{A Summer Wedding}

Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending a wedding of a sweet girl our family has known for years. I have a few pictures to share. The wedding was so sweet! What a blessing to see two kids who love each other and love the Lord get married! They had a beautiful, personal wedding--I LOVED it!

Not a great picture, but I had to show it. The mother of the bride with her son. This family has a similar age spread in their children (two older girls, one son eight years later) as our family. It's been so fun to watch them grow up! 

Sister of the bride! So beautiful~

Ring bearer---the birthday boy from this post

Here comes the bride!!! (corny, I know!)

Prayer time---this was so sweet and encouraging!

 

  sweet~

 YEA!!! Mr. & Mrs!!

PARTY TIME!!

The reception was at the home of the groom's family in a tent---yes, that's Justin and Joshua marching into the reception----they have their dancing shoes on....what a pair! 

(of kids---not shoes!)

First Dance

I'm a sucker for the father/daughter dance---LOVE!

Here are some pictures of people at the reception!

Ring bearer & Dad---who also performed the ceremony! BUT, this is really just a set up for this next one---

WHAT IS A FOUR YEAR OLD DOING LOOKING LIKE A GROWN MAN? sorry for the screaming--- but this just cracked me up---except for the fact that he's on his dad's shoulders, he looks like a grown up with his glasses in his mouth.....too funny!

I was so disappointed in this picture---the other one I took that was SO GREAT of both of them wasn't focused----ugh! BUT, aren't these two amazing looking 5th graders? Good friends!

The Cupid Shuffle---before Joshua saw me taking pictures....things changed after that! Joshua also caught the garter----AGAIN....but I wasn't there to capture the picture. I didn't make him wear it like a headband like last time! 

Mothers and sons----I was far away and using my long lens......need that external flash, no?

Amy & Donnas---LOVE these women! Cheerwine---it's the drink of choice apparently!

When the bride and groom left they had a balloon release----it reminded me of another wedding reception from not too long ago!

Annetta & Mitch after the festivities!

Thanks for coming by---I have big plans this weekend---a road trip with those two 5th graders and a Lego convention.....now THAT'S FUN! You can BET I'll have the camera out for this one!

{I love a wedding!}

As I read back through the last post I made, I think my words were: come back tomorrow and I'll have more" (pictures- I meant!) um, well, two weeks later, is what I meant! ;D Sorry!

Lindsey and Brett got married last night and it was such a fun time! Here are a few pictures from the wedding....I'll explain as I go!

We sat in the balcony with Caitlin---we didn't know that the wedding party would be coming upstairs at the end of the wedding to wait! WHAT FUN! 

Mrs. Bretton Danforth with Caitlin!!  ummm, yeah, I cut off my grandbaby in the picture--I'll work on my photography skills---

Caitlin and Carson and Eve---the little family! Brett is in the doorway in the back---parents and grandparents were still coming up the aisle!

Off to the reception and cakes by Christie Haas---OH MY GOODNESS! She's amazing! She made Caitlin's cakes--you can see them here. Anyway, this one was peanut butter with chocolate icing---hmmmmm!

This isn't a great picture of the bride's cake, but it was beautiful---and as always, it tasted delicious. If you need a cake for any occasion, let me know and I'll put you in touch with Christie---she's easy going, affordable and makes a beautiful, tasty cake---OK, commercial finished!

Brett and Lindsey's first dance!

Caitlin was supposed to be in this wedding, but when she found out that she was pregnant, she decided it would be best not to be---great idea! So, she got to attend and be a part of the festivities. Here are some pictures of Eve. She had on a sweet tutu---love those this year. 

Eve with me---bliss!

Eve with Randy--Carson's daddy

The beautiful bride with Eve~

Joshua was looking forward to the reception last night so he could burn up the dance floor again. He made his debut at Caitlin's wedding and since many of these people had been there, they just encouraged him to go crazy....so, uh, he did.....

...some fancy moves....

 

...look at the momentum on his tie!!!

Oh, and Joshua caught the garter......I told him it was a headband....yeah, he'll hate me in a few years when he figures it out---but last night it was hysterical!

And finally, Lindsey and Brett left to Sparklers---LOVE that--I don't know what is funnier....the fear on Liz and Taylor's faces or the sparkler in Carson's mouth behind them!

Thanks so much for the visit---as I've said before---it's just a little pitiful how much I enjoy your visit! ;D 

Oh and can I just say---way to go, Duke! ACC Champs----AGAIN!

{The Post-wedding Nerf War}

Among Joshua's favorite things to do in ALL OF LIFE is have a family nerf war---we have had several. The earliest ones were wrought with drama because said child and/or his team didn't clearly "win"~he's gotten better now and is better able to just have fun. It does seem that anytime we have people over---no matter the age, a nerf war inevitably ensues---some large, some small, but all intense!

This was indeed the case at our "brunch" the day after the wedding. All of our family was still in town and I had them over for a VERY informal brunch on Sunday. We were all hanging out after the food and the next thing I knew the guns were coming out and the war began. Here are some shots of the players---not everyone who was playing is pictured---that's too bad! But we do have lots of pictures of two of the Nelson cousins and Joshua. I think in years to come, this will be a highlight of the memories of the wedding--at least for Joshua!
This is a shot of Jeff---age 30, and the oldest of the first cousins---so glad to know he'll still do battle---even in his Lilly Pulitzer shorts!

Joshua getting ready for battle---Brett (Jeff's brother) looking on! Remember, Joshua takes this all very seriously!

More Jeff.....

And Brett.....notice the onlookers in the background. We ended up with almost everyone in the den watching

The brothers facing off and comparing their weapons!

.....reloading the guns.....

It has begun---again!

Brett---with my Dad in the background---he was taking pictures all weekend---that's a nice blessing!

When the vests come out, you know it's serious!

Aren't those boys so cute? (OK, I know they are men now, but they'll always be boys to me!)

Declaring victory~

.......uh, declaring victory.....too.....

Stopping for a cold beverage---look how red Joshua's face is---I'm telling you, it's intense!

So, here's what I've learned---boys, at any age, think they have won any battle they participate in. At least they don't cry and scream about it anymore---whew, well, at least they don't cry......

{The Dirty Dozen plus a few---and a splash!}

About ten years ago this month, David and I were calling our families to tell them we were expecting a baby---our Joshua (in the pink shirt above.) David's parents, aka Granny & Granddaddy were SOOOO excited. Joshua would make 12---Twelve grandkids on the Nelson side of the family. Granddaddy was especially excited and affectionately called his brood, "The Dirty Dozen". Since then, we have added two (now three) in-laws into the mix. The more the merrier. We have always tried to take a picture of any of the grandchildren whenever they are together. SO, of course, during the wedding festivities, we wanted to get some pictures of them together as well.

SOOOOOO, the rehearsal dinner seemed like the obvious place. We were having a lovely dinner---that I described in an earlier post here. We all had some of this beautiful cake:

 Isn't this cake beautiful? Caitlin and Carson truly have a heart for people around the world, so Dawn came up with this cake idea---she's so creative!

Here's the top up close---LOVE THIS! And it was a good cake, too---different flavors in the different layers!

So, we were savoring our dessert and coffee and really enjoying visiting with everyone. Things were winding down and I heard a commotion near the pool----Carson was being carried across the yard by the groomsmen---he was about to go splash!

 Carson didn't even fight it---it must be the thing that happens around Rocky Mount---at least with his friends!

Still moving~

Here he goes---I didn't get one of him going in---bummer, but......

Here he is, soaking wet---he's so sweet---look at that smile!

At least his friends took off the leather---and grabbed his keys!

I'm not sure what Joshua was doing with that stick---perhaps he was going to protect his new brother! 

Too late!!

Meanwhile back at the pavillion....the pictures were being taken---Gene was trying to round up all the Dirty Dozen for pictures---

It started out with Jeff, Emily, Sarah, and Keith

Then Heather and Andrew and Pam were added.

Then Brett, Caitlin, Hannah, Joshua, and Clayton got there---just waiting on those Hughes Springs Nelsons....

Where are those girls???

NOW---Logan and Peyton are there---and Tom Sawyer---who is that boy without his shirt? OHHHHH, it's the latest addition to the family, CARSON! This is just after the pool episode. SO, his first picture with the "Dirty Dozen" or whatever you call 15 is soaking wet and shirtless! 

And here is everyone---the Dirty Dozen and the three wonderful additions---Molly, Keith and Carson. Granny and Granddaddy would have loved this picture----I wish they had been here to enjoy this moment!