Monday, October 20, 2014

THE WEDDING WEEK-END


It's late Monday afternoon and we've been home about an hour.  Whew, I am NOT going to lie, it was a L O N G week-end!  lol  Soo packed with activities and people and events that it might take me a while to re-group and get back to normal.  I feel like we've been gone a good month, haha.  I am definitely tired and I should probably wait to write this post until I am not, but I have a lot going on the rest of the week too, so I have decided to press on.  I will just try and tell the stories without going into my usual LONG explanations.  lol

It started early Friday morning.  We had to pick up the car (that Melody and her little family would use while they were here), from Mike's grandma, who keeps an extra one just for this purpose.  We also helped her load her things into her car and then caravan style we headed down to Temecula and to the private airport to pick up our travelers.  Let me just start with this...WHAT a way to travel! Mike's dad rented a private jet for the trip, and honestly I have this horrible feeling after traveling this way, going back to commercial flights might be difficult, lol.  There are usually NO direct flights out of their little town, and they have to start their travels by driving almost 2 and half hours to the airport, which of course you have to be at an hour early to get through security. Then there is ALWAYS at least a 2 to 3 hour lay over in Vegas, and then they finally arrive in Ontario an hour or so after that. So by the time we get their luggage and get back here to the house, it is almost an entire day of traveling!  And with two little ones it is NOT easy.  In comparison, they jumped on the jet RIGHT in their little town, flew straight to Temecula, and 3 hours later they were here.  Sam LOVED the whole experience, and got to actually spend part of the flight in the co-pilots seat, feeling he was FLYING the plane himself.  (and if you ask him...he was, lol).  Let me show you a few quick pictures here...

THERE IT IS...THE SMALL LITTLE AIRPORT WAS SOOO NICE TOO AS WE SAW THE PLANE LAND AND TAXI AROUND AND THEN WE SIMPLY WALKED OUT TO GREET THEM AS THEY GOT OFF...

SAM CRAWLING DOWN, LOL

HE SHOWED US THE PILOTS SEAT!

HE'S FLYING EVERYWHERE IN HIS LITTLE MIND, LOL

SETTLING IN HIS SEAT

MIKE AND HIS DAD AND THE BOYS...NOT SURE WHERE MELODY WAS, LOL

We ate breakfast/lunch at the cafe in the airport (great food!) and then drove out to the house that his dad had rented for the week-end.  It wasn't only for all of us, but also for a few others in the wedding and attending as well.  I think at our peak we had 21 people staying there.  Some were only there one night, some two, and some of course all 3 nights.  Now I have to tell you about this house, though for some reason I took NO pictures.  I was soo busy from the time I entered the house until we left, usually with my arms full of one of the babies, it just never happened.  So I guess you will just have to let me TRY and describe it.  It was HUGE!  lol  and GORGEOUS, and UNBELIEVABLE.  It was 11,000 square ft.  I got lost more then once, lol.  Not really. but you could have.  There were 8 bedrooms, all with private baths, and a HUGE HUGE patio area that was beautifully landscaped with a gigantic pool complete with a waterfall.  We felt like we had stepped into another world.  I honestly couldn't tell you enough about it if I tried as I would be sure to leave something out.  It was sooo pretty.  Shortly after we got there they left us with the baby and hurried off to the wedding rehearsal. The baby napped, and we relaxed as bit in our luxurious surroundings.  They got back a couple hours later, the baby got up and we hung out for a while visiting until they all then left for wedding rehearsal dinner.  They left both boys with us for that and we fed them, played with them, and finally got them into to bed.  They did amazingly well for being as young as they are...soo far away from anything familiar, and mom and dad gone.  Sam kept asking me, "Grandma, when are we going to YOUR house?  I just want to go there..."  It was soo sweet.  We slept like babies and woke up the next morning to find out some others had arrived that night while we slept.  Sat. morning was a whirl wind of making breakfast, chasing babies, visiting with others, and just hanging out until it was time to go to the house where the bride was staying for a barbeque.  But as soon as the boys went down for naps, hubby and I took off and drove the rest of the way into San Diego to attend our grandson JD's championship flag football game.  They got to play on a high school field complete with an announcer, and finished up the game with a tie.  What a FUN game.  JD was definitely the star of the game...and this was not just this grandma's humble opinion, lol.  He was just soo good.  What a future he has in front of him in this sport.  Then, we quickly left and drove back to the barbeque.  (I am not going to pretend I wasn't slowing down at this point, lol, I was soo tired!).  The barbeque was soo good, and honestly I wished I had taken a picture of the view you had from the gorgeous swimming pool in the backyard, but I just kind of laid relaxing in a chair doing not much of anything at all but chatting. Grandpa chased after Luke, lol.  This was the night that all 21 people were at the house so the rest of the night is almost kind of a blur.  People coming, going, babies crying and being cute, confusion and yet calm, it was an action packed night.  And then...it was finally Sunday morning, the day of the wedding.  Melody left early to go and get ready with the bride and the rest of the bridesmaids.  Mike did the same with the groom, and Grandpa and I worked the boys.  They did sooo well!  They played and ran around all morning, ate a good lunch, and then went down easily for naps.  Luke slept 3 hours!  And Sam over 2.  When they got up we didn't have much time to get them into their tuxes and fix their hair, get ourselves ready (did this while they slept!) and get over to the wedding site.  My son James (who was the one marrying them) and his wife had arrived at this point and they helped us get those boys ready and belted into their car seats and we were off.  OF COURSE everything was running a little behind at the wedding so we kept the boys happy until it was finally time.  It was  GORGEOUS wedding.  Spectacular views, breath taking flowers, gorgeous bridesmaids, and a bride who radiated joy.  Little Sam as the ring bearer was more then I could stand.  He did sooo well.  And at just turning 3 this could have gone either way, lol.  But he walked proudly up that aisle with the darling little flower girl and stood at the front by his daddy through the whole ceremony!  The ceremony itself was perfect.  Soo good.  And Luke was in the back as good as gold with grandpa who kept him quiet with a totsie pop, lol.  Lots and lots of pictures and then onto the reception.  Again, NO pictures.  But take my word for it the whole thing was just gorgeous.  Soo perfect down to the tinest of details.  The food was good, the cupcakes were to die for, and again, the boys were soo good.  There was dancing (which the boys loved!) and lots and lots of fun.  We left before it was over (though we made it until almost 9!) and Melody came with us and we got those boys back home and into bed.  We did have a couple of melt downs after we got back to the house, lol, which made me glad Melody had decided to leave early and come home too.  We tumbled into bed utterly exhausted, and slept in kind of late (for me anyway, it was 7:30!) and showered and dressed, packed up, went to breakfast, and took them back to the airport.  We watched them fly off and we drove away soo pleased with our week-end, but REALLY REALLY tired.  We did stop and pick up a couple of my quilts. but I will tell you about that later.  Let me show you the pictures I did manage (somehow!) to get.  It wasn't easy, and honestly I am lucky there were any at all, lol.  Oh, and they are all from one of our phones, so not as good as they could have been with a good camera either, but oh well.


MELODY RIGHT AFTER THE HAIR STYLIST AND MAKE UP ARTIST FINISHED WITH HER
LOVED HER HAIR!

SUCH A FUN DAY FOR ALL OF THE GIRLS!



THE GORGEOUS BRIDE 

THE BRIDE (MELODY'S SISTER IN LAW) AND MELODY


GRANDMA'S LITTLE SWEETIES AS THEY WERE WAITING FOR THE WEDDING TO START


AND HERE HE COMES...I AM SURE THE PROFESSIONAL PICTURES WILL BE MUCH BETTER, BUT CONSIDERING THE SUN WAS RIGHT IN MY EYES I THOUGHT THIS WAS PRETTY GOOD!  LOL

ANOTHER SHOT...HOW ADORABLE ARE THEY?  THE LITTLE FLOWER GIRLS DRESS WAS SOOO PRETTY!

EXCHANGING THEIR VOWS...BEAUTIFUL VINEYARD IN THE BACKGROUND

EXCHANGING THE RINGS





STOLE ONE OF THE PROFESSIONALS, LOL
LOVED THE COLORS AND THE DRESSES....AND THE FLOWER GIRLS DRESS WAS BEYOND PRECIOUS!




MIKE AND MEL COMING UP THE AISLE.  MELODY HATES THIS PIC AS SHE SAYS SHE HAS A DUMB LOOK ON HER FACE, LOL, BUT THE SUN WAS SOO BRIGHT YOU CAN HARDLY SEE THEM ANYWAY, LOL

LITTLE LUKEY WITH THE FLOWER GIRL TOO....HE WAS ADORABLE WITH HER!



HERE COMES THE BRIDE!

TAKEN IN THE VINEYARDS...SOO PRETTY!



WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS WAS THE ONLY PICTURE I TOOK AT THE RECEPTION, AND IT ISN'T VERY GOOD.  THIS IS MY SON JAMES AND MELODY OF COURSE WITH LITTLE LUKE WHO WAS HARD PRESSED TO BE ENTERTAINED AS WE WAITED FOR CAKE, LOL


All in all it was a wonderful week-end experiencing one of life's best moments.  Joy, laughter, love, and fun were just what it was all about.  I wish them all the happiness in the world!

My computer didn't work there, (though I had almost NO time anyway!) so I am WAY behind on my blogging, but I will be around hopefully soon.  Hope all is well with everyone, and blessings to you all!  Debbie

17 comments:

  1. Looks like a beautiful wedding! Melody is stunning! Nthe boys were so cute!!!
    Fun!
    Xo Kris

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  2. What a weekend! We'll be out of town this coming weekend for a wedding, and I'm sure it'll pale in comparison to yours. ;-) Hopefully you'll be able to rest up a little this week ... and share pictures of your finished quilts, too!

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  3. Debbie, If you slept all week, I wouldn't blame you-what a busy time for you. Where to begin-well firstly, they flew in a private jet-I've never even flown first class, but how nice for them not to have to go through all the delays etc at the airport. Then a beautiful home to rent, how fun. Melody and her sister in law look like they could be sisters. Mel is so beautiful, so was the bride. Loved Sam with the flower girl. Hope you have a blessed day my friend.
    Hugs, Noreen

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  4. What a absolutely wonderful weekend. The bride is stunning as well as your Mel. The children looked so cute. Sounds like a beautiful way to travel and be with the family.

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  5. Wow that is just an amazing weekend. How nice that Melody's Father in law rented that plane and that house. Gosh, it sounded like you were on an exotic vacation. That vineyard is just perfect. The bride is so pretty.
    I bet you were tired. The kids look wonderful. I hope you have time to rest this week.

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  6. The wedding was gorgeous and everyone looked beautiful!
    The g'sons were so cute in there fancy pants. Love little Luke's hair all slicked back!

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  12. Looks like it was an absolutely beautiful wedding. Loved the backdrop of the vineyards and the mountains...stunning!

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  13. All I can say is wow! It looked like an amazing setting for a wedding and how fun for you. I must add that I've never seen a photo of your Melody that was bad. She is beautiful and photographs beautifully. What an experience!

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

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  14. What??! Melody and her sister in law look like twins! Such beautiful girls all. Lovely family photos. Those two little ones are just adorable. It looks like a spectacular day. I haven't been to San Diego for years. I loved it there. I think it's time for a vacation - maybe in February - to escape the cold here.

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  15. Oh, my goodness, I was tired just after reading about all the fun and excitement of this past weekend. Melody is just gorgeous and how wonderful that they got to fly a private jet. That's the way to go for sure! I hope you have gotten to recover and back up to speed. Blessings!

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  16. Such a fun post to read! A beautiful wedding all around! Gosh, that private plane would have me spoiled, too, I am sure. John and I have chuckled over Sam thinking he flew'er in! LOL!

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  17. A private jet, wow that is awesome! We are about 20 minutes from Ontario airport. Yes that was definitely the best way for them to travel but it must have been costly.

    That was a huge house he rented. You even drove to San Diego. Wow I'm impressed!

    The pictures are so wonderful. The bride is beautiful along with everyone else and the kids are so precious. What a beautiful setting. Love the color of the girls dresses. Love the photo in the vineyard!!!

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!