Marriage and Babies, Dressing Rooms and More

 I really need to blog about 40 times more than I do to keep up with my family. I did cover Moriah's engagement, right? This is not her wedding dress, but just one of countless ones that she tried on. We had a princess party with the bridesmaids and food while Moriah chose her dress. I did not get permission to post this picture, but just love her and her friend Esther's genuine smiles at whoever was talking to them.  

I am a huge fan of this bridal shop now, because of the wonderful lady that helped us, and can understand why the Duggars came to VA to find a wedding dress for two of their daughters.

So, during this long Moriah and Chris engagment, Moriah turned 21. Chris came with balloons and gifts and we all ate a bit too much cake.
 

  
We have been having a debate about when Alyssa and her now fiance are going to get married for several months now, and while they did not want to rain on Moriah's parade, or wedding, they also found out that they have a baby on the way. While we do not endorse marriages for the sake of a baby, they are in a good place to be able to marry, so we are pulling off a wedding November 17th in hopes that it is still warm enough during the day to have the ceremony outside. The wedding is about an hour from here in a historic barn that has been updated beautifully. There will be more pictures to follow, but here are a few engagement photos. 

 

Guess where the girls and I spent another evening? You guessed it - same bridal shop. 
 

  
Now that I'm double wedding planning, and realized that the children didn't have adequate fall and winter clothing, I seem to spend a lot of time waiting outside dressing room doors, mainly for Tori and Julia. I need to take myself shopping, but I'm doing that trip with no one under the age of 18!

 

I think the kids are actually getting tired of shopping; I know I am!

Saturday we took a trip to Maryland for Amish feed and llama feed and Southern States had a nice pumpkin decorating table. The kids made these, which was fun since we got rained out of our trip to the pumpkin patch the night before.

We also got season passes to the trampoline park instead of doing birthday parties this summer and fall, I just haven't had time and this will provide several trips of fun for a full year. 

 Lastly, I miss my little grand-sons in Colorado. Gabriel and Nathan are flying here for Alyssa's wedding, but Alayna and baby Samuel are staying behind for a visit from her dad. i miss those little faces!

While its a crazy busy time, I'm sure thankful for my family! Life isn't dull!

Trip to Colorado

Moriah and I flew to Colorado last Wednesday; she came home for work on Monday and I came home Wednesday. It was a glorious week of baby holding. Gabriel and Alayna claimed that sweet Samuel slept well in his basinet before we arrived, but I wasn't seeing that too much by the time we left! He loves to snuggle and snooze!

Gabriel treated us to a lunch at the Denver Aquarium. 

 I bought this Mickey bathrobe for James at a thrift store about 15 years ago; it is serious good quality. He wore it a ton, then I gave it a friend whose son wore it for a few years, then she gave it back to Elijah who wore it for a good three years. Now it is off to Nathan who has a few years to wear it before Samuel takes it over. It may be the best $2 I have ever spent. Somewhere along the way, the belt got lost, so Nathan borrowed his Mom's. 

 James made another trip to the Navy recruiter with Gabriel and I. He is currently studying to improve his ASVAB scores to open more job choices when he enlists. 

James is currently working full time at a tire center, and Nathan is pretty sure he is there to play with him also. 

After I headed home on Wednesday, Alei flew out Thursday. She sent me this picture of my favorite baby boys today. 

Want a bit of humor? Let me tell you about my trip home. I let Moriah book my ticket for me and she booked two one-ways because it was cheaper. The flaw of the plan was that it was super basic, which meant that I needed a second mortgage to fly James and baby clothes out to CO and my credit card that normally grants me free luggage meant nothing. The real fun began the day before I left to head home and I found out that while I flew out of Dullus (and parked my car in the $17 a day lot for "convenience"), I was returning into Reagan on the other side of DC. Let me just continue with the text I sent Moriah - 

" let me explain my current situation, Moriah, I am currently Ubering with two strange men for one hour with all four windows down at 80 mph across DC. Did I mention the loud rap playing. You know that's my favorite!" 

If I had a picture of my hair after that ride; it was like I used a can of Aqua Net hairspray! Good memories!