The Sound of Silence

What a whirlwind of a week! The early part of the week was spent getting ready for company and doing the wedding cake. We left the house about 10:30 Thursday morning and didn’t get home until about 8:00 that night (the whole time in wedding clothes and dress shoes!). We first went to Sheila’s (we thought, to help with Nam…but he decided he wanted to stay with Matt) and watched her get her hair and makeup done. We also left the cake there until time for the reception. We were supposed to be at the chapel by 1:00, but we were running a little late. Sheila got dressed, and then they took most of the group pictures. By time that was done, guests were beginning to arrive. Everything was very informal, so we spent a lot of time visiting and playing with the kiddos. The ceremony was short and sweet, and then the photographer took a lot of outdoor shots. He was really good at his job. Sheila had requested a lot of pictures of the audience, so he focused a lot of his time on getting pictures of all the kids. He was great with Nam, who loves taking pictures! He even let him take a few pics with his camera! Tonette was kind enough to bring Daddy and Bobbie to the ceremony, so Daddy could watch his only granddaughter get married. They were too tired to hang around until the reception, so she took them on back home right after the ceremony.

We spent so much time visiting after the ceremony that I lost track of time. It was 4:35 before I knew it, and we still had to drive to Sheila’s apartment to get the cake to take to the restaurant (by 5:00!)! So we ended up being about 15 minutes late arriving to the reception. Again, everything was very casual, so it wasn’t a big deal. The guests were still working on the appetizers, and the wait staff was just beginning to take orders for the meal. All of the little boys were running around having a blast together. (We were in a covered patio area of the restaurant.) Ian had prepared a slideshow as a surprise for the newlyweds, and he did a great job on it! I got a bit teary-eyed watching it! Sheila and Matt had to leave before eating their entrees to make it to the airport on time. The photographer was upset that they didn’t cut the cake, so we got the three boys to do the honors! (We saved a couple of pieces for when they return tomorrow.) It was a beautiful day and a very joyous one! We are so happy to have Matt and Ian and Caleb as part of our family now! 

Stephen’s family came back and spent Thursday and Friday nights with us to help keep Nam entertained. Those boys had a BLAST! Between building and playing with Legos, putting puzzles together, playing with wooden guns and swords, going to the park, and climbing the tree in the front yard, they were seldom still. Gracie tried her best to keep up with them! She is at such a cute age right now…right on the verge of walking and talking. Everything is something new to explore! We turned her loose last night with an iced cupcake. She never hesitated! She tore into that thing and devoured it! Icing was EVERYWHERE! Then she was wired and didn’t want to go to sleep!

This morning was more playing, more eating (It is hard to keep that many little ones fed…by time you finish breakfast dishes, they are ready for a snack!) Stephen’s family left right after lunch, and Nam went down for a nap. I expect he will sleep awhile! I hope the others will sleep in the car going home.

The newlyweds are flying home tomorrow morning, and we are planning to meet them at HC for the second service to hand Nam off. He has done SO WELL this weekend, but he will be VERY happy to see his mom and dad when they return! Sheila is taking next week off, so Dennis and I will have a free week. I’m hoping he’ll be able to finish the bed for Sheila and Matt. I also hope we both get over this crud we’ve been fighting for the past 3-4 weeks. Dennis was about over it, then it came back with a vengeance right before the wedding day. He had to go yesterday to get a steroid shot and some antibiotics. He’s feeling better, but we are both still blowing and hacking like crazy.

Unfortunately, I have no wedding pictures to share yet. I didn’t take any pictures all day, so I’ll have to wait to get the professional ones (unless someone else has some to share before then). I can’t wait to see them! Sheila was a beautiful bride, and happy faces were all around.

My very own Music Man

Dennis loves to sing and hum and whistle...in other words, make music any way he can. You can often catch him doing so...even when eating. Of course, everyone who has been around him knows that he has an amazing bass singing voice. That was one of the first things that attracted me to him. (I've always been a sucker for a good bass!) But whether he is belting out a bass solo or humming a jingle from an old TV commercial, the man truly loves music!

One of the first songs that he taught our children (and me!) when they were little was "Bill Grogan's Goat". (Google it if you are unfamiliar with it!) Of course, Smokey the Bear was always one of his favorites. (For those who didn't know him back in the day, he began his career as a forester.) I think he knew more kid songs than I did! At any time, he might bust out singing one of these songs, or a church hymn, or one of his favorites from Neil Diamond or John Denver...or more.

This morning I was doing dishes and heard Dennis coming down the hall...humming the theme to "The Addams Family"..."da da da dum *snap snap*". I had to hold back a chuckle. You just never know what's going to come out of his mouth next!

I hope this week brings you much joy...and plenty of music!

Getting ready for the big day, and a quick trip to Paris

The wedding is just two weeks from today! I can't wait to see Sheila walk down the aisle. She will be a beautiful bride, but more importantly, a wonderful wife to Matt and mom to his boys. Nam is excited to move to "his new house". I look forward to seeing them all settle into their new lives.

I found a really good deal on my dress for the wedding. I had it and another one picked out online, but both were more expensive than I wanted to spend. One day I checked on them again, trying to decide what to do, and the one from Bealls was marked half price. So, of course, I ordered it immediately! I checked on it the very next morning, and it was marked back up $40 more. I managed to catch it at just the right time! It came in last week and I got it hemmed today. This morning I went for a haircut, so I'm as ready for wedding pictures as I'm going to be. I hate having my picture taken! I never take a good picture, but what can I expect?!  I do look forward to having pictures of everyone else though.

"Rue" has been sick for the past few weeks, so today is the first time in awhile that we've had our Thursday off. I'm glad that she is finally feeling better!  And I'm also glad to have the day off. As much as we enjoy having Nam around, we can get so much more done on the days that he isn't here!
Next week is spring break, so I doubt we'll get much accomplished around here during that time. Dennis is working feverishly on the bed, but he was sick with a cold all last week, which cut down on what he got accomplished. This week has been a little crazy, but he is steadily making progress, albeit slowly.

I have to brag a little on Nam. Bobbie had to be taken to the ER yesterday (she is fine...just a little CHF), and Tonette was stuck in FW waiting on a car repair. I got the word just as I was leaving to pick up Nam from school. So I picked him up, gave him a couple of snickerdoodles to hold him over till lunch, then went to get Daddy to take up to the ER to be with Bobbie. Nam was really sweet with "Pawpaw" when we arrived at Brookdale. After we got to the hospital, Daddy went back to be with Bobbie while Nam and I waited in the lobby. Well, we all know how boring ER waiting rooms can be, and it didn't take long for Nam to get tired and cranky (and hungry). After doing all I could to keep him happy, he finally reached about the end of his patience. I carried him outside for a change of scenery, and he told me, "I'm sorry, Granny! I know you want to be here for your dad!" He can really be so thoughtful at times! Thankfully, Tonette arrived about that time, so we could leave and go grab some lunch!

Sunday evening we went to Paris to see Stephen's family. Gracie was already in bed when we arrived, but the boys were allowed to wait up for us, so we got in a short visit with them before bedtime. They showed us around their new house, and we all had a cup of hot tea to warm our bones (that was the night it dipped down into the teens). Then the adults sat up visiting way later than any of us are used to. Monday morning, we had a leisurely breakfast, then the menfolk went to the office to do their thing. I stayed and enjoyed the grandkids! They are all growing so fast! Gracie will be walking any time now. She is saying a few words and eating just about anything (that doesn't require chewing). We went out for Mexican food for lunch, and she enjoyed the guacamole and beans. Then I tried her on a lemon slice, and she loved it! After lunch, we all went our separate ways, and Dennis and I made it home just before suppertime. I'm thankful that our next visit is just a couple of weeks away.

My ankle has been SO much better since my cortisone shot! I only wore the boot 2-3 days before I found that I could do just as well with the brace instead. I go back to my podiatrist tomorrow. I'm interested in seeing what he says. I am finally walking normally and pain free!

That pretty much sums up the past couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to the next couple!
Enjoy the spring weather while you can!