The Best App(s) of All!

I LOVE taking pictures! It's even more fun when one has a friend who is just as crazy about taking pictures! Tom, Nila and Larry App and I took 3 days to travel to Mackinaw City.  We knew the weather was going to be chilly and possibly rainy but it got the Apps away from work. (We do what we can you know!) Nila is a nut...who loves being by the water no matter the temperature...and then put a camera in her hand and she goes really nutty! I am thrilled. Meet the Apps:

Two of the nicest people on earth!

Nila and I went on a walk to a tiny memorial park (after shopping
of course). She made me honestly not care that the weather
 wasn't warm and balmy.I saw such beauty in the chilly
 temperatures and was amazed at how theclouds changed
 so rapidly. It was gorgeous! Nila took more pictures

 that I did...I think.

 

Beautiful Mackinac Bridge
 

...and the clouds moved in and changed everything!

Shortly, Tom arrived with the car.

We are rescued from the rain!

 

After picking up Larry at the hotel,

 we all returned to take more pictures.  

The rain moved in for 5 minutes but the beauty continued.

 

Then we were given The Gift!

 

Amazing!
 

We drove down some "dead end"
 roads and found these beauties!
 

It was a surprise to see the
 bridge from this side!

 

I was loving that Nila couldn't get enough of the

change of the lighting

and the clouds and the colors!

 She made me seem "normal"!

 

The sun was doing its magic!
 

And the sun began to hide.

 

Tom captured the moment.
 

Larry patiently waited for Nila and me to finish.

"We're almost done, LB. Wait...just one more!"

 

"Just one more.
 I promise!"
 

"But look how the light is
 shining on the bridge!!!"
 

"NILA!!! COME ON! THEY'RE
 GOING TO LEAVE US!"
 

"But Tom! Larry! Look at how
 beautiful it is!!! WAAAIT!"
 

"Run, Nila, Run!!!
We can catch them!!!"
 

Why We Come Home.....

There are 5 reasons that we come home

after we take our little trips:

Blake (2nd grade) and Nicholas (3rd grade)

 

Alexis (3 years)

 

Marley (Kindergarten) and Layla (3rd grade)

A Washington Wedding

We celebrated the marriage of my nephew Andrew and his bride, Miranda in a beautiful park in Bellingham, Washington. With perfect weather in a perfect setting with perfect wonderful family, we had a great time! The park setting was spectacular. We just moved from one area to another with food and drink in our hands most of the time. Fabulous!!! I couldn't resist starting out with a picture of the newlyweds:

 

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bowman

The pianist was fantastic!!!! (She was once on
 the TV show "Northern Exposures")
 

Ron has a gift for making everyone feel comfortable! 

Paula meets Miranda's relatives as hors doeuvres 
 are served prior to the wedding.
 

Brent, Jason (hiding), Kendra and Tom
 

Miranda's Mom

Here comes the groom!!!
 

...and the flower girls
 

...and Heather (who stood up with her brother)
 

...and Megan (Miranda's sister, the vet,
who traveled from Australia!!!)
AND.......
 

...the bride surrounded by her
dad and her mom!
 

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Bowman!

 A Nature Theme:
Flowers were everywhere! Miranda has been collecting
vintage plates with floral designs since her engagement.
 The tables were covered with wild flowers,
 mosses and greenery in various vases,
 floral tablecloths, Mason jars and all
things bright and beautiful!
 

 

 

Gorgeous!..... 

...down to the tiniest rosebud!
 

Even the moss was gorgeous.
 

Details were incredible. Homemade
strawberry/rubarb jam  was made by
 Miranda's mother as gifts for each guest!
 

Miranda and Andy can now relax
 at the "sweetheart" table.
 

Miranda's bouquet was the centerpiece for their table.
 

Hor doeuvres were served before the ceremony
 and during the 15 minute photo shoot
 out in the gardens. Tom and I
 (mostly Tom!) captured a few shots
 when we were able to get the "pro" out of our way!!!
 

Isn't this the picture of 'love'?

 

                     While these pictures were being taken,

                     people were 'grazing' their way from

                     hors doeuvres to dinner. Everything

                     was spectacular (Amanda used to work

                     for this catering company and

                     she DID have the finest!)



Brent takes advantage of the pre-dinner "snacks"!
Plenty of hugging, catching-up with friends and relatives and then dinner was served.
 

                THIS is "Grandma Grace" (and Grandpa Larry).

                My family was immediately in love with

                her because we grew up with our own

                Grandma Grace. Kendra said that

                Grandma Grace looked so much

                like her Grandma O'Lee (Tom's mom).

 

Brent asked questions about biking and mountains to this "master" of it all.
 

Sisters-in-law
 

Paula and Ron
Andy's parents and my
sister and brother-in-law
 

Just like my cooking!

The Cake......

          Heather was given the task of baking the cake

          (Miranda provided the photo to keep with the

          Nature Theme. It was a job usually done in

          4 days but Heather had 2 days at our rental

          house in which to get the job done. We saw

          it done...step-by-step...from Ron "warming"

          eggs to finding the "right" butter. It was impressive

          and Heather came through (as usual).

          I've seen several of her creations!

 

Miranda asked Paula (while we were all at the rental house)

 if she could "create" a pedestal for the tray she had

found at Goodwill. Paula searched and glued and ta da! Perfect!

 

              Relatives brought various desserts. But note

              the "cake toppers" on each side of the cake.

             I discovered that the topper on the left belongs

                 to Grandma Grace and on the right was

                    on Great Grandpa's wedding cake.

            How incredible is that! I HAD to take a picture!!!

 

Grandma Grace and her wedding topper.
 

Great-Grandpa and his wedding topper.


And the grounds were incredible!!!!! 

Tom posed for me as we entered
 the gardens upon our arrival.
 

Loved the vintage table
used for the guest book!
 

I dare anyone to find a weed!!!
 

 

                    This gives a taste of how beautiful the grounds were.

                    And then, it's the beginning of the ending of a long,

                    wonderful day.Throughout the day,

                    people would gather to visit in an area nearby.

 

Miranda and Andy Bowman

It was a beautiful day, perfect in every way. If a person needed a "thumbs up" from God, He certainly gave it to us:

 

Amen!