Busy Weekend... Wedding, Neighborhood garage sale, Tennis Match, Halloween Carnival!

Whew, what a full weekend!!! Friday night we went to Brandy and Greg's wedding in Roswell. Then we participated in the neighborhood garage sale saturday! We were able to clean out the old "stuff" and make room for the extra "stuff" we always accumulate at Christmas. Ellie had been asking for a 10 speed bike for her Birthday/Christmas. She was fortunate enough to find one at a neighbor's garage sale for only $15.00! Then Sunday I had a tennis match. (Yay, we won:))) Followed by our Annual Neighborhood Halloween Carnival. Keith and I helped set up and clean up and each worked a booth. Ellie helped with the face painting. Emma won a freeze/dance contest! 

Last week, I asked my tennis coach if she wanted to give away a set of lessons at the carnival to try to get new players to sign up. She gave me a certificate and said, "You better not be the winner, wink, wink!" As people came to the carnival, I got everyone to put their name in a bucket for the drawing. I gave the bucket to the D.J. to draw a name. He picked a random kid from the crowd to reach in and draw a name.  Ellie's name was called and people started yelling... "fixed, fixed." They know I'm a tennis addict, lol! I was still in my tennis attire since I came straight from my match to the carnival. It was pretty funny. There's no way I'm telling my coach one of my family members won. Plus, Ellie didn't want the lessons. We gave them to one of the women in the neighborhood that seemed really interested in learning to play:)

Brandy and Greg's Wedding!!!

Cousins at wedding!!! (Well, not all... Matt, Brandy, Jonathan, and Kale were there, but are not in this pic... yes, Brandy was there at her own wedding, lol) Aunt Carolyn and Marci came and brought Misty's children, Tevin and Blake, as well as Marcy's son Kale. So good to see them. Misty passed earlier this year, but Carolyn and Marcy have done an amazing job loving these precious boys as all of their hearts try to heal from such and incredible loss... and right on the tail of losing Carolyn's husband, Uncle Mike. Miss them so... Also wonderful to see Uncle Mark (mom and Mike's brother). Alex talked music with him all night and found a soulmate! Tyler M.C.'d the wedding and was his adorable crazy self. When my boys and their cousin Matt get on the dance floor, they get the party started! Drew and I were the DD's for this evening and had fun watching/participating in the show:). Mom was there... or maybe I should say, super mom. Seriously... a brain aneurism and major brain surgery a month ago and mom and dad were doing the jitterbug on the dance floor like only they can do. They are my favorite dancers ever!!! I adore my family and reunions and special occasions like this help me remember just how blessed I am. I could go on and on about each person at the wedding... haven't even mentioned my "5" precious daughters... Ellie, Emma, Emily, Laurel, and Hayley or my amazing sisters... Dawn, Jeannie, Natalie, and of coarse Ginger, whom we always sense her presence whenever we're together! Poor Keith had to miss out. He was out of town. (I'll have to photo shop him in the picture below!) 

My niece, Brandy, got married this weekend. She was a beautiful blushing bride! Her smile has always been able to light up a room, but on this day, you needed sunglasses to look at her because she was beaming so brightly! She met her absolute match!!! Greg and Brandy are the most genuine people you will ever meet! That is a character trait that is rare these days, and oh so valuable! They are both kind and compassionate and once they make a friend, they stand by them for life:) It was an honor to see this sweet couple unite with so many of their friends by their side! The venue they picked was absolutely perfect... overlooking the river. The wedding was simple and elegant and everyone had an amazing time!

Lazy Day Sunday

Ellie's starting piano lessons soon. Hayley is sweet enough to let us use her keyboard!

Fall Family Gathering 2014

All the kids and their significant others came over for a fun fall night. Keith and I made a big pot of chili, while the kids took a golf cart ride. Emma put on a gymnastics show which turned into a hoola hoop contest, then we played corn hole. As it got cooler, we lit a fire in the pit and roasted marsh mallows. We finished up the night with carving pumpkins.