to the farmhouse-turned-museum to take a private tour with mi mamita.

The girls all tried on some vintage hats...

...and the guys checked out the interesting artifacts in the boys' bedroom.

Everyone gathered for the traditional family picture. I'm sad I don't have a better copy. I'll have to ask my mom to see if she has one, and if she does I'll replace my poor-quality one below.

I believe we had dinner at this point (no pictures to remind me),

then it was family meeting time. B loved the hats we used for our spotlight.

Each first generation family member was spotlighted by their family. Each one was unique. My mom had no idea what we were going to do for hers, which made it so fun.

Miss Louise Goldsberry - Yes, it's time to look and see

All the things that make her special and describe her perfectly:

Sewing skills, yummy scones, and such a lovely home

Testimony like no other, at the temple serving weekly;

Full of love, pretty smile, time with her is so worthwhile,

Her example is never second best;

Mother, grandma, and great, take a glance and you'll see

She's the best, she's the best, she's the best!

She loves books, gardening, yes, her mind she's sharpening;

Traveling around the world, Jerusalem's her destiny.

Games with kids, family, she makes friends so naturally,

Family history she preserves, and she really loves to serve.

Day by day, one by one, she blesses us, SHE'S NEVER DONE!

Supportive and always full of fun;

Now there's a little glance, and if you get the chance you'll see

She's the best, she's the best, she's the best!

The sunset was breathtaking.

We loaded up on the trailer for the ride up the mountain for the traditional bonfire and marshmallow roast (I can't remember, but I don't think we had a wiener roast this year - I'm pretty sure we had dinner at the barn).

Saturday, July 23

Beautiful sunrise (courtesy of Little Billy, who got up early enough to see it haha).

Our family was assigned breakfast duty, so we were up early enough to 

git 'er done.

These cute kids loved sleeping in a tent, and obviously enjoyed snoozing even after the sun was up.

After breakfast there were more activities - Jason wanted to try his hand (literally) at arm wrestling.

His take-away, "Farmers are STRONG."

(He also enjoyed it enough to join a club and pursue the sport further.)

I took B on the kids' tractor ride (I didn't mention that both M and B hated the ride they took the first day, and ended up screaming to get off haha). This ride was soooooo uncomfortable for this old lady {with very long legs}. But it was worth it to give B a better memory of it.

There were wax museum tours at the farmhouse. Everyone who attended loved them. I was helping with the kids, so I didn't make it over to it. I very much enjoyed my time with M and B, though!

Lex took M on the torture tractor ride.

She concurred that it was quite uncomfortable for grown ups.

The final event of the reunion is lunch.

I'm always impressed at how this huge event gets pulled off biennially. I was so glad Jason and Lex made the trip - it's always so much more effort to travel with kids. I loved seeing those "first generation" aunts and uncles, and chatting with cousins I don't cross paths with often.

And here are 9 of the 14. In those uncomfortable buckets. I don't envy them haha.

After helping with our cleanup duties, we headed home.

That evening we had a mini firework show out our front door for Pioneer Day.

The perfect ending to a heritage-filled weekend ♥