The rehearsal supper

After spending the afternoon sightseeing around the city, we spent a lovely evening at the rehearsal dinner honoring Mollie and Aaron. A fun time was had by all, a few speeches were made and Dale didn't cry. It was the biggest news of the night in our state's capital. And yes I did just go look it up and make sure I was using the correct capital...not capitol. Also I remember ordering the chicken because the steak and shrimp seemed a little too risky for me. Then when the delicious steak and shrimp showed up in the form of Lindsey's supper, she shared not one bite with me. I shall never forget it. Also during the event, someone, via phone call, tried to set Whitney up on a blind date. It was such bad timing. The things my brain chooses to remember is a mystery wrapped inside an enigma. 

I'll stop now so we can look at the pictures...

Mollie and Aaron.

I don't know how this photo made it into the bridal luncheon post, but once I discovered it, it was moved to its rightful place.

Old dudes.

Mollie and her almost sister in law. Again this photo was in the lunch pics. Don't know how I missed it. It's home now.

Bill and Austin seemed happy with their cocktails. 

Old marrieds.

Newer marrieds.

Gmaw with her grandsons. 

Good looking group of guys.

And one more of the almost married couple being celebrated. 

Pretty table decorations.

The cool table.

I guess they can be the cool table too.

All I wanted was one good picture of my family. This isn't it. If only John had gotten the "make sure you lick your lips simultaneously memo." I mean really. AND BOOM! I struggle spelling definitely, but just NAILED simultaneously without a hitch. 

Then we had a regroup and a do over and this one sufficed for the ages. 

The other thing I remember about this night was leaving with John and Owen, and we got lost on the way back to our hotel and just happened to pass the place where the two of them had eaten that afternoon. They proceeded to tell me that when they walked in, the place was deserted except for one waiter who happened to be sitting at a table with his head down. It was only after they made some noise that he looked up and saw them and seated them at a table. Ummm no. I'd have taken that opportunity to do an about face and exit as quickly as possible! I refuse to have to awaken the wait staff when I enter an establishment. But the two of them didn't care and instead thought it amusing. They will eat almost anywhere. And that's not a compliment. As long as it's any Mongolian/Chinese/Greek/food full of spices and maybe goat/anything but American restaurant they happen upon. No. No. No. It's just too crazy to think about.

So I won't anymore for today. 

OMG it's 2:15!

I'm out like a prowling tom cat.

They say when you marry in June, you're a bride all your life.

At least that's what the song from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers says. Not sure what that even means, or if anyone would want to be a bride all her life. 

But if we're keeping score in our family, June has the most weddings so far with three. The most recent addition of course being Mollie and Aaron. As we all know our family loves a destination wedding so this past June, we all giddy yupped and headed to Baton Rouge for a weekend of fun, festivities and a little sight seeing. There were many avenues traveled by all the participants, but only one singular goal to achieve, get to the stick red before Sunday, June 22, 2014. 

By Saturday at noon most of us had made our way south to a cute little venue Carrie discovered to have and host a bridal shower for Mollie. While there we ate some good food, met some new people and made some fun memories. Lets scroll and see who attended the exclusive event. Exclusive in a non snobby way of course. 

Caitlin found this idea for our dessert. It turned out super cute!

This was the wedding topper from Mom and Dad's wedding cake from 1949. Their's was the first June wedding in our family. 

Mollie seemed happy with the cupcake dress. 

James was the only male allowed.

Now some pictures of the attendees. 

The moms and grandmothers of the bride and groom. 

Another Gmaw with a grandson.

Sissies.

While at the shower we didn't have any activities for our guests, and so I think it was Melanie who came up with the idea for each person to say an adjective that best described Mollie. Sadly I can't remember anyone else's, but I think someone wrote them down. If so, send it to me! Mine was effusive. The reason I remember it is because I had to look up the meaning when everyone asked, "What's effusive mean?" Well, even though I couldn't tell people what it meant, turns out it fit just as I'd hoped. So as not to leave people hanging, I'll include the definition here. Effusive - expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner. Yep that's what I'd say about Mollie. 

The female part of the bridal party. 

Olivia with Grandma.

The gifting portion of the party.

Cute bags, cute hats....

Cute t-shirts.

The bride with her auntie hostesses.

We had such a good time and then afterwards everyone dispersed to spend the afternoon as they chose. Since I was with my sisters and mom, I can only report what the five of us did. But since it wasn't very "weddingy" I'm saving it for a different post. But after the five of us finished our errand and arrived at the hotel....and before we had to fluff and ready ourselves for the rehearsal that night, we found a super cute small person.

William came to our room to see what it was all about. 

He may or may not have been given free rein of the place. 

So he wanted to stand in the window see...

And of course we took a selfie.

Or two.

Not sure why the hat that needs its own zip code made the trip. 

But William looked super cute in it!

And that's how the Walker Cline wedding weekend began....at least from my perspective. In the coming days, and with some motivation, I do expect to finish all the posts from the wedding weekend. But I'm gonna have to have something more exciting happen to me so that I can chat about it here. All I have to talk about is my aching back and frankly I'm sick of it. While it is better, I think since I've been giving to it, I've created a secondary ache in another spot. Oy vey woah is me. Anyway, appreciate your prayers about it. 

I did forget to mention Owen went on his first grown up boy trip to Baton Rouge this past weekend. He went with some friends from Friday to Sunday and stayed with his friend Colby in Colby's dorm. They went to the ULM/LSU game and he had lots of fun and came home exhausted from sleeping on the hard floor due to the fact his air mattress died during the night. Such. A. Bummer. When I asked if he wished he was an LSU tiger instead of a ULM Warhawk, I was surprised to hear him say he was happy to be where he is. And with that, I was relieved. Really just to know we didn't make a mistake.   

And now I'm going to rest my back. 

It's 1:36 and I'm still sitting upright. 

That ain't good cause my back ain't well. 

Lord have mercy on my po po soul and my back!

Also, thanks for all the comments everyone's been leaving. I love them and appreciate it ever so much. 

Now I'm done.

Lisa's last day at the beach

This is it! I'm almost finished! 

Not really but I'll explain later.

This happened last night at church

Caught by surprise...

She was ready the second time. 

I may have trouble staying focused sometimes. 

My back is better but I still walk crooked. I'm over it. 

After I began receiving comments from anonymous spam things, I changed some setting and stopped it. Now I'm getting weird spam comments from Gunnar and Englebert. It's ridiculous and more annoying. 

Now lets get back at it....for the last time...but really not.

Multi layered photo here. Many layers.

It's the striped convention people.

That's Lindsey on the paddle board. The person on the yellow raft is an interloper. Not belonging to us. 

Weird little fish John caught. 

Gee and William sitting by the seaside.

I would really prefer if the seaweed would be swept up each evening so as to have pristine sand conditions.

Jared paddle boarding. 

Pipe fish John caught.

Little angel fish John caught. 

Seahorse John caught. This is an amazing find....to me anyway. In that huge gulf, he found this swimming about.

The bird pics are some that I love. 

Clearly Carrie hogged James.

James may be bored of it all. 

Billie looks comfy. 

Mollie in winter clothes, because it was freaking freezing our last few days there. 

I guess William did something funny. 

Lindsey's the only one aware of the camera. 

Seriously winter at the beach.

Cutie pie.

Once more.

Awww sissies.

I like this a lot.

The sun is setting on a our vacay....sigh. And the posting!! Woo hoo!!

The setting sun, the water, the bird, this would look good in velvet. 

James finally felt good.

When it was time to go home.

Maybe....

He knew it was time to go...

And he was happy about it. 

I think he agrees.

Just a few more.

I just couldn't stop taking pictures of the sunset.

And there it is. The end in pictures of our wonderful fabulous family vacation. Having said that, I still have all the pictures from our photo shoot from when we got all dolled up and went back to the beach to take good pics. I'm going to move on to something else and come back to those later, just to mix things up and drive myself crazy because they will be out of order. But I'm being crazy like that. 

I think all agreed it was the best beach trip we've ever had. And while I enjoyed looking at the pictures for the blog, I just get overwhelmed about the number of photos and the commentary. I get soooo tired of reading my own words. For. Reals. 

I'll close with this. It's been a weird week. I've been bummed because my back has been worse than it has been in years, and I've been frustrated by it. Then just about all people know about the football player who collapsed at Neville, but miraculously he was brought back to life by quick thinking coaches who knew what to do....which is no small fete....saving a 17 year old boy's life. So proud of people who do brave amazing things. They were just regular people going to work yesterday and ended up doing something courageous and amazing. I can't imagine it, but I'm thankful for it. 

Then of course the anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11. What a terrible day, remembering the ones who didn't get to go home again. Being reminded of the many broken hearts still hurting. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I forget the sacrifices made by brave people who saved lives, or gave their's for others. They were just regular people who got up and went to work that day and ended up doing something courageous and amazing. 

I'm thankful for brave souls.   

How beautiful is that sacrifice.