08 January 2012

Here Comes The Bride

I'm baaaaaaack.  With an apology for being MIA for so long.  I've been visiting your blogs but neglecting mine.  I usually don't make New Years resolutions but, this year I did; and it's to post here more often.  I love to take photos and share them and I love to write but, I'm way behind. I got so behind that I didn't know where to start so I just avoided posting and got more behind.   Life has been happening at a frantic pace and I have barely been keeping up.  Lets see, what to post about first?  How about love?  My favorite subject.  There was a lot of it around our place in 2011.  My daughter Kate got engaged in February to her college sweetheart Justin.

It started off with a lot of this.

And this.
Which led to this.

They both graduated University in Texas then moved back to their respective homes, his in Albuquerque, New Mexico and hers in San Diego, California.  Then they burned up the phone lines and spent all their money on plane fare.  Last February Justin planned a sweet and romantic proposal and this November they sealed the deal with a beautiful Nuptial Mass where they were united in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony at our home parish.

They say it never rains in Southern California but, when it rains on your wedding day we Irish believe it's good luck.  It rained from early AM to late PM.  The sunroof in my car leaked. I stepped in a deep puddle in the parking lot and spent the entire evening soaking wet. But, this couple is going to be VERY lucky because my Kate took it all in stride.  She was the consummate mello bride and set the tone for all of us.

My sons Cooper and Dylan escorted me to my seat. No tears yet.

My handsome and proud hubby walking his precious daughter down the aisle.  Isn't her dress beautiful?  And her bouquet?  And her beaming smile?

This beautiful sapphire and pearl neckless has been worn by every bride in my husbands family since his great grandmother.  I remember how honored I felt to wear it when we were married, and now two of my daughters have worn it as well.  It also covers the something old and something blue adage.

Do you remember Honey Heart? While trying to describe how much he loves his new baby sister to me, my youngest grandson who was four at the time said, "Grammy, I just love my new baby so much, sometimes I call her Honey Heart."  This is Abigail Rose all dressed up for her Auntie's wedding.  Her handsome escort is her daddy.

 In my last post  "It All Started With A Recycled Wedding Dress"  I shared about how I made the ring bearer pillow out of my old wedding dress.  Here it is, and here are the hooligans very reverent, aHem; hooligans full of shenanigans, who had the very important responsibility of carrying the rings.  Really, who are we kidding here, just take a look at those faces.  Who wouldn't trust them with their cherished jewelry?

 These are my daughters, Tara, Kate and Maggie.  All as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

Ya'll would have been proud of me.  I didn't cry all day.  (But, as my husband has pointed out, I've made up for it since.) On my daughters wedding day though, I was so sleep deprived from 9 months of wedding planning, terrified because I had to leave my cocoon, and hysterical because my baby was leaving me for good, cool, calm, and collected.  And in case you were wondering, since I've spoken about the fact that 99 percent of my shoe wardrobe is flip flops, I am proud to announce my friends, I kept my big girl heels on and danced my heart out in them all night long!

Why oh why do women do this to themselves?

Baby sister Maggie.  I loved the bridesmaids bouquets, so cheery!

Our little Emma was her Auntie's flower girl and she did an impeccable job.

These are Kate's new sisters-in-law.  They are sweet and adorable and also served as bridesmaids.  Not only that, they know how to tear up the dance floor!

They were a huge help with wedding planning, choosing the dresses and making sure that all five girls got one in their size. On sale too! I hate shopping so they're were my heros.

We got lucky in the in-law department.  Justin's family is so much fun, extremely generous and they love our daughter.  What more could you ask for when you join families?

This is my family with my five originals and our two sons-in-law.  I can only hope that my last three find spouses as spectacular as my first two have. They've set the bar pretty high!

With Gods Grace and through the sacrament of their marriage may these two give me many grand babies live happily ever after... Give me many grand babies.
Amen

Now, your sunset photo for the night to top off the jump into my New Years resolution to post more often.  Because you know I love ya, and life is good.

BLESSINGS FOR AN AMAZING, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR FILLED WITH ALL THAT YOU LOVE.

TIA  

25 comments:

Julie Harward said...

Oh how sweet to see all of this Tia...your daughters are all so beautiful. Lovely bride and dress, sweet about the necklace too. You have a beautiful family! The baby is so cute and the young boys...nothing like family is there?! :D

danneromero said...

beautiful.
and the picture of the girl (you) being escorted by your sons? i thought she (you) were the daughter.
i took a second look when i saw you in the picture with your daughter bride.... realizing it is a photo of a very youthful you!
how cool is that. :D

Natalia Pankova said...

Wow really beautiful photographs, heartiest congratulations wish you a very happy married life.
ukraine marriage agency

Simple Home said...

Congratulations to the happy couple, and to you and your husband too Tia. You are extremely blessed :)
Blessings,
Marcia

bichonpawz said...

Oh Tia! Everything was just beautiful and reading this, I feel like I was right there beside you experiencing it all! The dresses and all the girls...beautiful!!! The bride and her mom...gorgeous!! Awesome wedding!! I still have to wait til 2013 and I am already nervous! Thank you ever so much for sharing your daughter's special day with us! Happy New Year!
xo
Jeanne

Bluebells and Lavender said...

I was wondering where you had gotten to... Happy New Year! And your family wedding photos look beautiful - you are so blessed ! Xx

Tolentreasures said...

What great pics of the wedding, Beautiful bride, beautiful children, beautiful daughters, beautiful family! You are truly blessed! Love the shoes!

Cathy

enthusiastically, dawn said...

Beautiful, Bride and family! Looking forward to seeing and hearing all you will share this year!

Jennifer Edenfield said...

YAYAYAYAY!!! I love your wedding post!! Such a fun weekend!!! Thank you for sharing Kate over the holidays!! We had so much fun and she is an absolute doll!!! Have a wonderful 2012!

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

Happy New Year Tia.

Beautiful wedding!
The whole family looked gorgeous.
Congratulations.

And for the record we crazy non Irish believe that rain on a wedding is good luck. It's worked for me and i got married in Jamaica! :-)

Anonymous said...

Love your blog. One day I was just surfing through and found you. I related to you as I have a cottage on a Great Lake. Wish it could be a cottage by the sea, but this is as close as it comes. Keep blogging. Love your photos.

Amanda Lee said...

I whole-heartedly agree! May they give you many grandbabies! Congratulations on your new son-in-law!

Unknown said...

Oh Tia, what a beautiful wedding, rain or no rain. It beats snow! Love the happy pictures of your great event. Blessings, Rosemary

Jenny said...

You have such a beautiful family...

You must be so proud!!!

Kellie Collis said...

It's a beautiful wedding! I am touched by the story behind the necklace. Have a lovely day, Kellie xx

NanaDiana said...

Oh- I missed this post before! I was wondering where you were! I have not been following along on "my" blogs much since November when the Family Fun (also known as 10 pound 3oz Chunky Charlie) joined the group. I spent a month in Milwaukee (about 100 miles) helping Mama. She wasn't supposed to lift anything more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks. Huh? Shall we just roll the baby to her?

Anyway, then there was Christmas and then there was New Years and then there were inflammatory issues..and on and on and on ad nauseaum...is that spelled right? I don't care...but...

So...YOUR wedding was gorgeous! Your daughter was a beautiful bride and I can tell that you love the family she has married into. That helps, trust me...you don't want the "other kind"....don't ask me how I know.

Your hubby looks VERY proud walking that girl down the aisle...and I believe that every wedding day is supposed to have a bit of rain in it...kind of like raining down blessings...yes..yes...it is the Irish in me that makes me think like that.

Off to bed here soon. I have the SweetCheeks from after preschool tomorrow and through Friday. Light a candle for me will ya? Or say a novena or something?

Love to you and your gorgeous,,beautiful family- xo Diana

NanaDiana said...

Ps....You were one good looking Mama of the bride!

Theodora Ofosuhima said...

What a beautiful wedding. You look stunning and the bride is trully a princess in her dress and next to her man :). Beautiful-beautiful

Rachel Cotterill said...

How lovely - and what a beautiful bride :)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Absolutely beautiful, everything! And I love the family heirloom necklace worn by so many of you, what a nice tradition.

Heather said...

Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!

HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

Heather said...

Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!

HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

jenna ♥ a little blue said...

how beautiful!! everything looks just absolutely perfect (especially you and your daughter!) :) congrats on the new "official" addition to your family!

Nonna Rose said...

Amazingly beautiful wedding/family. You look like one of the sisters, not the mom....pretty darn good for 399 dog years. Blessings to all. Thanks for sharing!

Connie said...
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