Quinton & Mallory's Wedding

This blog is about the beautiful Wedding celebration (and surrounding events) for my brother-in-law and brand new sister-in-law.

Friday evening started the beginning of the wedding festivities with the wedding rehearsal, then the dinner to follow. Mallory and Quinton got the girls adorable matching outfits that said 'flower girl' to wear during the rehearsal. All went well, they both walked down the aisle throwing flowers like professionals. It was a good start. :)

This picture was taken at the church before the start of rehearsal. The groom (Uncle Q) with his nieces.

During the actual wedding, we were really pushing Bella to her limit because she was about 4 hours overdue for a nap, but she follow big sister down the aisle and did her job (with a little prompting) and as soon as she met me in the pew, she was asleep before the opening prayer was finished. :) Which was good, because when Bella is sleeping is just about the only time she isnt being really loud! So it worked out perfect.

Unfortunately all the pictures i took DURING the wedding were on the photographer's backup camera, (which i was given to take back-up and candid shots on throughout the night.) So, once i get ahold of some of those, i will post them.

Being Bella's mother, of course i knew the girl liked to dance. But what i could have never known is that she LOVES to dance, for 5 hours straight, not even liking to take a break for diaper changes and drinks. Bella was apparently born to dance. :) It was adorable, she really had such a good time making her rounds on the dance floor. She was a show-stealer for sure. Sophia danced pretty much all night too, but with a little more help from others since she gets a little shy around crowds. She had a blast too, and although she is a little more shy on the dance floor than Bella, she makes up for it with her moves, she has some cool 'hip-hop' moves I didnt even know she had.
Of course, I would be remiss if i didn't post something about the Bride and Groom. Quinton and Mallory seemed as if they very much enjoyed their special day. Everything went sooo smoothly and wonderful during the actual ceremony and the reception. It seemed almost effortless it went so seemlessly, but everyone knows that is never the case with a wedding. It was beautiful, and so were they. :)

The new Mr. and Mrs. Combs sharing their first dance as newlyweds.

The girls of course tried to hog all their time. Sophia already told me she wants a dress like Mallory's.... I started to cry... Do they have to start wanting this so young!?!?

This video is of Bella & Sophia dancing. :) There are about 30 video's featuring them dancing from last night. I just picked one out of the bunch.
This picture was taken at about 10 oclock last night, and as you can see Brandon and i were pretty darn tired by that point in the night. However, its the only picture that i know of that even proves we were there together since i was taking pics of everone else. This is right before the girls and i left to go home. And 5 minutes after we got home we were all asleep. A long, wonderful, exhausting day. Today is Sunday, tomorrow is Memorial Day... yes, thats right 3 day weekend! I am off to enjoy some more sunshine with the family. Have a great weekend everyone!

Weekend Camping Trip

Last Friday around lunch time, Brandon and I spontaneously decided to rent a camper and go camping for the weekend. We had a very short window of time to pick up the camper and supplies, because we were arranging all this between his patients.

We finally got to the campground around 5, Brandon was setting up the outside of the camper while the girls and i were inside while i was trying to arrange things and organize a little. Sophia was playing with the dog and Bella was playing in one of the beds when we hear a scream and a splash. Bella had fallen OUT of the side of the camper. She was a little shaken and completely filthy, but not hurt so that was good. After that we had to run to Walmart to get some things we didnt have, and by the time we got back it was close to dark and we were completely exhausted. Though exhausted, Bella refused to sleep. So, we put the girls in the truck and drove around until they fell asleep. By this time it was almost 11 p.m. Brandon and wanted to sit by the campfire and enjoy it, but we were just too tired, so we went to bed. Brandon in one bed with Sophia, Bella and I in the other. This worked until approx. 2:20 am, when Bella woke up fully refreshed and ready to play. She could absolutely not sleep there. SO, we packed the girls up in the truck and drove 45 min. to get home, leaving all of our things at the campground. We slept from about 4-7:30 and then got up and showered and headed back to the campground.

Saturday was fun, we took the girls fishing, but Bella wasnt at all scared of falling into the water so she was being reckless. So for the 2nd fishing excursion Bella and I stayed in the truck. The fish werent biting anyway, it was too hot and sunny.

The girls got to ride around in their little Mustang and have snacks and Sophie rode her bike a little. But as nightfall was approaching, I knew Bella still wouldnt sleep there. So, I called my mom and had her meet me to pick Bella up so she could sleep at Grandma's house. This was good for her because she got to be in a comfortable, familiar place and good for Brandon and I because another sleepless night would have completely wiped us out. Bella is a bit territorial, it seems. I have heard about kids who have a hard time sleeping in strange places like hotel rooms, or friends houses, and maybe Bella is just one of those kids.

We packed up early on Sunday morning, i think we were on the road back home by 9:30. Unloading was a bit of nightmare since we were still pretty tired, but we got it done. After that we did some lawn work. Me and Sophia planted some flowers while Brandon mowed and set up a pool for the girls. Shortly after, my mom brought Bella back and we all hung out for the rest of the afternoon. The girls played in the pool for a long time, and Bella did NOT want to get out.

In fact, in just a few minutes when i get of work we are planning on eating dinner then slapping the suits of and swimming for a while before bath/bedtime. Normally kids wouldnt need a bath after swimming, but somehow with all the in and outs of the pool they are coverd with grass and have some dirty little feet! I have posted a short video (scroll down) of them playing in the pool, its adorable.. and also very LOUD! :)

Thats my weekend camping story. I think we all had fun, but I am not sure if we will brave it again with Bella until she is a little older.

This coming weekend Brandon's brother is getting married, and both Sophia and Bella are flower girls. So hopefully next week i will have some cute pictures to share and (please pray!) no horror stories!

Swimming Video

The girls having some fun in the pool. :)

May Update

There have been lots of fun things going on lately. First, Brandon and I went to Las Vegas, again. We had a great time but we missed the girls very much. I haven’t really posted many pictures lately so i collected a few from the last 2 months to show.

This picture is from a trip that we took to the St. Louis Zoo. Brandon and I went with Andre and Alex. Bella stayed behind because a.) it was cold b.) she would have had fun for about 10 minutes before she started throwing a fit. She doesn’t do very well on trips yet.

This pic of me and Sophia is from Mallory’s Bridal Shower on April 11, 2010. We had fun watching Mallory open her presents and Sophie got to play with her older cousins.

 

Here Madelynn and Sophia are running the Rocket back to Uncle Jake so he can launch it again. We were all amazed with this thing. Looks like the girls thought it was pretty fun, too.

Daddy and his little ladies. I don’t know where we were going, but they all sure look cute!

 

Sophie, Bella and Madelynn all dolled up on Easter Sunday. I dont know why its so hard to get a good picture of all 3 kids looking at the camera and smiling at the same time, but … its cute anyway.

My little Easter darlings before church, posing with their baskets. Looks like they are ready to hunt some eggs. :)

Sophia enjoying some cake at Mallory’s shower… and let me tell ya, that was some AWESOME cake! Mmmmm!