Auntie Ash Gets Married!

Ok, just a warning, picture overload coming up.

 

So at the end of June, Auntie Ash and Uncle Owen got married in the Dominican Republic.  And what could be more fun and relaxing than taking a toddler and a three and a half year old on two plane rides each way to a beach resort?  Lots of stuff, but I digress. 

 

The kids actually did great.  They loved playing on the beach in the sand every day we were there. 



 

 Excited to go to the beach!

 

Papa, Connor, and Daddy

 



Uncle Ben imitating Colson's poses. 

 

 Summer stylin'.

 

At dinner.

 

Orange soda!  Her favorite!

 

Papa, Colson, and JoJo

 

Papa, Connor, and JoJo

Colson and Auntie Ash

 

Our attempt at a family pic before we left.

 

 

 

The rehearsal dinner was on the beach.  It was cool and breezy, a perfect night.  And of course the kids loved playing on the beach.

 

The happy couple.

 

 Covered in sand, and loving it.

 

 

The wedding was at the fountains at the resort.  It was a beautiful location, but hot.  All the buildings blocked the ocean breeze, and the wedding was at 3:00 on a cloudless day. 

 



The flower girl.

 



 

 

The ring bearer.

 

 

The bride.

 

 

The groom.

 

 

So all that practice walking down the isle and tossing petals Colson did the few weeks before the wedding was pointless.  After some convincing, both she and Connor finally started down the isle.  But they didn't make it far.  Connor got distracted by the fountains and chunked the pillow he was carrying.  Colson like the petals in her basket and wanted them to stay there.  They both stopped walking with still about 20 yards to go.  I was already at the front, so Jon went to try to coax them along.  He handed Connor the pillow, which was quickly tossed aside again.  Colson was in need of a nap anyway, so there was no convincing her to walk down the isle.  It was getting close to time for Ashleigh and Dad to start walking, so I had no choice but to walk back down the isle and get them.  I picked up Colson, which upset Connor.  Fortunately he was fine once Daddy picked him up.  We walked to the front of the isle, and someone, I think Mom, tossed a handful of Colson's petals on the isle.  And thus began the meltdown.  Colson was so upset that her petals were on the ground and cried the entire ceremony.  We did all the parenting "don'ts" and bribed her with ice cream, toys, anything we could think of.  Nothing worked though.  Connor, on the other hand, didn't care what was going on and thought it looked fun to walk around and pick up all the petals on the ground and toss them in to the water under the stage.  That just fueled Colson's crying.  But at least Connor was being quiet!  Once the ceremony was over, one of Colson's new friends gave her a glass of orange soda, and she was perfect the rest of the night!  I should have known...

 

 



 

Here comes the bride.

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Coelho

The rest are pictures from after the wedding, the family pics, and the reception.

  

Grandmom and Uncle Ben

 

 

 

 

Our traditional silly sibling picture.

 

 

 And a nice one.

 

The fam.

Uncle Owen's family.

 

Both families.

 



The best photo they could get with the kids.

 

 

Everyone who came to the wedding!

 

Grrrrrr!

 

Colson, Mommy, and Denisa (Ben's girlfriend)

Colson and her new friend Haylee!

Uncle Ben caught the garter.

And Denisa caught the bouquet!

 

Cake in the face!!

 

 

 

The wedding was beautiful and the trip was fun.  The kids did great and loved it.  I even got to read almost a whole book.  Welcome to the family Uncle O-Diggity!

 



First Weeks in Longview

Ugh, I haven't had internet for 3 of the last 4 weeks, other than on my phone, so here goes catching up on the last month.

So, after we left Houston we came to live with my mom.  She thought it would be a great idea to get a puppy a few days before we came.  She bought a maltipoo, Lola, who is like another toddler in the house.  Great idea mom, great idea.  The funny thing, though, is that Lola and Colson have the same hair.  Ha!

 Colson, Uncle Drew, and Lola

 

We didn't do much for the first 2 weeks we were at Mom's.  Colson did a little dancing, of course, they did some swimming, and we spent a little time at my dad's. 

 



 

Connor and PaPa

 

Colson and PaPa

 

 Playing with rainbow rice.  In theory it's a great idea, until

I'm vacuuming up rice everywhere because Connor thinks it's fun to throw it!

 

 "Practicing" to be the flower girl in Auntie Ash's wedding. 

She nailed it in rehearsals, but during the real thing...well, you'll see.

 

 She is all about posing for the camera these days!

 

Connor, on the other hand, is impossible to get to sit still

long enough to get a good picture most of the time!

 

 

As you can see from the above picture, Connor's hair was getting a little out of control.  I liked the surfer look, but Auntie Ash and Grandmom insisted he get a haircut before Ash's wedding.  So, I took him to get his first real haircut, and he did great! 

 

  



 

 

 Next, Colson went to Grandmommy Camp with her cousin Hadley.  She had a blast spending a few days getting absolutely spoiled.  I'm talking ice cream cones as big as her face and staying up dancing until midnight spoiled.  She loved it!  She even went and got her first real pedicure! 

 
While Colson was at Grandmommy Camp, Connor and I picked Jon up from the airport and spent a few days at Ashleigh's house.  Jon was able to come home for a few weeks for Ashleigh's wedding!  Ash and her now husband had already left for the wedding, so it was nice to have a house to ourselves for a few days!  And Connor loved being the only kid for a while.  We picked Jon up from the airport on Father's Day, and the three of us went to visit Jon's dad's grave. 

The next few days were spent getting the last few things ready before we flew to the Dominican Republic for the wedding.  But more on that in the next post...

-A

 

Last week in Houston

After Memorial Day, we loaded back up and drove to Houston again.  We thought it would be for a few weeks, but it ended up only being for a few more days.  Jon FINALLY got the paperwork we were waiting for and flew to Angola on May 31.  Only a few 'short' months after we originally thought it would happen....But, it allowed us more time with friends and family!  The kids and I are now staying with my mom until we get to go.  Praying that will be in early August....

 

We spent our last week in Houston swimming, playing at parks, and then a great time with friends for dinner and water activities the night before we left.  We will miss our amazing group of friends so much, but this move won't be forever, and we'll be back soon! 

 



Reading books in the hotel.

 

Ready to go swimming!  Not sure where Colson has learned to pose....

Looking at the turtles at the park by our old house.

 

Colson will miss these girls so much.  We were sad Mia couldn't make it that night!

 

 

 There is so much sass in this picture.  Girls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These next two photos are from our original 'good-bye dinner' several weeks ago.  Since it took us so long to leave Houston, we had several 'last' dinners, happy hours, poker nights, etc.  It was great! 

 



 

The kids!  All still and in one place!

 

We will miss everyone so much, but are excited about this new adventure.  We will be back soon though, with hopefully lots of amazing experiences and memories from around the world.  Excited to go, but can't wait to come home!

 

-A