Reception #2. Ben & Rachel. Bozeman, Montana

We were able to make a quick trip up to Bozeman for Ben and Rachel's reception.  The trip itself should have only taken about 5 1/2 - 6 hours, but with some snow, ice and a 2 HOUR standstill because of an accident in the mountain pass we got there at about 1:30 in the morning!  So much for leaving work early to try and get there at a decent hour!

We love staying with my cousins Abe and Sarah and Brady and Olivia love playing with their kiddos, Natalia and Jacobi.  Thanks so much for having us guys!!!

My Aunt Donna did a really nice job of hosting the reception at the Triple Tree Owner's Clubhouse.  My Aunt Brenda and cousin Elene were her right hand women for the decorating, cooking and execution.  It was beautiful and I wish that I had taken more pictures!

I finally got to hold my adorable new cousin, Rajon who we had met briefly at the wedding. 

He is so sweet!

Cousins Arison and Sarah...

and their two men...

Abe and Rad

(Arison and Abe are my cousins, brother and sister. 

Abe is married to Sarah and Arison is married to Rad)

Two beautiful chicas:  cousins Ana and Ashley

(married to my cousins Alden (popping his head up in the background) and Alonzo)

Crazy Uncle Mike and Rad steal my camera for a quick snapshot!

Alonzo and Ashley

Cute family of three

And our cute family of four!!!

Poor Miss Olivia had hives...her face was all red and blotchy.  She got hives the last time she was in Montana too so I joked that she is either allergic to Montana or my family!

Chris had the BEST DAY EVER on Saturday.  Abe took him on a ride along for the afternoon in his Police cruiser.  They saw some action, had a high speed chase and Chris even got to witness an interrogation!

Sarah and I hung out with the kiddos, made some appetizers for the reception and had some girl talk.  I also took the kids to meet Aunt Linda and Uncle John, since Uncle John wouldn't be able to come to the reception.  It was a great visit, and although a fast trip it was so worth being with family!

New Years Eve. Ice Skating.

On New Years Eve Day we took the kids into the town of Falmouth for some good old fashioned ice skating!  As a kid I grew up skating on ponds in our neighborhood all winter long so I wanted to make sure that my kids got this experience too.  This was the first time ice skating for Olivia and Brady's second time, as I had taken him this past summer in Sun Valley.  Olivia was very hesitant at first, but once Grammie found a good way to hold onto her (a scarf tied around her waist) she loved making her rounds (slowly, but surely!)

Brady didn't want any one's help and wanted to "do it all himself."  He gripped onto the railing the whole way around!  It was so cute!  We all had fun, sore ankles, toes and all!

Family Luncheon

Right after the wedding we went out for a nice luncheon/dinner before heading home.  The Woodsides joined our family and others would have too if it hadn't been for catching airplanes and getting home to small children!

As you can see we got a little silly while waiting for our food and had fun playing with the camera!

  

These were the "look handsome"poses!

Brady copying Uncle Bryce while Bryce was telling a funny joke

Mom, with her "other son," Ross

Ross and Mattie

AND...the MEAL WORTH WAITING FOR!!!

Teriyaki steak tips, seared scallops and herbed rice pilaf!!

Wedding #2. Andrew & Alison.

We got down to the temple just in time for the sealing (thanks to some road construction).  It was a beautiful ceremony and I am SO GRATEFUL to have been able to be there.  Andrew is my baby brother and I love him so much!  I've always had a really strong relationship with him that has only grown as we've both become adults and watched each other mature and grow.  It meant everything for Chris and I to be a part of this day for him and Alison.

Once they came out of the temple we took a lot of family pictures (coming soon!) and then said our goodbyes as they went back inside to change and leave on their honeymoon.  I didn't get any pictures of them actually coming out of the temple (which I regret) because we were all following them out of the temple!  Hopefully the photographer got one.  I didn't get a picture of just the two of them either because we were all freezing and letting the photographer do what she needed to do.  So, I just took some pictures of people on the "sidelines."

Proud Parents

Bryce and Shelby came down with us to the temple and watched the kiddos while we were in the sealing ceremony.  It was so nice to be all together there and I'm glad that Shelby and the kids were able to see the temple for the first time!

The "Other Sisters"

It's funny because I grew up as friends in the stake with Alison's sister, Anna and I also knew her sister Leah so it was fun spending time with them and loving the fact that we're now all family!  She comes from a family of 12 kids!  Here are all of the sisters (and mom):  Jenna, Tera, Anna, Miriam (mom), Leah and Colleen

Andrews' "Second Family"

The Woodsides

Ever since my family moved back to Maine Andrew has been buddies with Ross, and younger brother Lee (on his mission).  Mattie has grown up as another one of Andrew's sisters and Bob and Terry are like his parents, he has spent so much time and eaten so much food there!

And with a click of her heels off they go!

Reception. Celebrating the union of Andrew and Alison.

Andrew and Alison did their reception a little differently buyy having it the night before their wedding.  It ended up being such a great idea because they got to enjoy their wedding day more and leave with eachother after being married!!!  It was such a beautiful reception, put on by Alison's mom, all of her sisters, and my mom (I helped a little too!!!)  There will be many more pictures to come, and I apologize for the quality of these pictures, but this is the best I could do with my camera and the low lighting.

 

Alison was stunning in her dress and my brother was more handsome than ever! 

These are her parents, Jim and Miriam Conners.

The reception had an array of desserts, veggies, fruit, cheese and crackers. 

The kids loved feeling "grown-up" in their suit and dress, eating at the big tables!

The head table with Andrew and Alison, flanked by parents on the sides.  The backdrop was all live evergreens with white lights and hanging snowflakes and snowballs.  It really transformed the entire room.

The future bride and groom each stood and said thank yous and then Alison's brother, Spencer and a friend, Cody sang while Bryce played guitar for the couple.  This kicked off the dancing for the evening.

First Dance

Mother and Son

They danced after Alison danced with her dad.

Then they opened up the dancing for everyone and I actually got out on the dance floor with my little bro.  It had been more than eight years since I last danced, but I couldn't let the opportunity go by!

Daddy Daughter Dancing

...and Grandpa/Granddaughter Dancing!

Bryce and Shelby sat on the sidelines...until he got her out on the dance floor long enough for a slow song! 

 

And while some of us may be shy when it comes to strutting our stuff on the dance floor...

....others of us feel comfortable and love the attention! 

Yes that fellow is my husband, having a great old time, and I danced with him too! 

It was really fun!

 

 Everyone loved the dancing and had a great time. 

It was a fun night for everyone, even those of us who did more watching than dancing!

This is Elle and Jim, our neighbors from when we lived in Saco. 

It was so nice to see them again and fun to watch them having such a good time.

Uncle Dana and Aunt Paula were able to be there, as well as Aunt Teresa, Grammie and Grandpa Morgan, Aunt Kathy, cousins Crystal and Luke and second cousins Logan and Ethan.   

Uncle Dana is the oldest of my dad's siblings and Teresa is the youngest.

Dad and Aunt Teresa swing dancing and having a blast, just like they used to do when they were teenagers!

I had to get a dance in with my brother Bryce! 

I think the last time we danced together was at his first youth dance when he was 14!!!

Olivia and Brady were so adorable!  They kicked off their shoes (and Brady took of his suit coat, tie and button-down shirt) and they got right out on the dance floor too!  Brady danced the whole night away, right up until the end of the reception at 11:00 p.m.!!!!