Taking Care of "Loose Ends"

We had quite a few "loose ends" to take care of today.

We began with Arielle, Nolan, Zander (Alex), Stacia and I walking over to Kid's Kingdom. It was like old times when we met up with Deja and her crew for a power play date. We had an hour to catch up and let the kids "play."  We were too busy for me to take photos.

Michael got the paperwork for JaRissa's wedding turned in to the courthouse.

Krista worked on some school work. She is preparing for two weeks of intensive classes on campus in VA.

Michael mailed the girls' rented bridesmaid dresses back to Union Station. I LOVE that Larissa chose a color, told the girls to pick a style from several options and they RENTED them.....Union Station send two sizes for the girls to try out. It was great.

Jamin and Josiah  came over and visited with Krista. When Michael was home, we all met up with Earl, Mary and Jerome at Packsaddle BBQ. Josiah has searched in vain for REAL BRISKET in Seattle. He's been taken to several places and it just isn't the same as TEXAS BRISKET. He'd been hoping to get by Packsaddle since he flew in, but didn't think it was going to happen. It was fun to make it happen for him. It was also great to relax and visit with our Colorado family.  Again - I got distracted by fun and neglected photos.

Our next "stop" was a mini-journey. We traveled an hour or so out to Doole to Larissa's family ranch. JaRissa's minivan was filled with wedding stuff and will stay with Veronica until JaRissa return from their honeymoon cruise.

JaRissa made it to CA and are on their way to Catalina
NO - I did not sneak away with them to snap photos - I stole it from Larissa's
Facebook wall - family can do that! 

ANYWAY - here are a few shots from the family ranch in Doole. Veronica had Jamin take us around on the Polaris.  We enjoyed chatting with Veronica a bit - I hope we helped paint a more realistic picture of Alaska for her. JaRissa will be moving to Alaska, where Jared has landed a job.

Original rock house

By the time we got home from Doole, it was getting late. None of us were hungry and we wanted to do something fun with our last night together. We stopped at the Fam Camp. Nolan and Alex are spending the night with the Jamin and Josiah

It has been a whirlwind trip. It's been busy, chaotic and great fun! We've missed BreZaak but it has been a true blessing to have eight of the nine Gherkins here in San Angelo. I wish we'd had an extra Sunday to visit chapel and our friends at the chapel, I wish we'd had a day to visit friends, and exchange meals......there simply hasn't been time....but we've filled every minute with purposeful family time. It's been great - not the trip we expected, but great. We won't be going on to San Antonio and Del Rio or the Grand Canyon....but it's been great.  Maybe next winter we can come south for a bit....

I'm sad as I know tomorrow will be transition day.....

Then We Partied - Wedding Reception

What can be said about wedding receptions? This one was great fun. We celebrated JaRissa, we connected with old friends, we had a lovely buffet dinner....and we just enjoyed the event tremendously.

When we arrived, Deja grabbed a photo of us.....minus Josiah and Jared

Jamin, Krista, Michael, Alex, Arielle, Stacia, Me and Nolan in the back

It didn't take long until people discovered the selfie-sticks on the tables. What a FANTASTIC idea. Larissa asked all to take photos and upload them to facebook.  The selfie-sticks were then gifts to those in the wedding party.  This means we have a lot of random photos. I will not post each one here - but I will post quite a few. LOL

Earl and Mary - Jared's Uncle and Aunt from CO

Stacia and Krista

Josiah got a kick out of Michael's interest in the selfie thing....

Yes, he went right up to the front table and took a photo. 

 One of the great things about this weekend were the FRIENDS. Stephen and Michel came down to groomsmen, Alex came from CO to attend, Larissa's Jr High Friends were in the wedding, Jerome (family) was in town and in the wedding....Team A were everywhere and so helpful, seeing Team Z is always fun to see. We didn't get to go see many, many people, but we are blessed by those we did get to see at the wedding.  It was also fun to make friends of Larissa's family. 

Nolan, Michael, Jamin, Alex

Alex was in the youth group with Jared, Arielle and Nolan  in Misawa, Japan 

First Dance

True confessions - I attended a Baptist missionary boarding school and somehow came away with the idea that dancing would send me straight to hell.  I don't know that we were TOLD that. I didn't think it would have the same results for anyone else...but it certainly would for ME.  This became a liability in the Air Force, but I avoided as many dances as possible and simply didn't dance - didn't know how and I was intimidated.  However, I was going to have to have a dance with Jared - with everyone watching. What a way to break the cycle. ::snort:: I had been telling Jared he'd need to teach me to dance, but he wasn't taking me seriously. Finally, after all the grooms picture were done this afternoon, I told him he needed to teach me how to dance before the reception. He and the groomsmen offered helpful tips and the basics of the two step....and here we are..... You need to know we have two bonafide extroverted children - Jared and Stacia. Jared and I have great fun (we've also had great clashes over the years - and I KNOW him well because he's much like me)....we should have probably been sweet and serious....but we had fun with our dance....laughing and talking and sharing a moment in the midst of the busy day.....I enjoyed it - and I didn't go to you know where....and so I kept dancing.  Had my first dance with Michael too - no we DIDN'T dance at our wedding - our church doesn't allow dancing and we used the church for the wedding.

  

Larissa and Warren's dance was sweet

Next up were toasts from Best Men and Maids of Honor

There was just a wee bit of delay caused by a stubborn cork
 

Jody and Michel led JaRissa in a shoe game....

 They each had one of their shoes and one of their spouses...questions were asked and they held up the shoe which illustrated who did what etc.....funniest was when they answered opposite (as they did here) - but they were surprisingly in agreement on most of them!

And then there was dancing.....

Elisha and Emma

These girls loved dancing with Jared

 Out in the parking lot others created their own brand of fun.... 

Roy suggested we put a couple of kids in the back and tell them to be really quiet - I wish we had. 

Blowing these up without helium or an air compressor was a challenge....

I loved this matt of the State of TX, their wedding date and then lots of space for all to sign. 

Ah - they were dancing the whole time - nothing going on in the parking lot

Phen, Jamin, Jared....

We didn't know them all - but we had fun! 

 

Deja and me - She and Michel tried to teach something about cotton and Joe

Krista and Michael 

Mary and Jerome

 The garter was attached to a football - great idea 

Larissa threw her bouquet

More dancing

Jared and Alex

Eric and Nolan 

 Be still my heart - so many memories of Josiah dancing a colicky Stacia around our living room 10 years ago. She was in heaven when he asked her to dance during the last dance.  

G's taking over the floor 

 One of my best memories of the night is when Tiffany and Warren (Larissa's Dad and Step Mom) came over to thank us for representing the older crowd on the dance floor. The CHICKEN DANCE started and we talked them into doing it with us....so much fun....bonding with Larissa's family.  I think we're Parent in laws now.

Those big letters were worth the dizziness of blowing them up

They even stayed on as they drove off

We came back inside to clean up and I wasn't overly surprised to see this - it was late and it had been a long day. This was one of the funnest wedding receptions I've attended. From start to finish it was a fantastic day.