Saturday the 6th I had a wedding in Athens – which is always nice ‘cus I can stay with my parents.

My brother and his wife came out for the wedding since he was the best man – they arrived on Wednesday so we spent some extra time with them Friday before the wedding.

Derek showed me his gift from Travis – BATMAN CUFFLINKS! I was SO excited – all the groomsmen had different superhero cufflinks! When I met with Travis & Michaelia on Thursday she told me about the old car that they were riding in the reception to – SO excited again!

My brother gave such a touching best man speech – making me cry. Derek was “blessed” with two older sisters and Travis is one of the two people that he considers a brother. I was so proud of him.

Travis & Michaelia – thanks so much for allowing me to be part of your day!

That is my brother and his wife of a little over a year.

Thanks again Travis & Michaelia!

Take a look in the gallery – it is a little out of order as I update right now – but there are more pictures from the *R* wedding there!

I don’t like birthdays – let me specify – I don’t like MY birthday!

I have never understood the “big deal” about birthdays – it is just another day.

Why do we get presents on our birthdays – shouldn’t our parents be getting the gift – especially mom?

I married into a birthday family – they LOVE birthdays!

I thought I would chronicle my past few birthdays …

2005 – my 24th birthday – I was working as an Aide at Phoenix with Jared’s cousin Alyssa and she pulled off QUITE the surprise!

She arranged for a cheesecake and Jared and his mom to come down over lunch to surprise me – pretty sure I cried but can’t remember why!

Then she took me for a surprise trip – I thought it was to get something pierced. It wasn’t.

We went to Old Navy – I think – and she bought me a few cute tops then to the Olive Garden where my parents, Jared, Jared’s parents, Cody (I think), Alyssa’s parents, and Sassy & Andy were waiting for us!

I hope I didn’t leave anyone out that was there – Jared’s parents got me the long lens that I had wanted to badly – it was one of the best birthdays ever!

2006 – my 25th birthday – I had started with my jaw pain in March and felt like absolute poo all the time – I am pretty sure we were supposed to do something on my birthday but I didn’t feel well at all.

I don’t have any pictures from 2007 and can’t even tell you what happened that year – I have no idea!

2008 – my 27th birthday – we had a meal with Jared’s parents …

Still feeling like absolute poo from my jaw – especially this time of year!

2009 – my 28th birthday – oh goodness!

This birthday is hard – I wanted to be pregnant on my 28th birthday so badly – my mom had me when she was 18 – I feel 10 years behind!

But seriously – it’s been a sad birthday since I wanted to be pregnant today.

This morning I did dishes and cut open my finger on my Captain Kirk glass and subsequently had to cancel my manicure – BOO!

I ran some errands and watched Indiana Jones – the newest one – ‘cus it is amazingly cheesetastic!

We went to dinner at the Chinese place tonight and saw Night at the Museum – and it has turned out to be an okay day!

Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes!

Yesterday we had lunch with Jared’s parents and a little cake …

I still feel a little crappy this time of year with my arthritis in my jaw – but 100 times better than the past few birthdays!

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE WISHES – I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY!

I went to Rochester with Aunt L and my cousin Matt to see their daughter/sister-in-law getting ordained!

After getting lost and confused in Geneva (where we stopped for pizza) and threw ourselves for a loop – we FINALLY got on the right path to the church.

The directions google gave us were to the OLD church which was in a funeral home – we were so confused and tired – but in good company.

I wanted to get some pictures of Megan being ordained but there were way too many people in the way!

So instead I had to settle for pictures with my little 2nd cousin *J*.

He looks just like his dad and his uncle when they were his age.

He is 7 months old and just a little baby ball of comfort!

Matt and *J* – what a proud uncle!

Aunt L had my second camera shooting those images.

LOOK AT HIM!

The worship service before the ceremony.

Aunt L and her little pumpkin.

What a sweet babe!

What a sweet family God has blessed us with!

Thanks again Megan and BJ for having us!

So my sister had a slight change in color plans for the wedding – she is still using the truffle with the pool – but she is throwing in the cognac dress too!

I am VERY excited!

Vanessa is going to be in the truffle with the other two bridesmaids in pool and me in the cognac – which is the dress I tried on in the store!

THIS is my dress for the wedding – this dress is about 190 usually but was on sale for 150 – since the cognac color is being discontinued this dress is on sale for 80! AWESOME!

We are gonna go shopping for wedding invites soon!

HOW I WOULD LOVE TO BE A WEDDING PLANNER!

My baby brother graduated from college this weekend! CONGRATS!

Some photos from his wedding …

I mentioned before about my parents starting a farm with their friend Melody.

Last time I went down to the barn – the weather was horrible and I didn’t have the right flash to capture the images I wanted. Mom and I went down on Saturday to take another shot.

The baby cows are SO tiny and SO cute.

We wanted to get a picture of the three of them together and looking at us – this was the best we could get!

This next shot is my favorite …

My sister and her boyfriend Xavier have been dating two years – he proposed a few weekends ago!

She has a gorgeous sapphire ring to go with it!

They wanted a fall wedding but the dates are slim with my weddings already scheduled – so they picked September 12th of this year – which isn’t too far away!

Yesterday we went shopping with our mom and cousin Vanessa to find ideas for a dress. Samm was sure that there wouldn’t be any buying yesterday but left with her dress in hand!

I have pictures of her dress – but it will remain a secret!

The first dress she tried on was the one she ended up buying – I’ll show you the ones that didn’t make the cut!

This was the 2nd dress – we liked it – but it is a little too fancy!

3rd dress – this one didn’t make much of a list at all …

4th – this was Samm’s second choice – so pretty and simple!

5th dress – again – too fancy!

I loved that dress I have on – but I don’t have enough support for it! If it were an indoor wedding – it would have been the one – but since it is outdoor – I needed something a little more free. Vanessa will be in the truffle color that I have on.

6th dress – fanciness!

last dress – my 2nd favorite! It reminds me of The Princess Bride!

The truffle and pool are the dress colors – the orange will be the accents in the flowers and decorations!

They are GREAT fall colors!

Vanessa and I in pool!

The back of that truffle dress that I loved!

These are THE dresses! Vanessa will be in the truffle that I had on earlier and I will be in pool – we wanted it the other way around but the junior dresses don’t come in pool.

LOVE IT!

This is just a beautiful dress I saw and loved! I saw a girl trying it on and had to ask if it was her dress – then had to ask if she had a photographer! She did.

It was a LONG day – but FUN!

I think I might look into working at David’s Bridal part-time! It would be so much fun!

I JUST LOVE WEDDINGS!

We went to my parents this weekend – I had a birthday party and four year pictures planned but the party ended up being a problem with photos and releases so we postponed the four year shoot for a few weeks.

Instead – I had a meeting with a wedding client – referred by the one and only Jenna V – who keeps me in business!

I booked the *T* wedding for 12.19.2009! Thanks again!

Jenna also won ANOTHER free photo session for a referral that booked!

I stopped at Peebles and got a few cute tops for weddings for the summer – Peebles is way too expensive but I love the clearance!

Jared finished The Shack and I started it – he loved it and I am still on the fence.

Schrute hung out with Jared and my parents on Saturday while I was meeting and shopping. I snapped these once I got home …

He is such a handsome boy!

I spent most of the weekend crying – I needed to be with my parents and talk to them about what has happened in our lives and why – of course there are no answers – but it was nice to be with them.

We went wedding dress shopping for my sister – she is getting married 9.12.2009 – mostly because it is the only fall date I have open other than Labor Day – but I will post those in a separate entry …

My cousin Vanessa was born when I was 16 – I remember it all to well – there is no way that she will be 13 this year!