Wedding Prep

To someone who knows actual flower arranging, I'm sure they would be horrified to learn that Bethany and I-- having ZERO experience or knowledge-- decided we were qualified to do the flowers for the wedding.  

What inspired this completely unfounded confidence?  It's very hard to say, but I believe it was a combination of poor taste and a desire to save money:)

You want boutonierres?  Yeah, I'm sure we can figure out to do that.

Flowers for days.

And weeks and months.

Enough of the flowers already.

Andrea was so good to host a bridal shower for Bethany at Plumfield downtown.  It was so lovely and all those good women were so generous in supporting Bethany.

Andrea gifted Bethany this incredible handmade quilt.  

Bethany enjoyed sharing a couple fun stories about their dating and engagement.

Then Kim (Ben's mom) and I told our part of their story of "encouraging" a first date. I love this picture of Bethany and Kim.  

   

 

We busted out my wedding dress and Bethany tried it on for fun.

This was such a fun moment at the bridal dress rental store when Bethany ran into Lily, one of her Nauvoo Performing Missionaries who just so happened to be getting married the exact same day as Bethany. A happy little reunion.

Look!  It's me third wheeling along with the happy couple on their way to take bridal photos.

They didn't do a "first look", but it was pretty sweet when he came over to get her to drive to the bridals and they saw each other in their wedding clothes.  

Overall, the wedding planning was fast and furious and everything went beautifully, just as they hoped, and it was such a relief to have it done!

 

Space Camp is So Engaging

On February 3, 2024 we all went to space camp to celebrate Abe's birthday.  When Ben and Bethany met us there, they had a surprise for us-- they had just gotten engaged!

Abe was the captain and a very good captain he was!

Peter was such a hardworking engineer!   We sort of snuck Greta in (she wasn't technically old enough), but she GOT IT!  As the science officer, she was fully engaged.  These three were adorable working together.  Clark was over operations

The love birds!  Ben was on security and Bethany was Sensors.

What a good little captain Abe is.  I am his trusty (but mostly useless) first mate.

Elinor was tactical and Faith was navigation

Cannon was over communications

So cute

We had a grand time-- and most importantly-- we accomplished the mission so we can show our faces around the Federation.

 

She Throws Like a Girl

For her last semester of high school, Faith decided to join the Track and Field team.  And I'm so glad she did!  She's been having a really great time-- enjoying meeting new friends and throwing heavy objects pretty far.

I thought it was pretty gutsy of her to join as a senior. 

She prefers javelin and discus to shotput, but she usually does all three at meets.

Ben did some throwing in high school as well and it was so cute of him (and Abe) to go support Faith at this meet.  If you thought swim meets were long.... they don't hold a candle to the length of track meets!

Shotput

A close-up of the discus.

Faith and Ruthie are twinner throwers.

I love this picture of Bethany and Faith at another meet.

 At the parents meeting at the start of the season the coach explained that the varsity team went to different meets than JV and a select few would be invited to a meet down in St. George.  Faith leaned over to me and said, "I WILL go to that meet."  Sure enough, she did well enough right off the bat, that she did indeed go to that meet.

Spring Has Sprung and the Tulip Festival 2024

Peter made a case for a new bike for an early birthday present. 

Saturday was a day of yard work and the reward a bike ride to the local grocery store.

Faith and her daffodils.  These bulbs were already planted when we moved into our home 17 years ago.  That a lot of mileage from those little bulbs.

We had such an enjoyable evening this past Sunday-- Talitha and James, Tibbs, Clark, Chloe, Gentri, and Priscilla, We roasted hotdogs and made smores and laughed our guts out during a rousing session of Campfire Confessions.

This was the moment Gentri shared a confession that involved Elinor and an impersonation and we were dying!
 Unfortunately, I cannot share any details.  As per the rules of campfire confessions, what happens at the campfire stays at the campfire.

A lovely day at the Tulip Festival. We missed Elinor and Clark, who were working (LAME!) and Faith had a track meet. 

In the Secret Garden

Is there anything more stunning than rows and rows of tulips?  I love it!

I like Cannon's photobomb

The Italian Garden wasn't quite in full bloom yet.

Ben caught some air rolling down the favorite rolling hill