The Best Sunday, Ever!

I've been keeping this on the down low because my mother doesn't have a lot of money and couldn't invite a lot of people.  This weekend her and her fiancee were married.  It was so sweet and touching, many times I had to fight back the tears.  I so happy for her for finding love again!  If he can put up with us (I mean me, my 2 brothers plus my SIL and my husband) he's great in our book!  

I finally met his family finally and ehhh you know, it's the family you see all the time that really count.  For those who have know him almost all his life they seemed pretty darn somber.  I have to feel bad for them because I don't think they were very happy about the union.  Especially his daughter who wouldn't even look at the bride and groom during the ceremony.  It's her loss.  Her father is really a great guy and I hope she realizes it someday!

We had lots of fun and it was wonderful to spend it with my  little brother who I don't get to see that often, my other brother and his wife, plus my husband too.  We really don't need a party to have fun when we are all together!

I hope to have a picture of the wedding cake soon.  I totally forgot my camera.  I only had 4 hours of sleep the night before.  There were 2 photographers who were like the bloody paparazzi!  We (me, my husband, my 2 brother's and my SIL) arrived really early.  Have you ever been photographed every 3 seconds?!?  It's very annoying and hard too see with all the flashing going on.  I hope to have great pictures up someday.  There had better be some with 2 cameras going all the time.  Of course I was the only one who kept closing my eyes during each picture.  We had to do duplicate shots because of me.  Sorry I blink a lot when I'm nervous!

With all that's happening in the financial world my SIL and I have decided not to go to Rhinebeck.  She needs a roof, I should pay off my credit card and going up wouldn't really benefit either of us.  Besides my husband was telling me credit cards could raise the % you pay up to 40%?  I don't know if he was talking on defaulted cards or everyone.  I was a little too freaked out to ask.  

Rhododendron Tree?

rhododendron
Originally uploaded by catscluttercrafts

Isn't this Rhododendron tree just gorgeous? I did not think that they even got this big. It came with the house so it's probably been here a good 20-30 years and in that time has made it's self right at home. I love how it looks when it blooms and had to take some pictures.
The wedding reception was wonderful. I even was teary eyed with all the wonderful things the best man and maid of honor had to say about the bride and groom. So sweet and touching. Even the bride and groom speech was so well thought out and included family celebrations that they wanted to share. It should be noted that the bride did all the talking because the groom forgot his glasses! I had to laugh because it's amazing that they finally got married!
With the weather being too hot, her dress was keeping her too toasty. It was strapless but with all the layers of tulle and who knows what they put under there, she was dying! Their table was outdoors with a great view of the pond and the ducks that live there.
Friday night it was so hot here that my youngest couldn't sleep. I left for work and she was still up. She wanted to put on winter pajamas and have all her blankets on her. Luckily I put them down the laundry shoot earlier in the day. This event has made us buy an air conditioner. When I came home at 4am it was still 77 degrees. Not comfortable sleeping weather even with the fan on. So we put the AC in my the master bedroom. The kids can sleep in there with us when it's unbearable. I couldn't see the point of running 3 fans on high and not effectively lowering the temperature in the room.
I have some amazing news! Well for my oldest daughter, who has been terrified of dogs for 2 years now. 2 summers ago she was cornered on a friend's porch by their pitbull and chewed on by the dog. My daughter had gone over and knocked on the door. The dog broke through the metal screen door jumped on her and started biting/chewing. She had broken skin from the teeth but stitches weren't required. Ever since then she has been scared off dogs.
My SIL and brother baby sat the girls yesterday. My SIL had my oldest do some competition stuff with the female dog. It went so well she went with them today to show off their Rhodesian Ridgeback. He's a bit crazy at home, so I was worried. They just got back and she received a ribbon for first place for handling the dog! It was only her and one other child and the other little girl was a little too immature with handling the dog. How great for her!