Once upon a time, in a land far away, in NWA lived a happy family of 6. The school session was coming to a close, with the eldest boy, Connor, about to finish his fourth year of school. He managed to wrangle up all that he had and do something never for been done in his family, which was, to impersonate the "Emperor". This took a lot of courage and bravery, but he finally made his debut performance, for which all the towns folk applauded and cheered!
The Emperor and his new clothes
Thanks to his encourager, the apprentice pulled it off!
Almost right away (a few days to be exact), the family headed west for over 20 hours by car to get to theo"home land" (Mesa, AZ) in time for a wedding that brought two nations together in eternal love and harmony. The ceremony was beautiful and festivities were grand. Almost like it would be in their far way land.
3 cheers for Uncle Jonny and our new Aunt Amy
14 years ago, Uncle Jonny(the groom) was around the same age as Connor at our wedding,
Pretty neat moment in time!
Amy and Anna
I wonder what this little guy is thinking?
Some of the grandchildren sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" during the ring ceremony
The word of the day!
Adventures did not slow down after the wedding day. The excited family members shared some fantastic memories of hiking, swimming, eating, playing, pictures, and just being together.
And finally, another girl in the family
close to 13 years apart, but that does not stop them from bonding!
Thanks to Jessica Drew Photography, the whole family was captured in time
11 grandchildren
Arizona was fun and grand, but there was more to the adventure. Back on the road again, the family started driving. This time they were headed north to the cooler temperatures and greener pastures of Utah. The other "home land" where Dean's family resides. Memorial Day weekend was first spent walking around the college campus at Brigham Young University where Dean and Edie first got acquainted. Memories flooded in as they remembered their college days studying and dating one other, 15 years to be exact, thinking of the future that is now the present. This also created a spark of wonderment and excitement for Connor and his future college days.
We then had a few days to be with more cousins and family. They all had a lot of fun!
Gaming
Baby holding, and girl bonding
even mommy got in on the act
Ball and park playing
Baby games
Cousins being together (13)
The short time in Utah had come to an end and the family of NWA had to go, but the memories made will be forever in their minds. Until next time!
To break up the long drive back, it was decided to make a night stop in the big city of Denver, Colorado. The one night stop turned into 3 nights however, because of severe storms rolling through the plains. Dean had traveled to this very city during the past year for work, and got to see the city, so it was a delight that he had time now to take the family and show them the sights.
Dean was very familiar with downtown, more precisely, the convention center, so of course he took us there. Why would there be any interest to young ones with just a building? Well....
The Big BLUE Bear of course!
The foot of the ginormous bear
Trying to find inexpensive places to see and visit, there just happened to be a candy company called Hammonds that gave free tours of their factory. So off they went to be taught the ways of the candy makers.
A stop in any big city would not be a stop unless a visit to a Latter Day Saint temple was made. With beautiful temples scattered across the country and world, running into them is not hard to do. Every time a temple visit is made, its message and importance rings truth, peace, and eternal happiness, into our very souls.
We are an eternal family because of the temple ordinances and blessings therein!
The family got back, but no time did they waste, for moving was their next adventure!
The week was filled with packing and unloading, back and forth from house to house until at last, only the garage, and odds and ends were left. With only moving a short distance away, at first it seemed to be not as bad, but it turned out to be one of their hardest moves. Obviously with 2 extra children, possessions seem to ramp up tremendously. Saturday was the day the tenants would arrive, and items were now being thrown into boxes or bags. Finally finished, a moment was taken to look back at the last 4 years. Two children had entered their lives, a new job/career was formed, neighbors quickly turned into great friends, the list could go on.
Grabbing a quick moment together, Dean and Edie stood side by side reliving their time in 670. Tears were shed as memories flooded into their mind
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Connor's room
Bryce and Jordan's room
The master suite/baby Anna's nursery
The whole gang:
From one journey to another: We are a family and it is to Forever!
From one journey to another: We are a family and it is to Forever!
a chapter (or door in this case) has closed, let the new one open!
And so we say, "welcome to our new home!"
(More pictures of the new house to possibly come on other posts)
And so with the family trying to settle in, the month of June was a blur of activity and organization. Bit by bit, things were put together and normal routines were coming back into place. With Dad off to work and Mom with the children/house it was almost feeling like "home" again. The end of the month crept upon them like a cat searching for its pray, and in no time at all, were packing their bags for the second time, for wedding #2!
The miles and miles they drove seemed almost like it was a dream they had dreamed before. With each city and town they past, the dej'vu feeling was almost a constant thing with which Dean and Edie kept chuckling and joking about. Driving through the night and stopping periodically at rest stops to get some ZZZ's, they finally made it!
It was a week before the wedding, and preperations were going pretty much in full force, but there were cousins to play with, and fun to be had!
I-pad play
Snuggle and puppet show with the Aunts
Ahh yes...Relaxation was in there too!
Being pampered is so much fun
Birthday celebrations for ALL the July boys and Men!
Finally the wedding bells chimed (figuratively of course), and the happy couple (Julie and James) ventured out into their new adventure together.
The hot July sun was blaring that day, so the couple and their guests were transported to the luncheon at the church building to eat and cool down.
for just a moment the newlyweds shared a moment in time before more festivities began
The gardens of the reception center was a midsummer nights dreamland!
It was beautiful and magical, where one could almost see twinkling fairies flying by!
It set the tone for the whole night
The nieces and nephews all gather around amongst the array of beautiful foliage
With matching toenails
and matching colors
mother and daughter get ready to celebrate
For this hot summer romantic night, The patio deck was filled with cool delights to soften the July heat.
The smoothie bar and fans were an excellent choice to enjoy the beautiful surroundings
Alone on the dance floor for the first dance
And then all were invited to join
"This is it," they seem to say...
"let's cut this cake and taste away!"
The night ends with the bubble send off
there going, .
going..
and gone..not looking behind, but looking forward toward their future!
This story concludes with farewells and good-byes
with everyone having a sparkle in their eyes.
magical nights, and summer delights
miles traveled and families doubled.
bright eyed children having playful fun,
"Once upon a time" was how it begun!
