paper bag puppets: phase 1

i used to love making these, so we had craft time today after breakfast. today's mission: color and cut out patterns.

mari loved being able to play with the crayons.



azariah wanted to show me his amazing artistic ability.

meshach worked very diligently and made auntie proud with his cutting skills. check back tomorrow to see what animals we made! oh, and click here for patterns.

paper bag puppets: phase 1

i used to love making these, so we had craft time today after breakfast. today's mission: color and cut out patterns.

mari loved being able to play with the crayons.



azariah wanted to show me his amazing artistic ability.

meshach worked very diligently and made auntie proud with his cutting skills. check back tomorrow to see what animals we made! oh, and click here for patterns.

emma's model shots.

emma is looking so much like a little girl now. i feel so privileged to watch her and capture all the fun expressions on camera. such a beautiful kid. thanks for letting me hang out with her travis and alexis! enjoy the pictures.

emma's model shots.

emma is looking so much like a little girl now. i feel so privileged to watch her and capture all the fun expressions on camera. such a beautiful kid. thanks for letting me hang out with her travis and alexis! enjoy the pictures.

yum. pizza extravaganza!

most nights i tend to be lazy and eat pasta...

last night, i was ready to take a few extra minutes to whip something up. oh, man was it worth the time. i made pizza! for the crust i used a box mix and then i LOADED on the toppings. bbq sauce, cheddar, muenster and mozzarella cheese, chicken, onions, garlic, green & red peppers and pineapple. just think...it tastes even better than it looks!

yum. pizza extravaganza!

most nights i tend to be lazy and eat pasta...

last night, i was ready to take a few extra minutes to whip something up. oh, man was it worth the time. i made pizza! for the crust i used a box mix and then i LOADED on the toppings. bbq sauce, cheddar, muenster and mozzarella cheese, chicken, onions, garlic, green & red peppers and pineapple. just think...it tastes even better than it looks!

movie night

last night, i was craving a laugh so i pulled out this movie. now if you have never seen evan almighty, i recommend it. for being a secular film, it has a few nuggets of amazing truth that absolutely floor me.

reporter to evan: "what makes you so sure that God chose you?"
evan: "He chose all of us."

"if someone prays for patience, do you think that God gives them patience or does He give them opportunities to be patient? if He prays for courage, does He give them courage or does He give them opportunities to be courageous? if someone prayed for family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings or does He give them opportunities to love each other?"

such profound truths. He has called each of us for specific things that only we can do. we tend to pray for things then get frustrated that it's not exactly what we wanted. anyways...just stuff to think about.

movie night

last night, i was craving a laugh so i pulled out this movie. now if you have never seen evan almighty, i recommend it. for being a secular film, it has a few nuggets of amazing truth that absolutely floor me.

reporter to evan: "what makes you so sure that God chose you?"
evan: "He chose all of us."

"if someone prays for patience, do you think that God gives them patience or does He give them opportunities to be patient? if He prays for courage, does He give them courage or does He give them opportunities to be courageous? if someone prayed for family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings or does He give them opportunities to love each other?"

such profound truths. He has called each of us for specific things that only we can do. we tend to pray for things then get frustrated that it's not exactly what we wanted. anyways...just stuff to think about.

creativity runs rampant.

remodeling my blog is always so refreshing to me. today i received permission to take over my sister's blog too! mwah-ha-ha! my mind races with all the possibilities and my hands tingle with creativity. not sure if it's 100% the way i want it, but here it is. now if only she would blog more often... :o)

here are a list of my favorite websites for free blogger backgrounds. enjoy!

http://www.aquapoppydesigns2.blogspot.com/

http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/

http://www.hotbliggityblog.com/

http://www.shabbyblogs.com/

http://www.deluxetemplates.net/

creativity runs rampant.

remodeling my blog is always so refreshing to me. today i received permission to take over my sister's blog too! mwah-ha-ha! my mind races with all the possibilities and my hands tingle with creativity. not sure if it's 100% the way i want it, but here it is. now if only she would blog more often... :o)

here are a list of my favorite websites for free blogger backgrounds. enjoy!

http://www.aquapoppydesigns2.blogspot.com/

http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/

http://www.hotbliggityblog.com/

http://www.shabbyblogs.com/

http://www.deluxetemplates.net/

they tag-teamed me!

so, God and mari teamed up to teach me a lesson today. while i was fixing lunch, the three kiddos had split up to terrorize the house more effectively. mari went for the boys' bedroom and apparently she wanted privacy, so she shut the door behind her. moments later i hear a slightly muffled scream of desperation. not knowing whether she was screaming in pain or frustration, i ran to her rescue. unfortunately, she was sitting a few inches in front of the door, so i couldn't open it very far. needless to say, she did not want to cooperate and crawl away from the door, so i had to stick my foot in to gently push her away. she was MAD at me until she realized that the door was now open and she was free to go. :o)

right before i drifted off into la-la-land for naptime, God reminded me of the situation and gently guided me to a realization. i'm on the wrong side of a door and i know that God is just on the other side. i try my hardest to open the door on my own. i DON'T want to step away from my hopes/dreams/goals. backing away is scary and it seems to be counter-productive. as soon as i realize that i cannot do it and i step back, let go and allow God to work, things are going to happen. God wants to direct me. i need to work on my listening skills and follow through no matter what the cost.

they tag-teamed me!

so, God and mari teamed up to teach me a lesson today. while i was fixing lunch, the three kiddos had split up to terrorize the house more effectively. mari went for the boys' bedroom and apparently she wanted privacy, so she shut the door behind her. moments later i hear a slightly muffled scream of desperation. not knowing whether she was screaming in pain or frustration, i ran to her rescue. unfortunately, she was sitting a few inches in front of the door, so i couldn't open it very far. needless to say, she did not want to cooperate and crawl away from the door, so i had to stick my foot in to gently push her away. she was MAD at me until she realized that the door was now open and she was free to go. :o)

right before i drifted off into la-la-land for naptime, God reminded me of the situation and gently guided me to a realization. i'm on the wrong side of a door and i know that God is just on the other side. i try my hardest to open the door on my own. i DON'T want to step away from my hopes/dreams/goals. backing away is scary and it seems to be counter-productive. as soon as i realize that i cannot do it and i step back, let go and allow God to work, things are going to happen. God wants to direct me. i need to work on my listening skills and follow through no matter what the cost.

meshach ezekiel ~ 4 years old

boy, how time flies! it still really hasn't hit me that meshach is 4! i can almost see him as a teenager in this first picture... and then the goofiness came out. this summer we have read SO many books. i love that i am passing on my love of reading to him. next year he will being going to school! crazy.

meshach ezekiel ~ 4 years old

boy, how time flies! it still really hasn't hit me that meshach is 4! i can almost see him as a teenager in this first picture... and then the goofiness came out. this summer we have read SO many books. i love that i am passing on my love of reading to him. next year he will being going to school! crazy.

mari ~ 22 months old

mari is almost 2! we have had her now for almost a year. she has grown and changed SO much. she has learned how to sit, crawl, feed herself (still is very messy...), and sign 6 different words! she recently started to crawl on all fours instead of army crawling. i am so proud of her. i don't think she will outgrow her mischievous

side though. :o)

mari ~ 22 months old

mari is almost 2! we have had her now for almost a year. she has grown and changed SO much. she has learned how to sit, crawl, feed herself (still is very messy...), and sign 6 different words! she recently started to crawl on all fours instead of army crawling. i am so proud of her. i don't think she will outgrow her mischievous

side though. :o)

azariah jesse ~ 19 months old

this little man has officially hit the parrot stage. his vocabulary is expanding! he understands so much of what he hears, but doesn't always like it. his giggle and silly dances always make me smile.

azariah jesse ~ 19 months old

this little man has officially hit the parrot stage. his vocabulary is expanding! he understands so much of what he hears, but doesn't always like it. his giggle and silly dances always make me smile.

timberline hike - august 15th

i don't think i've ever been up to timberline lodge during the summer before. last saturday, brandon, josh, nate (josh's friend), meshach, mari, azariah and i trekked up part of mt. hood. the gorgeous weather showcased breath-taking views as we huffed and puffed our way along.

meshach climbed the entire thing. azariah walked for parts of it but primarily rode in the stroller. mari hung out in the backpack for the entire trip...except for a short break to try out her rock climbing skills.

we took a few short breaks in the snow to cool us down. the snow felt so refreshing.

ok, so here is the view at the end of our hike looking down onto the timberline lodge and parking lot...you have to click on the picture to actually see it. we climbed just over 1000 feet in elevation. can you tell the kids love being outside?

timberline hike - august 15th

i don't think i've ever been up to timberline lodge during the summer before. last saturday, brandon, josh, nate (josh's friend), meshach, mari, azariah and i trekked up part of mt. hood. the gorgeous weather showcased breath-taking views as we huffed and puffed our way along.

meshach climbed the entire thing. azariah walked for parts of it but primarily rode in the stroller. mari hung out in the backpack for the entire trip...except for a short break to try out her rock climbing skills.

we took a few short breaks in the snow to cool us down. the snow felt so refreshing.

ok, so here is the view at the end of our hike looking down onto the timberline lodge and parking lot...you have to click on the picture to actually see it. we climbed just over 1000 feet in elevation. can you tell the kids love being outside?

100th POST!

God has really been challenging me to be more thankful. pretty much this scripture is the reoccurring theme in my life right now.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

so for my 100th post on my blog, i'm going to attempt to write down 100 things that i'm thankful for. disclaimer: this is not an all inclusive list and it is in random order...the only reason that it is numbered is so i don't have to count them myself. :o) here we go.

1. God: your unfailing love and grace make life worth living
2. dad: your humor cannot be compared to another
3. mom: you have been through so much pain with me...starting before i was born
4. trevor: your love for music fueled and expanded my musical horizon
5. jenee: you make my big bro happy, which makes me happy
6. brandon: you push me to do bigger and better things
7. monica: the older sister i never had and always wanted
8. katelyn: the blessing i prayed for
9. meshach: you are always up for an adventure
10. mari: you make me smile, your giggle is undeniably contagious
11. azariah: your love of music, books and snuggling make you irresistible
12. grandma koerner: you set an awesome example for me to live up to
13. my countless aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.: together we make a pretty cool group
14. sunshine and blue skies: brightens my day
15. the columbia gorge: you never cease to amaze me
16. east hill church: my home
17. lance: my trusty car...you've never let me down
18. dave & lisa: my "adoptive" parents, you are such a blessing
19. kobe: my constant friend and hiking partner
20. mrs. talia sanders: my best friend...words can't express how much you mean to me
21. nat: your enthusiasm and joy inspire me, you are an amazing friend
22. alexis: you inspire me, i love your heart for God, my confidant
23. emma: your joy when you see me makes my heart melt
24. jenise & corey: we are waiting together, walking together, i couldn't think of better people to be on this journey with
25. brandon & becky: the newlyweds...love you guys!
26. jodi: you make me smile, thank you for being you
27. amy: God connected us for a reason :o)
28. jerome & cynthia: you guys showed me what true leadership looks like
29. andrew & kerry: it's been an awesome 15 years
30. aj & casey: you taught me so much about kids
31. my chaco sandals: in rain or shine
32. my health: thank you God!
33. my job: taking care of my nephews and niece
34. music: you inspire me, dare me to dream, evoke all kinds of emotions and lull me to sleep
35. my new glasses: so cute
36. my water bottles: i would be dehydrated without you
37. my ipod: you hold my inspiration
38. my camera: you capture moments of my life so i can remember them forever
39. the ocean: God's glory and power revealed
40. mt. hood: you sit outside my window as a reminder of God's creative power
41. my down comforter: you always hug me and keep me warm
42. my pillow: i look forward to snuggling you every night
43. jason & nikki: as my pastors and friends, you inspire and challenge me
44. christian fiction books: you would consume my days if i allow you to
45. my hair: we have our good days and our bad days, but i would look funny without you
46. pasta & pizza: how could i survive without you
47. facebook: i don't know what else i would do with all my time
48. blogger: dear diary...
49. my retainer: you keep my teeth straight
50. my rollerblades: hours and miles of fun
51. my future husband: i can't wait for the day we are together!
52. waterfalls and waves: you simply fascinate me, i can stare at you for hours
53. my bible: direction, grace and conviction rolled into one crazy story
54. my scrapbooking supplies: creative outlet at my fingertips
55. winco: shopping on a budget made easier
56. nfl channel: football 24/7
57. my wardrobe: your selection frustrates me sometimes, but without you i'd be naked
58. toenail polish: you make my ugly toes a little prettier
59. stars and shooting stars: God's nighttime fireworks
60. babies: everything about them...except uncontrollable crying
61. ice cream: mint chocolate cookie, cookie dough, peanut butter milkshakes...
62. laughter: babies, kids, unique laughs, contagious and delightful laughs
63. camp fires: smores, songs, and your clothes smelling for days
64. cannon beach: the beach, good memories, forever in my heart
65. flowers: fragrant, colorful, and gorgeous
66. christmas trees: they smell heavenly
67. cookies: fresh out of the oven with a glass of milk
68. strawberry or raspberry lemonade: a hot summer day necessity
69. watermelon: a frequent dinner during the summer
70. piles of crunchy leaves: you just have to jump in them
71. my mom's cinnamon rolls: the BEST smell to wake up to
72. family reunions: lots of love, food and silliness
73. a stormy day: warm blankets and a good book/movie
74. rainbows: gorgeous end to the rain
75. thunder and lightening: so COOL!
76. the content, tired feeling after a good hike
77. dancing: in the car, creating silly dance moves, spontaneous
78. m&m's: plain ones mostly, but the peanut butter ones are spectacular if you put them in the microwave for about 15 seconds
79. the game zip bong: hilarious and simple, the funniest big group game
80. the opportunities i have had to travel: so many places left to go!
81. watersports: boogie boarding, surfing, water skiing, kneeboarding, kayaking...you name it
82. massages: i just wish they weren't so stinkin expensive
83. smiles from random people i don't know: just makes me happy
84. phone calls from friends: makes me feel loved
85. chocolate frostys from wendy's: mmmmm...
86. markers, crayons and pens: rainbow selection that brings me back to the good 'ole days
87. american idol: proof that i'm not the worst singer out there
88. my bank account: although you go up and down, i still have you
89. my school yearbooks: reminds me of old friends and crazy times
90. yearly family photos: every Christmas since the year i was born...priceless
91. free blog layouts: creative outlet when i feel the need for change, my newest find is http://www.aquapoppydesigns2.blogspot.com/
92. time to blog about life
93. the things i've learned in tough times or at hard jobs: kindercare...
94. how much i've changed in the past couple of years
95. people who encourage and challenge me without realizing it
96. my filing system: without you i would be buried under a chaotic pile of paper
97. online bill paying: you save me stamp money
98. skype: because calling france can be stinkin' expensive otherwise
99. ice cold water: nothing quenches my thirst better
100. living in boring: it made me laugh as a kid, now it's my peaceful haven

whew! i would add pictures, but it is already a SUPER long post.

what are you thankful for?

100th POST!

God has really been challenging me to be more thankful. pretty much this scripture is the reoccurring theme in my life right now.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

so for my 100th post on my blog, i'm going to attempt to write down 100 things that i'm thankful for. disclaimer: this is not an all inclusive list and it is in random order...the only reason that it is numbered is so i don't have to count them myself. :o) here we go.

1. God: your unfailing love and grace make life worth living
2. dad: your humor cannot be compared to another
3. mom: you have been through so much pain with me...starting before i was born
4. trevor: your love for music fueled and expanded my musical horizon
5. jenee: you make my big bro happy, which makes me happy
6. brandon: you push me to do bigger and better things
7. monica: the older sister i never had and always wanted
8. katelyn: the blessing i prayed for
9. meshach: you are always up for an adventure
10. mari: you make me smile, your giggle is undeniably contagious
11. azariah: your love of music, books and snuggling make you irresistible
12. grandma koerner: you set an awesome example for me to live up to
13. my countless aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.: together we make a pretty cool group
14. sunshine and blue skies: brightens my day
15. the columbia gorge: you never cease to amaze me
16. east hill church: my home
17. lance: my trusty car...you've never let me down
18. dave & lisa: my "adoptive" parents, you are such a blessing
19. kobe: my constant friend and hiking partner
20. mrs. talia sanders: my best friend...words can't express how much you mean to me
21. nat: your enthusiasm and joy inspire me, you are an amazing friend
22. alexis: you inspire me, i love your heart for God, my confidant
23. emma: your joy when you see me makes my heart melt
24. jenise & corey: we are waiting together, walking together, i couldn't think of better people to be on this journey with
25. brandon & becky: the newlyweds...love you guys!
26. jodi: you make me smile, thank you for being you
27. amy: God connected us for a reason :o)
28. jerome & cynthia: you guys showed me what true leadership looks like
29. andrew & kerry: it's been an awesome 15 years
30. aj & casey: you taught me so much about kids
31. my chaco sandals: in rain or shine
32. my health: thank you God!
33. my job: taking care of my nephews and niece
34. music: you inspire me, dare me to dream, evoke all kinds of emotions and lull me to sleep
35. my new glasses: so cute
36. my water bottles: i would be dehydrated without you
37. my ipod: you hold my inspiration
38. my camera: you capture moments of my life so i can remember them forever
39. the ocean: God's glory and power revealed
40. mt. hood: you sit outside my window as a reminder of God's creative power
41. my down comforter: you always hug me and keep me warm
42. my pillow: i look forward to snuggling you every night
43. jason & nikki: as my pastors and friends, you inspire and challenge me
44. christian fiction books: you would consume my days if i allow you to
45. my hair: we have our good days and our bad days, but i would look funny without you
46. pasta & pizza: how could i survive without you
47. facebook: i don't know what else i would do with all my time
48. blogger: dear diary...
49. my retainer: you keep my teeth straight
50. my rollerblades: hours and miles of fun
51. my future husband: i can't wait for the day we are together!
52. waterfalls and waves: you simply fascinate me, i can stare at you for hours
53. my bible: direction, grace and conviction rolled into one crazy story
54. my scrapbooking supplies: creative outlet at my fingertips
55. winco: shopping on a budget made easier
56. nfl channel: football 24/7
57. my wardrobe: your selection frustrates me sometimes, but without you i'd be naked
58. toenail polish: you make my ugly toes a little prettier
59. stars and shooting stars: God's nighttime fireworks
60. babies: everything about them...except uncontrollable crying
61. ice cream: mint chocolate cookie, cookie dough, peanut butter milkshakes...
62. laughter: babies, kids, unique laughs, contagious and delightful laughs
63. camp fires: smores, songs, and your clothes smelling for days
64. cannon beach: the beach, good memories, forever in my heart
65. flowers: fragrant, colorful, and gorgeous
66. christmas trees: they smell heavenly
67. cookies: fresh out of the oven with a glass of milk
68. strawberry or raspberry lemonade: a hot summer day necessity
69. watermelon: a frequent dinner during the summer
70. piles of crunchy leaves: you just have to jump in them
71. my mom's cinnamon rolls: the BEST smell to wake up to
72. family reunions: lots of love, food and silliness
73. a stormy day: warm blankets and a good book/movie
74. rainbows: gorgeous end to the rain
75. thunder and lightening: so COOL!
76. the content, tired feeling after a good hike
77. dancing: in the car, creating silly dance moves, spontaneous
78. m&m's: plain ones mostly, but the peanut butter ones are spectacular if you put them in the microwave for about 15 seconds
79. the game zip bong: hilarious and simple, the funniest big group game
80. the opportunities i have had to travel: so many places left to go!
81. watersports: boogie boarding, surfing, water skiing, kneeboarding, kayaking...you name it
82. massages: i just wish they weren't so stinkin expensive
83. smiles from random people i don't know: just makes me happy
84. phone calls from friends: makes me feel loved
85. chocolate frostys from wendy's: mmmmm...
86. markers, crayons and pens: rainbow selection that brings me back to the good 'ole days
87. american idol: proof that i'm not the worst singer out there
88. my bank account: although you go up and down, i still have you
89. my school yearbooks: reminds me of old friends and crazy times
90. yearly family photos: every Christmas since the year i was born...priceless
91. free blog layouts: creative outlet when i feel the need for change, my newest find is http://www.aquapoppydesigns2.blogspot.com/
92. time to blog about life
93. the things i've learned in tough times or at hard jobs: kindercare...
94. how much i've changed in the past couple of years
95. people who encourage and challenge me without realizing it
96. my filing system: without you i would be buried under a chaotic pile of paper
97. online bill paying: you save me stamp money
98. skype: because calling france can be stinkin' expensive otherwise
99. ice cold water: nothing quenches my thirst better
100. living in boring: it made me laugh as a kid, now it's my peaceful haven

whew! i would add pictures, but it is already a SUPER long post.

what are you thankful for?

the case for faith

i just started reading Lee Strobel's book, the case for faith. i've only made it through the first chapter, and there is already so much to process. in a nutshell, the book is about a journalist investigating the toughest objections to Christianity (or at least that's what it says on the cover...). :o) the first main argument it covers is this: since evil and suffering exists, a loving God cannot. the whole chapter is full of intriguing bits of information, but this paragraph stuck out to me the most.

"At the time of the crucifixion, the disciples couldn't see how anything good could result; similarly, as we face struggles and trials and suffering, we sometimes can't imagine good emerging. But we've seen how it did in the case of Jesus, and we can trust it will in our case too. For instance, the greatest Christians in history seem to say that their sufferings ended up bringing them the closest to God - so this is the best thing that could happen, not the worst."

hmm. lots to think about. can't wait to see what else i'll learn!

the case for faith

i just started reading Lee Strobel's book, the case for faith. i've only made it through the first chapter, and there is already so much to process. in a nutshell, the book is about a journalist investigating the toughest objections to Christianity (or at least that's what it says on the cover...). :o) the first main argument it covers is this: since evil and suffering exists, a loving God cannot. the whole chapter is full of intriguing bits of information, but this paragraph stuck out to me the most.

"At the time of the crucifixion, the disciples couldn't see how anything good could result; similarly, as we face struggles and trials and suffering, we sometimes can't imagine good emerging. But we've seen how it did in the case of Jesus, and we can trust it will in our case too. For instance, the greatest Christians in history seem to say that their sufferings ended up bringing them the closest to God - so this is the best thing that could happen, not the worst."

hmm. lots to think about. can't wait to see what else i'll learn!

pre-season football :o)

today i watched my first pre-season game of this year. football makes me happy. i laughed at myself as i yelled at the tv. i complimented both teams on their awesome plays, but ultimately my team lost. oh, well. my FAVORITE thing is when the game is excruciatingly close...down to the last second. today's game was not like that, but i can't wait to see what this season will bring!

pre-season football :o)

today i watched my first pre-season game of this year. football makes me happy. i laughed at myself as i yelled at the tv. i complimented both teams on their awesome plays, but ultimately my team lost. oh, well. my FAVORITE thing is when the game is excruciatingly close...down to the last second. today's game was not like that, but i can't wait to see what this season will bring!

twins!

i've always wanted to have twins. you may think that this is a random post...but it's been a theme for the past two days. yesterday at taco bell i had the priviledge of meeting twin girls who were only eight days old. so tiny and precious. both were around five pounds each! then today as i was making french toast, i cracked open an egg...

egg twins! it made me smile...then i finished making french toast and i ate the cute little yolks. they were delicious! the end.

twins!

i've always wanted to have twins. you may think that this is a random post...but it's been a theme for the past two days. yesterday at taco bell i had the priviledge of meeting twin girls who were only eight days old. so tiny and precious. both were around five pounds each! then today as i was making french toast, i cracked open an egg...

egg twins! it made me smile...then i finished making french toast and i ate the cute little yolks. they were delicious! the end.

week of wedding fun!

the week of talia's wedding was incredible! monday started off with making cookies and frosting them for the reception. yum! then we were off to the bachelorette party. it was fun to see people from high school and make new friends as we celebrated with talia. the party ended with a random game of spoons while listening to live music in downtown albany.

we got an early start on tuesday to head to the beach. laughter, silly games, an epic squirt gun fight, painting rocks, boogie boarding, frisbee and making smores were a few of the highlights. i loved getting to know everyone better and having the time to be at one of my favorite places.

wednesday we were blessed with astoundingly beautiful weather. bright blue skies encouraged us all to relax in the sand and waves. not everyone went boogie boarding...they missed out on a lot of fun!

thursday brought a sad end to our mini vacation as we headed home after lunch. i will never forget the laughter and fun we had...

friday brought a busy busy day. set-up went very smoothly due to a very organized bride-to-be which was coupled with a team competition. (my team won the fastest award!) we had a barbeque for lunch and continued our friendly competition with a game of sand volleyball. rehearsal dinner was such a blessing...i felt spoiled as we dined on fine french cuisine.

saturday had finally come! after enjoying pedicures, we made our way to the church to get ready. i continued to feel pampered as people fixed my hair and did my make-up for me. the excitement grew as we helped talia into her dress. the crazy fun bridal party made the formal pictures a blast as we posed in the park.

the wedding began as the bride and the bridesmaids rode to the wedding site from the church in a trolley. we were escorted down the aisle by our groomsmen to the song "going to the chapel". the five young flower girls and ringbearers all successfully made it down to the front with only one in tears. meshach, mari and azariah were so cute! watching talia come down the aisle was so amazing.

watching my best friend get married was a highlight of my life. the rest of the evening flew by as we danced and celebrated the beginning of a new season for matt and talia. i didn't want the night to end as i knew it would mean saying goodbye to my new friends and sending the newlyweds off to their honeymoon.