Woohoooo more pictures! And this is another picture heavy post! One more of these and I will have been through our wedding!
Remember the slide show I did? Well here is PC singing the song to me while watching the photos go through. I couldn’t see any of this but still I knew :). He walked both mothers in, took them to light the candles and then escorted them back to their seats and then stood through the 4 minute slide show waiting on yours truly.
We decided to have the guys escort the ladies down the aisle. When I asked Evelyn if she minded she said, “I love walking down the aisle with this man.” When I asked Kalem he said, “Do I have to?”… LOL (ps they are married and have been 11 years)
Noah, April, PC and I all went to school together. It cracks me up neither of them are smiling.
Tbug was being a pistol the night of the rehearsal, but she took her job seriously on the day of the wedding.
I was so sad to see there were NO, you heard me, NO pictures of my dad walking me down the aisle. This is as close as we get :(.
And here’s a classic one… I laughed through the entire ceremony. Everyone figured I’d be a crier, but I laughed my head off through the entire ceremony. Some say it was due to nerves… but hey, I wasn’t crying.
See Big Ole’ Smile
Here is when the preacher asked for the rings. What was given you ask?? Ring Pops. The preacher held them up and said, “Do I really have to pray over these?”
Lighting our Unity Candle
And then a family Unity Candle
And You may kiss your bride 🙂
May I introduce to you Mr. & Mrs. PC 🙂
Once we got out of the church we embraced each other in a huge hug.
Then we chose to exit everyone. First my Parents
Then PC’s parents. Then he escorted his grandma out of the church. And then we proceeded on back and forth between the guests.
No one heard we were actually leaving the building… which was fine!
When getting ready to decide on what to leave the church in we tossed around a lot of ideas… my uncle’s old truck, a horse and wagon, a limo, my mom’s car, dad’s truck and then it hit us, how about my aunt’s car. As PC was helping me into the car, he scoffed and said, yeah, like you’d have made it into your mom’s car. I was laying across the backseat almost… LOL and my mom drives a 2 door sports car…
Here are our two families intertwined. I wish we’d have gotten a shot with my grandparents (would have meant even more now) and PC’s grandma but it didn’t happen 🙁 But my grandpa made it to my wedding and that’s what matters. He’s there on the front row 🙂
And now our immediate family
And duh, it’s our wedding 😉
Kisses for everyone 🙂
PC with his nephew and daughter.
and because my other grandparents passed away (07 & 08) and PC’s step dad passed away (05, I think) we had a memorial set up for them so they were a part of our wedding day too.
This is in the old High school court yard… you know where we spent a lot of time way back when…
Ok so technically we didn’t hang out in the school yard together but the building was locked up… LOL
“What’s up there?”
This is one of the main entrances.
Ok one more post and I’ll quit bugging you with wedding recaps. Hope you’ve enjoyed so far. I’ve been happy and disappointed both in our pictures… some I asked for, like PC’s face the minute he saw me walk down the aisle, I didn’t get or my dad walking me down the aisle, or I noticed looking that the pics of PC, me & Greg & Tim (brothers from another mother) aren’t in the 366 photos I went through… I’m still holding out. We’ll see 🙁
Peace, Love & Wedding Photos 🙂 All photos courtesy of Greene Photography
Nicole
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Ok I had to go a while and get away from the wedding. But I’m back. Although it won’t be hardcore either. (aka The professional pictures have started appearing magically! haha). All the pictures in this post are actually taken by PC’s dad but I was just saving them for this point.
I’ll start with the guys first. Man the whole time I was at the hair studio and then in the room waiting, I so wondered what the guys were up to. I also thought having 2 photographers, better yet one male and one female, that I’d get some photos of the guys. Mindy stayed with the girls and I’m not sure where Taylor was (I was in a room far off) so luckily PC’s dad jumped in and got photos of the guys getting ready for me.
One of the surprises I didn’t and couldn’t tell you about (b/c PC reads my blog religiously) was that I had 3 cards. I had bought them years ago. They each had meaning but at the time I bought them, I wasn’t even dating anyone, I just felt the need to buy them, so I did. I put them in a box and put them away. A couple weeks before the wedding it finally dawned on me why I bought these cards and what I needed to do with them. I signed each one and labeled them with times. One was to be delivered to him at 8am, one at 9am and the third which also contained a personal letter from me was to be delivered at 10am. I gave them to my mom and put her in charge. I didn’t care who took them to him as long as he received them in the particular order I sent them and that he opened them right then and there and read them. Here he is reading one of his cards.
I’m sure most of his morning was spent playing on the iPad. That’s my baby!!
Eventually though it was time for them to start getting ready.
Oh wow!!! I got a lot of photos from Monday so I’m splitting it up into 2 posts! Otherwise you’d see 55 photos and trust me, I got more than that 🙂 I’m sharing 23 with you right now and 22 in the other unless I look at them more and decide, nah don’t like it after all 🙂 Stay tuned to find out 🙂
On Monday we got up and ran across the street and ate breakfast at a Dunkin’ Donuts and then headed for the double decker tour buses. Most all my info is from the tour guide… he could have been pulling my leg and I wouldn’t know the difference so if I tell you something and it’s wrong, it was his fault! Don’t kill the messenger!
These are the “Corn Cob” buildings. I’ve seen them on some of my other excursions to the city however didn’t know about them… They are located on the Chicago River and are a city within a city.
I truthfully think I’m going to wait for actual wedding photos until I see Mindy’s, so I guess I’ll start with us leaving. I know, that’s mean of me but I’m so torn, so that means I really want to wait. I can’t wait to see them and I keep thinking/expecting any day now to see photos! I promise when I see them I’ll share!!!!!
Until then, we must roll on! These pictures don’t give away how we were dressed either 🙂
So now we are leaving the Reception. After the reception we went to our house and unloaded presents out of PC’s truck and unwrapped them. Then we headed for Fayetteville.
Thursday night we were up later than normal getting things done. Awake at 6am on Friday morning. I went to bed after midnight on Friday night (Thanks for Talking to me Stef!!) and PC admitted to going to bed closer to 2am. My mom woke me up at 6:20 just before my alarm went off Saturday morning and I went strong all day long. Once we got to Fayetteville we ate dinner at PF Changs and by the time we got to the hotel and checked in it was 10:30. Then we had to un-wind which took forever. We finally made it to sleep around midnight and were up at 4:20 Sunday morning to catch our 6:30am flight for our honeymoon. (more on that later!!)
PC and I decided NOT to have either of our vehicles at the wedding so they didn’t get “dirty” or “Messed up” or whatever you’d like to call it…
PC had his dad over on Tuesday night and when he came over, he brought us all the photos from yesterday’s post as well as photos he took on Wedding Day Eve and the Wedding day. I felt like you guys should see more photos… haha 🙂 Not like I don’t cram my blogs with enough photos anyway! Sheesh, what am I thinking!
So yes, I’m back tracking a little, but you know a year from now it’ll be great that I included these! You’ll thank me then ;).
PC and I both finally wound up at the Phelp’s House to set things up for Rehearsal Dinner that night. I was in a real in depth convo here 🙂
Apparently whatever I was talking about was IMPORTANT… LOL
Valentine’s Day was quickly approaching. I was sad to learn that PC really didn’t care much about Valentine’s Day because in the past he’d never really had a reason to celebrate although in college those few single ones I spent I referred to it as S.A.D day, Single’s Awareness Day. But from talking to him about V-day he was excited about it this year, he just couldn’t remember the date. I couldn’t help but poke a little fun at him because it never changes, always February 14.
A few weeks prior to this we’d been at the DAV store donating some items and while we were there we walked around and found a Philco Refrigerator. One of the old style fridge’s. We really liked it but the price on it was steep, they wanted $300. We passed. Well his dad went back a couple times and checked on it for us. Finally the week of V-day went over and offered them $75 for it. They accepted our offer and we took the deal. On Thursday night, the 11th, he and I headed to town to pick up the fridge. On our way home I was yakking away about how this was our Valentine’s Day present to each other. He wasn’t allowed to get me flowers, etc, and eventually the topic of marriage came up again.
-I so want to ask you to marry me, but I’m scared to death to ask your dad. I’m afraid to answer that question.
-I know. It’s no big deal. When you have an answer to that question you’ll answer him and then we’ll go from there. I’m not worried.
-I know but I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to answer that question.
-I’m NOT worried about it. When the time’s right it’ll happen.
-I know but How am I going to support his little girl, that even scares me right now.
-Hey I can take care of myself. That’s not why I would marry you. If that was the reason then I’d find some rich suga daddy and I don’t want that. I want YOU!
-I know but still…
-Anyway I really like our Valentine’s Day present. It’s the most unique one I’ve seen anyone get 🙂 And remember, NO flowers!
“Woof, woof.”
“Does someone hear a dog?”
“Woof, woof.”
“Nicole, get Morelli out of the house!”
“Mom I don’t see him. Morelli, Morelli.”
Eventually the game was over. Memaw said she would take Tbug home. PC was soon to follow. He planned on taking her home the next day. That night her mom and step-dad threw a party for her birthday and we were invited. We said we would be there.
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Tbug had Cheerleading competitions every weekend starting the end of January until April that fell on our weekends to have her. Her mother suggested we trade weekends. So our next weekend to have her was the 9th, PC’s dad’s birthday. We had talked about at least taking her in to see his dad if not more when on Thursday we all found out his dad had been taken to the ER and admitted into the hospital on Wednesday night. When I got off work Thursday night I met PC and his sister at the hospital. I waited with them through their dad’s surgery to see what was wrong.
I truthfully believe they didn’t plan this right, his daughter’s birthday is 8 days after Christmas and although she has a very cool birthday (1/2/03) it sucks when you think she gets Christmas and her birthday all over at once. Throw personal property taxes and property taxes in there and you might as well just kiss yourself into the poor house!
Since his daughter stayed the night with his mom on Christmas Day, we made plans to head out first thing the day after to hit after Christmas sales. At least we were on a mission and knew what we wanted to get her, a camera she could call her own.
My Mustang does not, I repeat does not handle snow and ice, especially in my parents driveway where you go up hill both ways, literally. Prince Charming said we could take his truck, but I could see all the roadways and they were clear, as long as we could get out of my parents driveway we’d be in the clear. So we jumped in my car started down the hill gaining momentum so we could make it back up and it was a no go. As you might guess we started spinning. Grrrr I was mad so I backed down the hill and as far up the hill as I could to get another running start, gassed it and dang, no go. By this point I stopped, popped the truck, told PC I was getting in the trunk (for weight) and he was to drive it out. two more attempts and as he was backing down the hill for the third attempt he backed off into the yard and got stuck. By this point I was mad and throwing a temper tantrum that involved me saying, “I hate this stupid car. The damn thing is for sale as of right now!”
Once Thanksgiving hits, everything is such a whirlwind that it feels like there is absolutely no down time until January hits. This year proved no different. After we got back from Ft. Worth the next thing we looked forward to was heading to Kansas City.
Every year, the Sunday before Christmas we head to Kansas City to celebrate Christmas with my grandpa’s sister and her family. This fell on our weekend to have his daughter but we usually have to have his daughter home at 6 on Sunday’s. With driving to KC there wasn’t any guarantee when we’d be back. He worked out with his ex-wife that his daughter could go with us and he’d just bring her back first thing Monday morning.
To save ourselves a little time PC and his daughter stayed the night at my parents house so we didn’t have to get up nearly as early. PC slept on the couch and his daughter slept in my bed with me. I’d never slept next to a little kid before and she was extremely snuggly (like I was as a child) so she immediately snuggled in next to me and was out. I on the other hand was extremely worried about rolling over on her in the middle of the night or else pushing her out of bed or something so my brain kept me awake all night long. Every 20-30 minutes I’d stare at her to make sure she was still breathing. I’ll probably be one of those paranoid mothers if I ever have my own child. Needless to say I got about 2 hrs total sleep that night.
First thing Sunday morning we loaded up in the Mustang, met my grandparents at my parents driveway and tag-teamed our way up to KC. PC I think was a little nervous and a little excited to meet yet another side of the family. I think his daughter was just bored. (What ever did my parents do with me when I was her age… we didn’t have built in DVD players or anything… we survived. Yeah the Mustang doesn’t have that either but I’m happy to report she survived just fine!) After a few wrong turns we wound up at the restaurant for brunch. Grandpa’s family knew that I was bringing them up with me and they could hardly contain their excitement to meet them.
After brunch we all headed to Margie’s House. This was the first year for that, usually we went to Aunt Sue’s. Margie had the neatest Christmas tree. She told us she got it on the Plaza at the Hallmark store so PC, his daughter and I loaded up in the car and took off for the Plaza in search for this tree. We wondered around on the plaza for a couple hours going in to different stores and looking and having no luck finding the tree so we headed back to Margie’s house. About the time we got back everyone started planning on leaving so we grabbed a few snacks, loaded up in the car and took off for home. Just before we left Aunt Sue pulled me aside and asked if we were sure his daughter wasn’t mine because she responded so well to me and even looked like me. My heart swelled
PC and I made a deal, I drove up, he drove home. Sitting in the passenger seat and lack of sleep the night before I started to doze off. I felt guilty for sleeping though so eventually I started playing with the apps on my iPhone. I have a game called This or That so PC and I started playing this. Eventually his daughter put up her DS and started answering the questions as well so I added her in on the game. We played this for an hour and a half.
Once we got back to town we thought it might be fun to go through the display of Christmas lights that the Vietnamese put on so we headed into town. Once we were done, we went and put gas in my car, they took me home and then got in his truck and headed home. I walked into my bedroom and passed out on my bed, not to wake until that dumb alarm went off at 6:30 the next morning.
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My aunt is an ER doctor in southern Oklahoma. When it comes to planning Christmas we not only have the factor of weather but also the factor of her schedule of when she works and when she doesn’t. It is a 5 1/2 hour trip to her house one way. This year she had to work on Christmas Day so they planned on driving up on the 23rd, doing Christmas with my mom’s side of the family on Christmas Eve morning and then they’d head home that afternoon. We had started listening to weather predictions earlier in the week and heard that our part of the country was going to have snow dumped on us Christmas Eve into Christmas day so plans got changed. Once they arrived on the 23rd, we were going to do Christmas and then they were going to head home first thing Christmas Eve.
PC worked out with his ex-wife to allow his daughter to come over to the house on the night of the 23rd to celebrate Christmas with us. I wound up having to work on the 23rd so his ex-wife met me in the parking lot of my work where I picked his daughter up and brought her to the house. I was a little nervous because I didn’t have my back up with me. He was at my house helping my mother get ready for Christmas dinner. I faced his ex alone and I was extremely nervous. I drove up to our meeting destination and started rearranging his daughter’s car seat so she could jump in just as they pulled into the parking lot. I buckled her in and away we went. She and I pulled in my parents driveway just before my aunt & uncle did.
His daughter and my mother have this game they play. She gets on all fours under the kitchen table and barks like a dog. My mom goes on and on about who let the dog in (usually my dog Morelli b/c he lets himself in when he shouldn’t) and they go back and forth for quite a while like that. Today held no difference:
She kicked her shoes off at the door, threw her coat on the couch and jumped under the kitchen table. -Woof Woof -Who let that dog in the house again? -Woof I proceed through the door. -Well Nicole I thought you were bringing Tbug home with you. -um… I was. She might still be in the car. -Woof -Nicole did you let Morelli in? -(me) Morelli? Morelli, Come here Morelli…. Well I don’t know where he went. He isn’t coming. -Woof.
PC & my dad ran downstairs to help my aunt and uncle bring presents in to the house. Once they got inside my mom said, “Tbug, stand up here for a minute. I’d like to introduce you to my sister and brother-in-law.”
And with that she came out from under the table, stood up next to my mom and shook their hands. My mom then told her she was done and she said, “Okay.” and ran off into the living room where she got back down on all fours and started jumping around. My aunt & uncle were extremely impressed with her and my mom boasted on how well behaved she was. Then my uncle went into the living and started playing with Tbug.
Now my uncle is just as much of a kid when it comes to opening presents so he conned Tbug into running in and saying, “Are we going to open presents yet?” Of course we all laughed and my mom said but I thought we’d eat dinner first. Well that got me chiming in saying, I’m going to distribute presents. Dinner isn’t ready yet anyway and we all headed for the living room. At the end of the night we had to take Tbug back to her momma’s house but if they could have, I think my aunt and uncle would have wrapped her up and taken her home with them.
PC stayed the night at my parents house that night because the next morning Tbug and her mom, step dad, sister, grandma & uncle were coming out to our house. She wanted a saddle for Christmas with a pink blanket so we helped her momma locate one for her. Since they don’t have horses and we do they gave her the present on Christmas Eve morning and then headed out to my house so Tbug could try out her new saddle.
PC and I got up that morning to a nasty, cold, misty rain. We made breakfast and then headed outside to saddle up Aloha and ride her down a bit before they got to my house. Once we had her warmed up and the “buck” out of her (it was cold and she hadn’t been ridden in a couple days, but she really doesn’t buck, she’s to lazy) we went and stood in the barn waiting on them. Once they arrived we walked outside and saddled up Aloha and helped Tbug get on her back. Then we lead her out into the round pen and let her ride around. Eventually her sister wanted on too so I picked her sister up and carried her over the mud hole and put her in front of Tbug. Since it was cold and misty they didn’t last but maybe 15-20 minutes and then they were done. We walked Aloha back to the barn, unsaddled her, brushed her off, gave her treats and then they left. Once they were gone I ran in the house and jumped in a screaming hot shower. PC was soon to follow.
That afternoon we played John Deere Monopoly, one of his Christmas presents. We’d had plans that evening to attend midnight mass at church and then stay the night at his mom’s house so we could be at his sister’s first thing Christmas morning. We watched the tv all afternoon as more and more churches and area businesses were canceling due to the inclement weather. About 6 we decided to go ahead and head to his mom’s house so we wouldn’t be on the roads any later than need be but we were smart because we drove his truck. We waited up to hear his mother made it home from work and then we both crashed.
I’ve always had this bad habit of waking up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning, this year proved no different. I was wide awake at 5am. Unfortunately I woke him up as well. We laid there watching Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase until it was time to get up and get dressed to head to his sisters house. We walked out on the porch of his mom’s house to single digit temps and 2 feet of snow. It was the first year we’d had snow on Christmas morning in 7 years.
PC, his mom and I loaded up in his truck and drove down the road to his sisters house. His dad showed up about 15 minutes after we did. When we got there his sister had a fantastic breakfast ready for us. We ate breakfast and opened presents, then we loaded back up in his truck, took his mom home and took off for my grandparents house.
On our way to my grandparents house my mom called to say we had forgotten to put Santa presents out so we made a quick detour to my house and found the hidden Santa presents and then went on to my grandparents house. When we got there my grandma tried to feed us breakfast again but we declined. Once everyone had eaten we went into the living room where I played Santa again and passed out all the presents. About 11:30 PC got a call from his ex-wife and went to meet her to pick up Tbug. As he was pulling out of the driveway his mother was pulling in.
Once we ate lunch at my grandparents house we then headed back to my house for Santa presents. After she opened the last present she looked at me and said, “Is that all?” I was ready to crawl in a hole. That absolutely broke my heart. My first time getting to play Santa and she wasn’t happy with what we got her.
Memaw wanted to spend some time with Tbug so she went home with Memaw. PC stayed with me. After all the excitement and waking up at the crack of dawn I went, laid down on my bed and he and I slept that afternoon away. We woke up that evening and spent some time watch some movies with my parents and then we all went to bed. PC stayed the night at my house that night too because the next morning we were getting up early to hit the After Christmas Sales on the search for his daughter’s Birthday present.
