Wild West Photos

Love this shot Allen asked them to look like Rough and Tough Cowboys.

The kids playing with swords. Cowboys, Pirates, Jedi's who knows but they had fun.

Hula Hoop Game

playing ring toss.

My nephew about to ride off in the open range in a pink Barbie Jeep.

the birthday cupcakes. (don't know what look I have there but the kids..look at the cute kids)

mini jam session on the porch. Allen, his brother and father

Wild West Birthday Party

Today was the Wild West Birthday Party. This party was for my son who turned 7 and my daughter who turned 5. They share a birthday and thus share a birthday party. I know a day will come that my diva (I mean daughter) will decide she needs her own party.

This was defiantly one I would say was a successful party. We have the curse of the Spring Break birthday so attendance is usually low and a lot of family.

The Details

Kids were dressed in Cowboy costumes we found at Cracker Barrel.

Every child that came got a cowboy/cowgirl hat.

We had a ring toss game out side and the swing set. Kids played there as we waited for everyone.

We played a round of lasso the cows. Its chase. The cowboy is it and has to chase the other player (cows) around with a hula hoop and once caught they are it. It worked well.

Eventually the kids just played with the hula hoops and ran in the yard or played in the kids rooms

We ate (hot dog bar, Slider Burger Bar, chips, fruit, veggies)

Had Cup cakes (i made 140 mini cupcakes-chocolate, carmel, and lemon).

Played some more and opened gifts and played some more.

Allen ended up outside on the porch playing guitar. Until then we had country music playing as many old songs as we could find.

I had more games planned, but the kids were playing so well together that I didn't want to disrupt that. They had fun and that was key.

Oh each child went home with a goody bag for the trail A red bandana filled with a juice box, beef jerky, goldfish crackers, playdoh, sheriff badges. The kids handed these out to the guest after they opened their gifts and said thank you to everyone as they handed them the trail bags.

Here are some photos of the day. (will add some more tomorrow my system is uploading really slow).

Photographers Contest

Vanessa is having a contest for her new blog. One of my brides is one of the contestants. I don't know if she wants the photo credit, but well honestly who does not want photos from their wedding. Eliza and Ben were awesome. So if you want to check it out and vote for a fellow SFE (Stress Free Event) Bride go here and Eliza is number 25

PJ and Kris March 10th 2009

I promise to post some photos that the photographer took as soon as she has them ready. This wedding was just a reception set up and I helped get everyone in order to go down the aisle. PJ did great with the green and white/cream colors. The wedding and reception were at the Salt Lick Pavillion and Flowers were by Petal Pushers. The Cakes were from the Sweet Stuff. I love the old windows used as photo frames. Here are a few photos.

Its getting busy

Okay ladies wedding season is here. I have weddings or events of some kind just about every weekend the next few months. I will be getting to all of your weddings as soon as I can. I have to get details on the weddings coming up first so it may take a day or two to get to your question if your wedding is not that upcoming weekend. I will still get to you as soon as possible and well before you need an answer. Keep me in the loop via email and phone calls. I have had a few slow months and have been able to respond to emails at the drop of a hat, and I will try that as much as possible, but some days I know it won't be and would rather give you all a heads up now and not surprise you later or you think I forgot about you. I love all of you and want your days to be amazing so don't worry we will get it all done.

Bought some Stuff

I went to Hobby Lobby to get items for the kids birthday party this weekend and well I can't leave with out venturing over to the bridal aisle. Well it was 50% off Bridal Event. I can't resist a good sale. I got another arch. Don't need two but the one i had didn't have the screws so I got another. I will be selling the other for cheap soon as I get it out of storage. I got a swag that is greenery and white orchids and smaller flowers great for the arch. Another veil not sure why but again why not. I also bought 14 yards or tulle to go with the arch in white. A couple of bright pink bows and pink matching pink tulle, thin. Add all that to 3 sets (2 in each set) of taper candle holders I got the other day at Walgreen's. My collection to offer you all is really growing. I hope to help you cut some of your costs. Oh and I have two sets of candle holders that are really cool its about two feet long seven candle holders (votive) bottom is black iron the holders are frosted white or frosted red its two full sets. oh and they go up in an arch. this is defiantly a table top decoration. I am always on the look out for things that might help you out. I will be taking photos soon I promise.

Something Old, SOmething New

Thanks for all the kind words and prayers this last week. I am sorry I was a little out of touch. I think I said my last goodbye this afternoon to family so things should be getting back to normal, just in time for the wedding season. So where do we get this fun tradition?

Something old,

something new

Some thing borrowed,

something blue

And a silver sixpence in her shoe. (this line is often omited now days).
A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English. It may date back to the Victorian era.
Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding dresses.
And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings. You may want to check out coin shops as well, many big cities have them. There are a couple in the Austin area that usually have the old sixpence still, but expect to pay more then six pennies for it now.

Care to share what your items were or will be?

My old was the pearls I got from my grandfather. They were my grandmothers.

My new was my dress

My borrowed was a locket charm with my hubbies picture as a boy in it. I pinned it inside my dress. My mother in law let me borrow it.

My blue was a ribbon on my garter

My sixpence was not. I wanted one but never got around to finding one. I could have done a penny but seemed pointless.

He is Gone

It was a long battle but my grandfather is done fighting and can rest now. He passed this afternoon. I am working tomorrow and saturday afternoon. After my saturday wedding we will have a small family only memorial at my mothers house and large family meal. Sunday and Monday I will be available by email and phone for emergencies, but I am going to take those days to visit with family coming in from out of town and processing everything I need to process. Thank you all for your kind words and support this week as its been hard, but I am blessed that I had him this long.

On a Very Personal Note

I wanted to share with you all that I am still here I am still working and any upcoming weddings are not in jeopardy I will be there as promise. I have been a little less talkative this week though. My grandfather has lived a long life. The last few years have been riddled with Alzheimer's. He ended up in the hospital a month ago from it (he became uncontrollably violent). This week he took a turn for the worse. He will not be making. We have removed all life supporting efforts and just waiting and spending every moment we can with him. I was there today for seven hours with my mom, and two brothers and sister in law. My mom ended up staying and one of us will be there until he passes. We expect that to me in the next few days. So if I don't reply to an email as fast as usual I apologize. If you have something that needs immediate attention please call my cell 512-945-5459 I will most likely welcome the distraction. We are prepared for his passing. We will be fine. Tears will be shed as they already have been, but we know we have to go on with our daily lives. If we have meetings planned I will be there unless I have called you to tell you otherwise. I appreciate your understanding. Oh and that's him at Christmas in the photo.