Always have a back up

Abby and her dad.
Me and daughter #1
Chloe thinks she needs a touch up on the blush too
My little girlfriend #2
When they thought no one was watching..............

Some wedding shots

It was worth it for them to drag out to this little spot that Glen had found. The temperature was close to 100 degrees, but they were troopers. Especially poor Katie, who's expecting next month! From left to right.....Tommy, Amy, Eric, Brianne, Steve, Joe, Abby, Steve, Katie, Jim, Lindsay, and Aaron.

Love this shot. Garry did a wonderful job and even congratulated me on staying away and giving him free reign. It was hard, but I knew Lindsay would be bossy in my place - which she apparently did - LOL!
more coming next post.............

Wedding pics - part two

One of my very favorites. Look how happy they are at the end of the ceremony, surrounded by family and friends.
Wil doesn't know what all this fuss is about. Aren't the girls as cute as can be?
with this ring..............
Wil has to check out what is so fasinating in that big mirror.
Little Lauren had the hang of the bubble thing.

So, there you have it. A first glimpse of the wedding that began with a proposal last Christmas.
May they live happily ever after.

My Sister

Today is my sister's birthday.

She doesn't like computers, but maybe if I tell her

that I've sent her a cyber-card she will look.

Doubtful, but maybe.

I took this shot of her the other day when she was here

reading this story to Chloe.

Happy Birthday Sis!

love you,

p.

The right way to spend a Sunday afternoon

Look at the gorgeous day we had to take in a ball game.
Of course, sitting in a luxury suite with catered food, air conditioning, private bathroom, and people we want to sit with makes it all the nicer. Check out my Chocolate Mousse covered with a dark chocolate panache on the base of a chocolate chip cookie. Mmmmmmm!
Generation X. Ron, Tim, me, Glen, and Karen.
We even had a surprise visit by one of the players! LOL!
Thanks to Ron, Karen, and Landco for a most relaxing, fun day.
love,
pam

Wedding - A funny tale

The old pro......this is his third time in a tux. Isn't this a picture that makes you say "Awww"?
We were both all thumbs. He wore his coat of arms and a lapel pin from each of his grandfathers. They would have been busting their buttons over this boy. A very calm bride, with Amy and Chloe, at the rehersal dinner.

That dinner turned out to be the calm before the storm.

I swear, I was waiting for the candid camera people to pop out after the wedding ceremony.
To begin we were all late due to a traffic accident on the way to the church.
On the other side of the river, the florist was in stand-still traffic while a three-foot pothole was being repaired, basically shutting down the highway for 18 miles. We had to have the State Highway Patrol get her through. Needless to say, it was a horrible experience for her (she has stated that this will be her LAST wedding) and I didn't think we'd ever calm her down once she got there. So the wedding was only delayed by five or ten minutes. No big deal.
That was nothing.
The groom had to be given a glass of milk to avoid a drop in his sugar level, which makes him drop to the floor.
The bride had to wear a borrowed slip so her unmentionables wouldn't show through.
It really didn't matter. She was absolutely stunning! She looked so beautiful that I knew she'd take my son's breath away the moment he saw her.
The grandmas left "fairy dust" all over the church and everyone that they hugged, from the glitter on their fancy dresses. (They were a couple of knock-outs! Wait til you see the pics!)
Peyton was horsing around with the groomsmen before the ceremony and broke his hand. After a brief discussion as to an er visit being delayed until after the ceremony and wiping away the tears he bravely walked down the aisle with an ice bag under the ring pillow.
Amy's bridesmaid skirt was too big after her dieting apparently worked. The only safety pin in the place was the one holding my cleavage together. So the choice was either Amy's underwear top showing or my cleavage. Guess who won that one?
Lindsay had five fractured ribs and was having trouble breathing.

That was all BEFORE the ceremony.

Glen and I finally got down the aisle, sat in our seats, and watched as Tommy began to pull the ailse runner down. S T U C K. It wouldn't unroll. After a look of plea sent to Uncle Glen he got up to help Tommy shake the ailse runner all the way down.

I guess all of this was the answer to my prayers that I wouldn't make a fool of myself by crying throughout the ceremony. Actually, Glen and I couldn't stop giggling over the insanity of it all.
God does work in mysterious ways.

The bride and groom got over their case of nerves once they were able to hold hands at the alter. The ceremony turned out to be very beautiful (fabulous pastor). Abby's aunt played the piano absolutely lovely. As for the flowers? I will never be able to look at a hot pink gerbra daisy again without laughing.

Joey and Abby - if you are reading this now I hope you are having a wonderful honeymoon. We miss you both!
love, mom

A passing rainstorm

"Rain, rain go away
come again on a school day,"
chanted P & C.
They were having the best time
swimming at Uncle Joey & Aunt Abby's
when a rainstorm came out of nowhere.
Standing at the door, dripping wet,
they waited impatiently for the
summer storm to pass.
I think my little lephrechauns
wished it away!
Afterall, when we went
back outside there was a
rainbow.

No Reservations

This idea came to me from the movie, "No Reservations".
If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend that you do.
Great movie.

Look at this happy little girl on her last day of kindergarten.
Mom has been a real trooper, running here and there with me getting ready for the wedding.

Great Uncle Glen thinks this little angel should be on a commercial.

I have to say, I agree. Would you believe that I went through over 30 shots to find this?

Grace Isabella is MOBILE now and curious as can be.

THREE DAYS and counting down!

Along the byway

While recently on the road
I couldn't help but stop
to take a shot of this sign.
BTW - even covered in chocolate
I still would never eat worms.

counting down.........FOUR DAYS!

Getting ready for the big day

Grace is practicing her table manners.................
Chloe is trying out different hair styles.............
while Peyton is working on "Here Comes the Bride".

They are so excited about Uncle Joe and Aunt Abby's wedding!
(and so is their grandma pam)

I also want to send best wishes to all of our young men and women preparing to start college next week. Good luck to all of you!
Keegan, Bradley, Courtney, Sara, Alex, Brennon and to our little Katie, who will be starting high school. Good luck and enjoy this time in your lives.

love
p

Happy

Doesn't this just look like happy?
We had been to Abby's shower hosted by the lovely ladies in her hometown,
and decided to stop and smell the sunflowers on the ride home.

I think the one of Chloe with her arms around her great-grandmothers is my favorite shot of the year so far. It just oozes with the love they share for each other.

Countdown to wedding...................TEN DAYS!
So excited, can hardly wait!

Showered with love

A few shots from a couple of showers for the bride-to-be.

The cake Lindsay had made for one of them was this beautiful jewel box - to complete her theme "Diamonds are a girl's best friend".

The shower given in Abby's hometown made US feel like the guests of honor with our front row seats. They have a tradition of giving each bride a heart-shaped net pouch to stuff all of the bows from the gifts into. Abby's mom whispered to me that she still has hers.

Overkill Part Deux

I must say I love my Red Boots shot, but I guess it is getting old.

Recap:

Peyton turned EIGHT this summer. Can you believe it? His mom says "Eight came with an attitude" LOL!

The doggy shot is funny. That day I took Peyton and Chloe to Build A Bear, where they came out like little bandits. Not only did they each build a dog, the dogs had to have a baby pup, leashes, dog bowls w/place mats, grooming kits and fur-lined beds. My Ma Re dvd arrived in the mail that day, so I popped it in and was watching while the kids were playing with their booty of the day. Next thing I know, Peyton asks me if he can get my camera. He was paying attention to the dvd and started shooting away. Too funny! He even sat with his knee propped up to use as a tripod because, like his grandma, he doesn't care for flash in low light.

ABBY - you cannot read this part ------ PROMISE ME YOU WILL STOP HERE!

Okay, now that she's gone......Chloe and I were up until ONE A.M. (she's on cycle break) washing all the pink and green Luray dishes that I had, and some that I had to go borrow from my pal, Sandy (we've both been collecting these vintage dishes for years until Martha Stewart had them in her mag - they are now hard to find and the price soared). As I was watching Chloe with bubbles to her elbows, I remembered what Ma Re said "capture the moment" and I grabbed my camera for this shot. I will print it for her and write the story about how we stayed up late one night washing those dishes for Abby's bridal shower, laughing and telling stories. Someday maybe she will be washing those dishes for a special celebration of her own and remember this night.

Me and my #1 buddy.....at Stephanie's wedding. Which one of my kids took this I don't know, but none of them were in any shape that night to be holding my camera. The culprit won't confess. Regardless, just wanted those who care know that I'm here and I truly am blessed to have such wonderful friends and family that actually look at all this nonsense.

love to you

p

Overkill

I have been away for TOO LONG!

Friends and family are calling to see if everything is okay.

Yes, things are okay.....just extremely busy with work, wedding plans, summer, and all that stuff.

This first batch is my nephews playing baseball. They are REALLY good and I enjoy going to their games every time I get a chance. Sweet baby Grace is their number one fan. Isn't she getting big? Love her to pieces!!!!!

Then when you are done with mine, go check out my idol, Me Ra Koh. Just got her newest DVD, "Refuse to say Cheese", and cannot put my camera down (when I can get it away from Peyton). She is fabulous with a capital "F"!!!!!!

More pics coming.......sorry for the yawn.

p.

red

If your gonna wear cowgirl boots

they outta be red.

All-Male Road Trip

While trying to figure out if the camera was turned on, he got a pretty cool self-portrait.
Walking the line on sacred ground...in baseball cleats.
This is the stuff dreams are made of.

Give 3 men and one teenage boy

passes to the Master's practice round,

a vehicle and mapquest to get there,

a simple-to-operate digital camera,

a few bucks for burgers and souveniers

and they have a road trip to

store in their memory banks

for years to come.

Glad you got to go,

glad you had a great time,

glad you are back home.