Friday, July 18, 2008

Kelli & Jonathan tie the knot

After spending Wednesday night with Carrie and Ryan in Nashville, we all got up at 3:30 AM to make it to the airport to catch our flight to Colorado for Kelli & Jonathan's rehearsal later that day.







Right after Dad walked Kelli down, the family had a prayer during the wedding.

The happy couple!

Jonathan Davidson, Ryan, the groom and Chris at Papa and Grandma's house ready for some rehearsal dinner lasagna!

Kelli's family fed us well ALL long weekend in Papa and Grandma's garage. We were so stuffed!

Enjoying the hammock

Their dog enjoyed Ryan's petting.

On Friday evening during worship, Kelli gave Jonathan the bear she had made for him to match the bear he made for her when they first started dating. Both bears had brand new clothes for the occasion!

On Sabbath morning Ryan started signing the Brasses guest book - their kitchen table! I don't have a picture of the finished product but it sure was fun.


We found another dignitary we knew - Josh Kanen


Playing with Kelli's 2nd cousin Tahlia


A big group went out into the hills around the house to play frisbee golf. Ryan found a new obstacle: cactus.

Enjoying Sabbath afternoon




The guys really enjoyed having dart competitions.

Stephanie made friends with one of the flower girls who got tuckered out and fell asleep.

Later in the day, Kelli & Jonathan opened presents from family and friends

Opening the story book called A Tale of Four Friends I made for them.

Kelli's mom found an apron she made for Kelli when she was younger!


I had never seen a part of Colorado like this before, it was BEAUTIFUL!

Katie and Faudi doing some impromptu gymnastics


Along with Whitni and Crystal







Every night there were lots of shoes in the entry

On Saturday night we played a game where Kelli had to feel all of the guy's legs and tell which ones belonged to Jonathan. Even Mr. Barton got involved. It was hilarious!

Kelli picked Steve, Kimmy's boyfriend, instead of Jonathan!

Then we switched...
Jonathan knew he had Kelli picked.
Then we split and had a girls party while the guys went out.

Stephanie had to put makeup on Kelli blindfolded

The "moms" and the "younger girls" had to make wedding dresses out of toilet paper and Kelli judged them. On the left is Kelli's grandma and on the right is Amanda, one of the bridesmaids.

WEDDING DAY!


Dad gets a haircut for the big day

The boys went to play paintball while we got ready. Apparently the wild west got to Justin and Faudi although they said they just bought the shirts because they were $3.

The Barton hair salon or how many people can you fit in a bathroom?

Daddy saw Kelli for the first time as we drove away to get our makeup done.
I had the white balance set wrong when I took this picture but I still think it turned out neat!

And then the big day began in earnest... Ryan appreciated the sports television in the groomsmen's room. He didn't miss much of the golf tournament.






Quick self-portrait with the bride. My job (besides being the amateur photographer) was to play the music for the wedding on a keyboard outside next to the bridesmaids. This proved challenging with wind and bright sunlight!

Sisters Kimberly and Crystal, and Mom with the bouquets in front

Mom and Dad watch as Jonathan and Kelli meet for the first time

Newlyweds of a month: Mr. & Mrs. Knight

With both sets of parents, recognize Mrs. Carlson's dress anyone?




Barton family
We stayed with the Brass family on the left side:
Standing Cousin Garrett, Uncle Alan, Aunt Diane
Seated Shawndra (Garrett's wife, she kept my music from blowing away), and Cousin Whitni

There aren't any pictures of the actual ceremony as I was otherwise occupied...

Finally we're all married!

The wedding site


Ryan always loves meatballs!

If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you'll notice that Kelli's bouquet with the pink daisies had little gems in the center of the flowers.

The bridal party leads the congo line

After the cake was cut, Chris and Ryan kidnapped Kelli and held her for ransom.

Then, after Jonathan passed around his shoe and collected the dough, they brought her back.


One of the most special parts of the reception was when Kelli, her sisters, and her dad sang a song together called Daddy's Girl.
The chorus went like this:
Daddy's girl, Daddy's girl
I'm the center of Daddy's world
I know that I'm his number one
For he loves me like I was his son
Daddy's girl.

(For the full lyrics, which just might make you cry, see:
http://www.ourweddingsongs.com/father-daughter-songs/daddy-s-girl-lyrics

Jonathan shot the garter forward...

... and tried to recover it, but Jonathan Davidson beat him to it.


Her sister Kimmy caught the bouquet.










The get away

Monday morning we flew back to Nashville and met Ryan & Carrie for some Macaroni Grill and a walk around Opry Mills mall. Here's Ryan & Ryan trying to win free stuff.

Now we've been back at home for a few days and we're off again to Florida on Sunday for beach week with the Johnson, McDonald, and Knight families.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

July 4 Celebrations

Carrie and Ryan came to Collegedale for July 4!
After the boys played some tennis while Carrie and I talked, we headed down to town to watch a few fireworks on the grassy hill across from the Little Debbie store.


Carrie got some really good pictures of the fireworks and lights as you saw on her blog!

Friday morning we got out boating early enough to catch some great water back on Wolfteever!

Carrie enjoying snapping away

Ryan H boards while Ryan K watches - this picture is a little reminiscent of one MJ took when Ryan and I started dating 2 years ago!

Our wonderful boat driver - somehow I missed a good picture of Mary Jane!

Ryan's first time wakeboarding in 2 summers due to his knee surgery

First time boating together as marrieds!

At noon we headed for the Alabama lakehouse to spend some time with the Knights

Ryan's second birthday celebration...

... complete with trick candles!
This dessert was made out of ice cream sandwiches, whipped topping and layers of M&Ms
Mmm mmmm good!

Ryan enjoys floating

Decorations on the dock


Stanley trying to keep his wearing of Robin's glasses a secret

Pawpaw watching the annual July 4 flotilla of decorated boats that snakes around the lake

The Oldyweds


And the Newlyweds

Playing a new game very similar to Hand and Foot in which Pawpaw tried to strangle me because I kept taking away his moves ;-)

Preparing the fireworks show

Ryan and Robin create a strategy

The spiders love it when we leave the walkway lights on

One of our blasts

On Sunday, July 6, we drove up to Calhoun for Kelli Leeper and Danny Lamberton's wedding. It was so beautiful and special - just like all of the other weddings we've been to this summer.

Watching their parent's light the family candles


One of the most unique parts of the wedding - the groom's cake
Can you read the license plate?

The happy couple drove away in a bright blue corvette!

Happy 25th Birthday to Ryan!

On July 1st, Ryan's 25th birthday, we had a pizza party for Ryan's birthday.
Our guests were: Chris Scales, Jonathan Carlson and his cousin Scott, Kari Shultz, Hollie, John Nafie and Tom Brundage (I'm probably murdering his last name).

Monday, July 7, 2008

OUR home at last!


And what a house it was!

Honeymoon Day 9: Homecoming and Presents

The paparazzi greeted us at the baggage claim - and then took us out to eat Mexican.
Thanks Mom and Dad!


Back at the Ford house, Ryan found brain warp but was too tired to finish playing it. Mom, Dad, & I sorted out wedding stuff while he snoozed.

In the evening, we gathered for Chinese at the Knights.

Then it was time to open presents!


Some of the audience! Stephanie and Tanya arrived on their day off from camp.

We got so many nice things!

Mom laughs at our antics

Stephanie gave this to us during her toast at the wedding!

One of our favorite presents - a VW bug frame that says "Just Married"