Michigan: Part I - Dawn & Rob

My cousin, Dawn, married Rob...that event is what spurred this trip on. and it's amazing the things we can come up with to keep ourselves busy and fill our time.

L to R: Jennifer, who is married to my cousin, Scott, who just happens to be Dawn's younger bro. Becky and I. We love to implement others into our self portraits. :)

L to R: Molly thinks she's Tarzan here. wow. Sara, who belongs to my cousin, Rhonda, who you will see below. Piper...my adorable niecey. cute little ladies.

wouldn't be a wedding without all that smooching.

L to R: Me, Dawnie, Rhonda, and Beck.

The wedding party.

NickNat Nuptials Part II: Breathtakingly Joyful Bride...

Brittany, Keeley, Emily, and Emilie...

Nick's looking a little bit teary...are those glisteny cheeks? yes, I do believe they are....awww. and I know the names of Ben, his bro and best man on the left and Nathan next to him...I managed to forget the other guys' names. but I didn't actually meet them so I'm forgiven.

Levi wanted to hug the left side and Brittany, the co-coordinator, encouraged him to keep his head UP...so this is pretty good for him...I was so proud of our little ringbearer. And he actually had the real rings on his pillow. Trusty folks.

Rachel and Lauren

sniff sniff....is there ever a moment more glorious? and can we see why Christ refers to us, those that believe, as His Bride?

still so funny to me that my mother in law was pregnant with this chick at our wedding nearly 16 years ago. I think Em was a little torn to see her sis gettin' married.

Levi did a really good job walking up to the stage with the rings at the appropriate time. When he got there, he made sure to do a double take to search the crowd for my parents....and why not, with that birdseye view? It was almost as cute as Nat twirling willy nilly at our nuptials so long ago.

This is while "All I Ask of You" was being sung...and Nat must've been in the middle of a great story...she is so expressive when she speaks. Nick's expression is priceless because the love for her is so apparent...

Ok, I know this is Emily (a different one) and the youth pastor of Calvary...but I didn't catch his name. so, my bad...but they sang the song mentioned above. excellent!

The rings....

um, these are out of order. dang it. above, obviously the walk down the aisle as man and wife....and below, I now pronounce you....and you may now kiss the bride....

Molly did very well and thankfully, the ceremony was not long! I think she is maybe trying to poke her own eyes out here...

NickNat Nuptials Part I (and a cute li'l ring "bear")

someone was taking their job verrrry seriously. (notice the pretend pillow....)

Listening to Mrs. T's (the wedding coordinator) organized instruction!

Why the long face??

These pictures pretty much speak for themselves...the rehearsal was the start of a very nice Nick & Nat weekend...

Natalie, you have grown into such an amazing young woman...I'm honored to know you. I also wish I had gotten over myself enough to enjoy you more when you were a little one, peering into our ONE basement apartment window...Needless to say, David and I are so happy for you and Nick...you are a cool couple!

Just a few more "us" shots and then I'm done

still wet behind the ears engagement pic...we had noooooo idea what to expect (I didn't anyway...this is where gushy, movie-lie feelings of "first love" wear off)
Cake shoving!! I love my hair. not so much.
While I love this pic of us getting pegged with birdseed, I love Natalie's expression (in lower right corner) even more
Married for one week...downtown Indpls!
At my sissy's wedding, 2003...10 years and 2 days after ours...
O to be young again ! Not really. I really just want my 20-year old waist back. I have enjoyed our journey. It's been mostly fun...definitely a learning experience!
I will not bore you with anymore thru the years pix of us...I have definitely left the more frumpalicious ones out...and there gobs of those! :)
Up next, pix of Molly with her first Christmas tree! She sat in her Bumbo seat so well tonight...watched some Blue's Clues with Levi...got fussy so I took her out to prep her for bed and she had poo smeared right up her back. Needless to say, she got a nice warm bath before she hit the hay. It was so cute though because when I pulled her poop-encrusted shirt off, I had to do it in such a way that it was kinda rough and she giggled like I've never heard her giggle..she thought we were playing. She's my chubby dolly (thanks for the cute nickname, Brittany). She is so darn sweet and good natured, like her big sis Mel was, and still is! I am so blessed with nice, cool, caring, cute, fun kids. I want to bottle up these stages of each of their lives! awww, man. I'm getting all choked up.
Ok, well, I will post the pix of her and the tree Tuesday daytime...I've gotta either hit the hay or watch a movie with my studmuffin, who just got home from work at 12:15 a.m. Happy Anniversary, Schweetheart! You're a Gift from God!