weekend update

This past weekend was a good one.

On Friday we got to celebrate with my friend Kelly as she married our college friend Ed. She had lost her husband a few years ago suddenly and it has been beyond inspiring to see her steadfast trust in the Lord to get her, and her three children, through such a heart-breaking time. The theme of the wedding was 'faithfulness' and He truly is faithful.

It was fun for us to see lots of our old college friends too, eat delicious food, dance the night away, and celebrate with Kelly and Ed.

The next night was my 20 year high school reunion. Wow, that makes me feel old!

I found myself as I was in high school, but I guess I still am like that today too, waiting for others to approach me instead of reaching out. So, due to that, I didn't get to talk to everyone and left a little disappointed. But I did get to talk to a lot of people and have some nice conversations. Out of a graduating class of 49, about 21 came so not too shabby. Actually several more still live in the area and didn't come, so too bad. It was odd having some classmates with kids in high school and there was us with Jeanie, so I still felt young :)

It is crazy how time flies!

Weekend trip to DC

Our friend Josh got married this last weekend. I think it's so special when people get married in their 30s, and all weddings are worth celebrating! We road-tripped to DC and stayed with Jill at her sister's house in nearby Virginia. We went to the wedding and had a little time in the city between the ceremony and reception. I knew we were going to have a family day in DC but my expectations were very low. I wanted to see some monuments, eat at food trucks, and see street performers. Never did I expect that while watching a street performance Doug would be pulled into the performance and jumped over!

They were like "sexy white guy, get over here", I guess that's what you get wearing your nice wedding attire while walking around. I don't know how to link videos on here, but all those guys got jumped over by a guy flipping over them. It was pretty fun.

A little more pre-reception city exploring:

The wedding was at a fancy Army and Navy club, delicious salmon dinner, a live band.

The next day we drove back in to do a little city exploring. We wasted a lot of time trying to find parking. That was frustrating! Finally parked at the capital and walked 2.25 miles down to the Jefferson Memorial and back.

Sadly the street truck food was just meh, but the day together was nice. No cherry blossoms, but it was sunny and hot!

The next day we drove back. August took a couple naps and mostly entertained himself, which was a little better than the drive there. This was encouraging as I am trying to talk Doug into another fall colors road trip this fall!

We shall see...

Jill got married

Friday I rode down to Detroit with another bridesmaid Kim, the girls got dressed up and went to Andiamos for happy hour to do a little bachelorette party. Then back to her hotel room for popcorn and girl time.

Me & Jill's sisters. Sadly preggo Kim was feeling bad so she went to her room.

Jill's friend Erin from Canada treated Jill to a pedicure

the bride!

The next morning we woke up early for breakfast and then went downstairs to the salon for hair and makeup.

They had some kind of screen on the window, but the sunrise over the Detroit river was beautiful

curls!

Kim getting made up

Jill coiffed and ready for make up

Jamie getting her hair done

Next we went up to the very top to the Coach Insignia for the rehearsal and rehearsal lunch. One thing that was nice was everything was all inside. The only time we ever went out of the building was for a brief, freezing, windy very-short photo op.

The view from the Coach Insignia. So pretty! We did the rehearsal, had catered Mudgies for lunch, then went back to our hotel room to get ready

me & Kim

Jill was getting her 'getting ready' shots

ready to get married!

Jill and Damon were doing that 'first look' with their photographer around Detroit so the bridesmaids hung out and watched HGTV a bit, then we all headed back up to Coach Insignia for the ceremony.

I was imagining something different at first for Jill's dress but she really looked amazing

Jill's grandma holding the flower girl

lots of shots of Jill's rear, but hey, that looked pretty good too! ;)

her nephew was a 'Thomas the train' bearer

husband and wife!

They also did this cool idea of calling up different groups of people for pictures with them, and then that group would be dismissed over to the cocktail hour

The cocktail hour was sad for Anne, I am particular in my alcohol tastes and pretty much only like peach schnapps with cranberry, or coconut rum and cranberry. Most people would think it was cool they only had alcohol from Michigan, but that meant no peach schnapps or coconut rum. So I had some drink made with vodka from Ferndale, and only a sip because I didn't like it. Also there was only fancy cheeses and odd looking things with no labels, and I'm a regular taste buds kind of person, so just had a couple raspberries and cracker or two until dinner.

For dinner both Doug and I chose the chicken and risotto. The risotto was amazing, and it came with Brussel sprouts. The only thing I wish was different was that there were more sprouts! There was just a small pile of mostly the outer leaves. But otherwise everything was good.

No dancing, so we ate and talked with friends and had a good time.

me & Dougie

me and Emily

the prayer group girls!

We left around 10 because I had to work Sunday. Now Jill is off enjoying a wonderful Cancun honeymoon. Congratulations Jill and Damon!

showered with love

This weekend Jill, Liz, Liz's mom, my mom, and Doug's mom threw Doug and I a beautiful shower. We felt so loved and supported by the friends and family that were there. They decorated with mums, and paper lanterns, and served a buffet of homemade soups. It was delicious. We played a fun game and opened presents. Everyone was so generous to us, we had said we were registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond and we also were having a mattress fund since Doug and I both have twin beds. We ended up receiving over half of what we registered for, and probably 2/3 a mattress! Wow! I liked that it was a little smaller so I was able to talk to everyone that came, and it was a beautiful day to boot. People ate, and chatted, and laughed, and stayed later, it was fun.

I walked in to see our old Barbie bed on a shoebox and was confused until I put 2 and 2 together that it was for our bed fund! (later I labeled the box so no one else would wonder)

Liz and her mom are the QUEENS of gift basket making! They had a nails basket, chocolate lovers basket, honey basket, movie basket, baker's basket, and basket of Liz's raw food goodies

Mmmmmm

Jill made this fun he said/she said game and people had to guess who said what.

I didn't get a picture of the moms! Fail :( they were probably clearing plates or something.

Thank you everyone who came and everyone who helped and everyone who loves and supports us! :)