Four weddings in 3 weeks, 3 of them were within 8 days of each other, and the 2 weeks leading to my daughter's wedding I had events 9 days in a row with family coming in from all over.
It wasn't easy, but I did it. And, I did it well.
Exhale ...
I'm so grateful for the cooler temperatures, I'm grateful for the beautiful memories of my daughter's wedding, and I'm grateful the monstrosity of my September event schedule is in the rear view mirror of my life.
The windows are open and I'm glad it's cloudy outside. The fresh, cool breeze is making music with my wind-chimes and I so love to listen to their music.
I am long overdue for rest. Well, that, a massage and some time off.
It's time to straighten my crown and move forward. I did it!
When you become a grandparent, it absolutely goes through your mind what name you want to be called. My girls still call me Momma (Mariah) and Mama (Brooke), so I chose Grandmomma for Sofia, my 1st grandchild.
That's not how it works and honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way!
Sofia has her own names she chooses and those names coming from her are magical. My name from her also changes on a regular basis and that is funny, too.
I started off as Ma. Then came MomMom, Momma, Mommy, and now I am Grinny.
Pretty sure I do not know another soul named Grinny and I love that.
My Sofia is as independent as they come. She marches to the beat of her own drum and others do not phase her. I almost believe other children are light entertainment for her to look at for a minute, play with for a hot second, then she does her own thing.
We were outside playing, picking wild flowers and putting them in our hair, playing with sticks, finding acorns and rolling them down the hill. She did something and I said, "Hi five!" She quickly gave me a high five and said, "Cool, Grinny!" Then she immediately fist-bumped me. I didn't expect that and someone must do this with her that she initiated it. I'm guessing her daddy.
Breathtaking and beautiful, she is fierce determination meets lights up with orneriness and laughter.
I love that her and I are best friends.
Little brother is getting so big!
Rowan & Jeremy (my son-in-law)
He is as sweet, smiling, happy and passive as Sofia is determined. Reminds me of my brother and I when we were little. He is such a handsome little boy ready to laugh and tries to talk quite a bit.
My Dad (Papa) & the bride right before he walks her down the aisle.
Photos are flooding in from family and friends from their cameras, which are so wonderful to see before the professional wedding photos arrive. Here are some moments captured.
My brother, Jason, the pastor officiating the wedding
Mr. & Mrs. Jackson walking back down the aisle, happily married.
My Mom & Dad, Grammy & Papa
Brooke with her sisters, Brittany (on left), and Mariah (in the middle)
My sweet Sofia had the best time! She was on the dance floor before the dancing began. The sugar rush kept her going as she had the most fun time going to the cake table and licking the icing on at least 5 cupcakes! I totally get it, I prefer icing, too.
She was all over the place. We all took turns watching her and it was a sweet moment in the evening when Brian walked into the Grand Ballroom holding Sofia's hand. He saw she escaped into the hall unbeknownst to anyone and brought her back in.
Mariah, Brian and I were talking when he saw Sofia first. She had climbed up on the table next to us and was dancing on top of a guest dinner table. Let's just call this DNA.
I've been known in the day to dance on tables, high rise platforms and perhaps a few counters in nightclubs back in the day. My Mariah has been known to body surf at a concert. Free spirited Sofia just does what her little heart desires and there she was. Mariah joined her in dancing and these two shared their moment to the music.
A wedding reception with sweets and good dance music is a playground for little Sofia. Here she managed to see a single cake pop on the head table and there she was. She climbed up on the table and was admiring and eating a cake pop when I found her.
Sweet baby! I loved watching her embrace it all and have the BEST time!
Everyone is still talking about this wedding, it was pretty amazing! I can't wait for the professional photos to arrive this week.
All the planning, details and prayers came together magically and it was the elegant princess wedding my daughter wanted sprinkled with several WOW factors.
Brooke was stunning and Alex so handsome.
Brooke had both her sisters, Mariah for her Matron of Honor, and Brittany for her bridesmaid. Alex had his best friend and both his brothers for their bridal party.
I went over and made breakfast the morning of the wedding. The traditional, eggs in a basket with bacon, the same breakfast both my daughter's requested their wedding day. Then, we went to the salon to have Brooke's hair done ..
Family flew in from Kansas, Florida, Arizona, Iowa, and Indiana for their wedding day. It was a couple days of celebration of family and friends.
The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner was picture perfect weather on the patio overlooking the golf course. Alex's mom catered in the food as she was handling the rehearsal dinner and for me it was nice to host a party minus the details.
My brother the officiant, my sister-in-law the cake expert, Sierra (Mariah's step sister) the photographer, me the Event Director/mother of the bride. My vendors were picked as the experts I work with: the DJ and the specialty linen company that transformed the room in to a princess wedding. Our chef, oh my gosh!!
Our chef has cooked for the Queen of England and he is the most talented chef I've personally ever experienced in life. The entree selections were: Filet Mignon & Grilled Chicken, Apple Stuffed Pork Chops, and Shrimp & Scallops Fettuccine Alfredo. The side was a Pear William Potato ...
The pear-shaped mashed potato infused with sour cream, baked with a breading and topped with a pear stem. Everyone raved on how absolutely delicious all the food was. Brooke's Aunt Kim who travels the world, said the grilled chicken was unlike any chicken she has ever had in her life! Several who selected the Apple Stuffed Pork Chops, said they've never had anything as amazing.
EVERYTHING was presentation, flavor perfect! The chef did a large fresh fruit display for the hors d'oeuvres along with a wrapped baked brie with raspberry topping and crackers. The Raspberry Baked Brie was like crack. You couldn't believe the flavor!
Around 9:30 pm, several hours after dinner, the chef did a Bananas Foster & Strawberries Flambe table for flame presentation for the guests. He made large (8") fried puff pastries covered in cinnamon and sugar, put a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and covered in Bananas Foster & Strawberries Flambe. WOWOWOW! Everyone was in awe.
Wait till you see the video of Brooke & Alex's first dance as husband and wife! The DJ did a complimentary dry ice machine that put a gorgeous cloud across the dance floor making it look as if they were dancing magically on a cloud. Brooke in her princess wedding dress and Alex in his tux.
We did a surprise 50th Anniversary dance for my mom & dad in a cloud on the dance floor dancing to The Power of Love by Celine Dion, my dad's favorite song.
It was everything I wanted for my daughter her wedding day.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky and we had a couple days of warmth and sunshine in the 80's as family and friends local and across the country gathered to celebrate their marriage.
Just you wait to see these photos! I'm bursting inside wanting to share them!
My staff hand-picked, Kelly the BEST bartender who made this wedding personal to her making sure she had every detail perfect and willing to step into any capacity even buying them a beautiful wedding gift. Dominic, the General Manager and my dear friend, who all went over and above to do the patio renovations I wanted, approved a pretty pricey purchase for the venue for me and Brooke's wedding, and cut this Momma of the Bride a pretty nice deal for Brooke's wedding.
To Brian, who stepped into meeting my family like a champ! They all were raving what a great guy he is and he is and how much they really like him. All my girlfriends totally approved and they are always a too honest bunch, never hesitating to hold back their opinions! He was the perfect date, a perfect gentleman, and he slid into the wedding celebration, making his debut to my family beautifully.
To my family and friends, THANK YOU for all your love and support.
To Brooke & Alex, I love you both and I wish you love, live, laughter and happily ever after. Cheers!
It is officially less than one week to Brooke & Alex's wedding. It's all pulled together, although I've added a couple WOW! effects this week.
Between the upcoming wedding, weekend getaways, working 11-13 hour days every day this week, starting to look at new vehicles, and time with my grandbabies, life is a blur of activity. My multi-tasking skills put to the test and this is where I shine.
Imagine my pleasure when corporate emailed me this week saying I am blowing all the locations (150) out of the water with the upcoming holiday season. I told them in the beginning I was competitive. I think because smile and say it sweetly, they must dismiss it. When I say something, I mean it and I don't exaggerate or over-emphasize, that's the fun part. This year has been far more successful than even I anticipated. #Blessed
Brooke's Bridal Shower was pure success and we did her Bachelorette Party up at Put-in-Bay ...
This week family flies in from all over the country, but I have one day etched out to slow down. That's tomorrow.
It's 2 weeks before Brooke's wedding day and I find myself in constant moments of nostalgia and anticipation.
Meeting with her DJ and hearing the music for her ceremony so elegantly and beautiful selected, I know I will blink and suddenly it will be her wedding day and those songs will fill their air as she begins walking down the aisle.
Today we had the fitting for her wedding dress and as I was standing behind her in the mirror, I know too quickly it will be her wedding day and I will be standing in another mirror helping her get ready.
These moments take my breath away and I breathe so I won't cry.
I have everything ready. Every special touch and special touches I've not seen done at this venue. She wants a princess wedding and that is certainly what she is going to get.
