A wedding in a Train Station.

Last night I went to bed at 9:00 pm. Which is rare in my house. What is even more rare, is that as soon as my head hit the pillow I was asleep. No tug of war with the blanket, not adjusting my pillow 58 times, no getting up to check to see if Jake really locked the door like he said; I was out. On Saturday my brother and his beautiful new wife celebrated their love at the historic Union Station in downtown LA. We danced all night, we ate and drank to our hearts content, It was truly the most fun I have had in a long time.

It couldn't have been more perfect. The venue was built in 1935 and was fully loaded with art deco flair ( MY FAVORITE ) .  Everything about this wedding was them. From the bow ties and suspenders, to the succulent flower arrangements, to the home-brewed beer to the veggie friendly meal. There was no doubt you were celebrating their love.

You truly can't go wrong in a bow tie and suspenders.

Violet was fabulous the whole night. I was worried that come 8:30 (her bed time) she would become unglued. I was wrong. She danced all night. We got home around 11:00 and she was still awake, and asking where her other "flow-der girls" were. There were repercussions the next day. Violet was the most cranky she has been in a long time. It was worth it.

Armenian dancing!

To many, many, many more years of happiness for Greg and Tracie!

Wiebe Married.

Many of you remember this sweet little marriage proposal with our long time friend Jordan, and Channelle.  After 6 short months of planning their dream celebration their big day had finally come.  

What made this day unique:

Everything, from the music, decor, attire, venue was them. They threw conventional wedding "guidelines" out the window and said, hey. forget what Martha Stewart said, let's make this day about us.

There is no other way a community of people can express it's love for one another by using their hands to help. Jordan and Channelle are not short of love.

Almost all the decorations were rented from a local second hand store, hanging lamps, random vintage collectibles as center pieces& rocking chair lounge. Not to mention a music recording "studio" to write and record your little diddly for the bride and groom

Nikki and I were asked to help coordinate the day of duties. We felt pretty important with our walkie talkies in hand. 

The beautiful bride in her hand made gown made by her mother.

Violet and Sophia taking a break from their flower girl "duties".

Can't track down the bride and groom for a picture? Not to worry, There were life size cut outs for this type of situation. Here are my favorite from the night:

Jordan and Channelle opted out of having a wedding cake and had a doughnut bar instead. It was obviously much appreciated.

Dancing break with my love.

So glad to share this day with some of the best people I know.

the world spins madly on.

Days have quickly turned into weeks in our little pocket of the world. Months filled with events, there is hardly an open day on our calender.  I often find myself caught in between wishing for some down time, and loving the lack of down time we have each week. I suppose somewhere in the middle would be nice. After all, those little moments where I catch my breath and enjoy the simplicity of Violet making a mess of her pasta is what sticks out most in my memory.

 Jake's family came up for Violet's birthday weekend. We all mosied down to the school a couple blocks from my house.  We threw the ball around for the dog, ran barefoot on the grass and I imagined the day I would walk Violet to school on her first day of kindergarten.  The air was thick, but it didn't stop us from gallivanting on the jungle gym, or pumping our legs hard on the swing set. I miss those days of that kind of freedom. 

We have had our fair shake at local playgrounds. And to our dismay, there wasn't a whole lot of interest. Until that day, when Violet waltzed up the stairs and threw herself down the tallest, windiest slide she could find. No forewarning or anything. Do you see her face of  sheer thrill and utter fear? Thankfully Pop was at the end of the slide to catch her. She did this a couple of more times until she announced she was "scare-reded".

After many mock birthday songs, and candle-blowing out practice, when the day came, Violet was like an old pro. We all sang to her, and she stood proudly standing on her chair. A smile beaming from ear to ear.  There couldn't have been a better moment in this two year old's life.

This is the sweet little kitchen set my father in law built for Violet. I can't seem to pull her away from it. My sister in law Hillary bought a bunch of mini pots and pans, and my Mom found a whole bag of toy food at a yard sale. Violet has picked up most of my mannerisms in the kitchen and pretty accurately imitates. She asks me, "Mama, whatchu wanta'eat?"  "No. you can't have dat, I'll make you spaghetti." She tells me.  I make sure to tell Violet, "It's not your job to be in the kitchen you know... You can do anything you want, like a doctor, a engineer, an artist. Anything". (I'm trying to show her there are no gender roles in this house) She stares at me blankly. My father in law pointed out that we aren't teaching Violet she belongs in the kitchen, we are teaching her hospitality through means of food.  I felt better after that.

 It seems to be wedding season. We have four wedding from now until December. And three out of four of them we are participating in.

My parents at my little sister before her wedding. Doesn't she look beautiful? My parents officially have empty nest syndrome. (My brother is getting married in December)

You never really quite know if your flower girl(s) or ring barer is going to make it down the isle.  And in the end, who really cares. It's a novelty right? It's something cute for people to look at. Violet sure did make it down the isle, we even had to pry her off of the stage. My cousin, whose daughter was the other flower girl, reminded the girls to make sure they threw their peddles on the floor as they were walking down. Violet got to the front of the stage, and announced, "OH yah.." then took her basket and dumped the whole thing out on the front steps. Show stealer.

My sweet Flower girl.

The world spins madly on, and all we can do it try to keep up and enjoy every moment.