A Perfect Day!

Sealed for Time and all Eternity in the Salt Lake Temple

My father and my Oregon granddaughters.

My Lewis granddaughters and my father.

My brother Gil, me, and my father.My oldest daughter, Angie, with my father.My daughter Laurel with my father.Angie, Boyd, and my boys.

My son Ryan, his wife Camie, and my grandchildren.My daughter Ginger and my father.Table setting at the reception.Gelato Stand.Our newest member of the family, Laura.My youngest daughter, Lindsey, with our new addition Emma Laurel.Natalie and the Peton gang.Laura with my beautiful princesses --- all of my granddaughters minus the two baby girls.Reese and Laura with Reese's siblings!AEthan and Ben.

What mother can fall into bed at the end of a wedding day and say that it was the most perfect day ... everything went as planned, and everything was a picture, perfect wedding! There wasn't one thing I would have changed and wanted done differently. Other than being a little on the breezy side and a little chilly, it was still a beautiful day. Our bride looked like a princess and our handsome groom looked like prince charming. They absolutely looked like a picture out of a story book. One of the cutest and most precious sites was at the reception when the bride and groom were dancing to 'their song'. There were two little girls standing mesmerized, watching every move as the bride and groom danced, hugged and kissed each other. It was priceless watching those little girls. You could tell by the look on their faces they thought Laura was a princess. And indeed, she DID look like a princess. We're so blessed to have her join our family. We LOVE her!

For some reason I'm having trouble posting pictures to the blog site this evening, so I'll continue with text and then post pics when I'm able.

As mother of the bride it was our duty to provide a wedding dinner the night before the wedding for both families and friends of the bride and groom. I decided to host and cook the dinner myself. We planned for 55. I decided to try my sister Beverlee's recipe for Cafe Rio Pork Salad, served with the most delicious rice and beans, tortillas, creamy tomatillo dressing, salsa, guacamole, tortillas chips and cheese. I marinated the pork tenderloin overnight and then cooked it all day in a slow cooker. It was delicious and the flavor was out of this world! Laura's favorite color is purple so we served lime rickies to drink. It's grape soda pop with lime and it's yummo! We had decadent chocolate cake, orange creame cakes, and blueberry cheesecake for dessert. Everything was so perfect. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food. A few of my friends came over to the church to help set up, serve, and clean up afterwards. Thank goodness for wonderful friends!

The reception center was amazing. It was an atrium filled with all sorts of plants and waterfalls, pathways, nooks and crannys, and lots of fun places for children to run, play, and hide and seek. There was a photo booth where all attendees could have their picture taken and instantly receive copies, one for the memory book and one to keep. It was unlimited pictures so of course the grandkids had a blast. A few of us adults did too! They also had a Gelatto bar with unlimited refills of amazing gelato ice cream and cookies. There was a candy stand where you could fill your cello sacks with all sorts of different candies and snack on during the reception or fill your purse and snack on it later at home. :) Of course there was the most amazing cake. Each tier was a different flavor and was absolutely out of this world. Later that evening we danced. It was such a fun evening and everyone seemed to have such a great time.

So just what have I been up to lately? Mostly preparing for the wedding and having family come in from out of state. It was so wonderful having the kidlets here and also enjoying my father, who came down from Montana. It was really good for him to be in his home for a few days. He decided that it was better to be in Montana with my sister rather than being in his home all alone!

Weight Loss Update ... I've added breads and a few sweets back into my diet. I thought I wouldn't eat sweets again but I did let temptation take ahold of me. I have to be moderate in all things or the weight will creep back on. Sugar tends to give me headaches. You'd think I'd learn and just stay away from it. I'm kinda like an alocholic with sugar. Get me started on it and it's hard to stop! But I'm down to a size '10' ... yes, you heard me correct .... a size 10 ... and I've lost 112 pounds. I now weigh 145 pounds. I just can't explain how fabulous I feel!

I attended a funeral this morning and a gal who I haven't seen since my weight loss came up to me and threw her arms around me and just went 'ga ga' over my new look. It was so much fun listening to her as she oohed and aahed over my curves. It's always fun watching people's reaction and then waiting for that inevitable question, "How'd you lose the weight?" I'm so happy to be able to share my surgery information with them.

What else have I been doing to keep myself busy? I'm heading over to Denver this Friday for Tara Bazata's big event. She asked me to do a demonstration on using the Big Shot with fabric. I've been sewing up a storm. Just turn me loose in a fabric store and I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. I've been there twice in the last couple of days and I plan on going back next week to use my 50% off coupon for some fabric I've had my eye on!

I'll take lots of pictures and post when I get home. Can't wait to see all of my friends in Denver!