Beautiful Fall Day!

What a beautiful fall day and here I am stuck inside!  I haven't really had the time to enjoy this fall, which is my favorite time of year.  We missed our yearly excursion to see the leaves, so I thought I would look around the house to see what there is to remind me of this beautiful time of year.

The wooden pumpkin looks great on the mantle.
The quilt brings the fall colors into the family room.

On the porch steps there are beautiful mums and pumpkins.

Last of the wedding talk!

This is beginning to seem like a Trina and Tanner site!  Okay, just a few more photos  and then we will begin with other subjects.  Trina, being the frugal person that she is, made the bouquets, boutennaires, and corsages. After getting her hair done she gets some help from flower girl, Jaelyn.  Then we see Trina and Tanner as they depart the wedding site for the reception in the limo.  And finally the wedding party minus the little ones.  For more sneak previews check the blog on http://thelocketonline.com/#

A Sneak Peek

I didn't take any photos at the wedding, and at this point only have a few to share.  I am putting up a sneak peek and will add more as they come in.  The wedding was beautiful and everyone, including the flower girls and ring bearers, went down the aisle!  The reception was held in a beautiful art gallery with great music and food!  After cleaning up, some of us then traveled with the bride and groom to a bar in the motel where we were staying.  Some drinks were had, more dancing was done, some karaoke was sung(not by me), and more fun was had by all!  Us two old folks drug ourselves to the room at about 1:30 a.m.  Sunday morning found the two of us in the hot tub early trying to ease our aching bodies. (It didn't work:)  After more visiting with relatives and saying good-bye, we were off to gift opening.  Following that it was time to travel back home.  After emptying the truck and putting everything in it's place, I crawled into bed for a well deserved 3 hour nap, watched a little TV with my eyes propped open, and then back to bed for the night.  Bud also enjoyed some well-deserved lounging.    Okay, so here's the sneak peek.

The Day Has Arrived!!

After much weather forecasting and dread it turned out to be a beautiful day for a fall wedding! (Not that we would have minded 10 degrees warmer:)  Tanner's family of men, Bud, Tasha, Brittany, and I set up for the wedding in the morning.  Trina, of course, had lists and diagrams for us to follow, but when we arrived to set up the arbor(built by Tanner's dad, Brad) we saw these gorgeous fall trees and just knew we needed to change the spot.  I was elected to call Trina to get the okay after Tanner had given his. (No one wanted to upset the bride you know!) This photo is from the champagne toast area looking down before luminaries, etc. were set up. 

And Then We Dined

Following rehearsal we went to Cibo Fusion Restaurant in Marion for a delicious dinner.  We spent some time getting to know each other's families while we were there.  Trina and Tanner gave gifts to the bridal party.  I know a good time was had by all.

Practice & Prepare

Well, the weekend finally came!  Because of the cold rainy weather on Friday rehearsal was held in a church.  Trina and Tanner were very prepared and most of us were given a schedule to follow!  The dads enjoyed a chuckle before rehearsal, we met several family members we hadn't met before, we received instructions from Trina, Tanner, and the minister, and then we practiced.

That's How I'm Feeling!

So, you see the picture of this chick?  Well, that's how I'm feeling lately!  Just a little stress with cheesecakes to make for the wedding, mums to have blooming by then, a house to keep clean, Mom to be entertained, and then there's the unfinished house and the load at school--not to mention my back that is still painful.  I'm dreaming of the day we really don't have anything we HAVE to do, or just should do except maybe nap on the couch, watch a movie, or go to IC  WITHOUT stopping at Menard's.  Last night the girls, the fiance, the grandsons, Trina's little sister, and Mom were here for supper.  Guess who cooked. Yup, that would be me!  We put programs together for the wedding.  Bud and I got up and headed to the game this morning.  It was a great game with a win for the Hawks, but I was a little chilly.  Met up with Mom, Trilby, and Nate after to go to the Museum in WB and then to do a little shopping.  So, no cheesecakes baked today.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.  So, would it kill ya to comment?

SHOWERING THE HAPPY COUPLE

Saturday found us all journeying to Roland for a shower for Trina and Tanner. Bud's niece and her family were gracious enough to host this event in her beautiful home.  The aunts provided  a yummy lunch. We enjoyed meeting Tanner's parents and his brother's family and also our six week old great niece and great nephew (twins). Family attended from Pomeroy, Fort Dodge, Manson, Oxford Junction, Marion, Lisbon, Homestead, Marshall, MN, and Amarillo, TX. As usual, Trina was thrilled with opening the gifts!  

Pretty in Pink!

 Friday evening we celebrated with a bachelorette party in honor of Trina's last few days as a single gal!  We dressed up in our pink and started with dinner and drinks at Ruby Tuesday's, one of Trina's  favorite spots.  We filled out a questionnaire to see how much we all knew about Trina and Tanner and their relationship.  There were some interesting answers to say the least!  Following dinner several groups went on a scavenger hunt on the way to Tanner's.  The waiters at Ruby Tuesday's were very congenial and tried to help the best they could.  Anyway, the next thing on the schedule was a Pure Romance Party and drinks.  If you've never been to one of these parties, let's just say that they certainly do make MANY colors and sizes of the male anatomy that move in interesting directions!  Following the demonstrations and games along with drinks Trina opened her gifts.  I do think a good time was had by all, especially Pat for whom this was her first ever bachelorette party. (at 67!)

Our Last Camping Trip for 2008 (Maybe)

We had a beautiful weekend camping at Tailwater East, Coralville Lake.  Saturday was spent with me reading and Bud fishing.  We made a trip to Iowa City to run some errands and then returned to the campground to do more fishing and reading.  The leaves are beginning to turn and it was cool enough to enjoy sitting around the fire all day(although I had to go between the chair and couch because of my back:( ).  The Iowa game was quite a disappointment as we listened to them lose another game.  We did a short hike back to "Grandpa's Secret Fishing Spot", as Payton would call it.  It is hard to believe the difference the flood has made in the landscape.  The shore was eaten away by about 4 feet.  It took us a minutes to remember where we have fished in the past as some trees have fallen and the shoreline is so different.  The campground wasn't full so it was very quiet and peaceful.  The great fisherman didn't have such good luck this time and we came home without any fish.  We are going to keep our fingers crossed that we can go camping one last time the weekend after the wedding, (I know it will be the first of Nov., but we'll hope for Indian summer, and our furnace works great!)  regardless of whether the house is done or not!  For now its back to the grindstone!