The packing was no joke as I prepared our family for the flight across the country. We made lists for weeks, laid our every outfit and made sure a certain little baby had enough snacks to keep her busy on the flights. While I packed, the girls practiced and prepared for the big day. They took their role of flower girls very seriously. Our hallway was transformed into an aisle. Pieces of paper were flower petals. Elmo and Rapunzel were one of the many couples who got married in our living room. Our flower girls were ready! Our bags were packed! We had a wedding to get to. :)
We were up at 4 am for a long day of travel through many time zones and these girls were bright eyes and ready.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srFwWhpmrKk
Abby and Ella are the easiest to fly with. They are traveling pros complete with backpacks of fun and snacks. They love the whole process. They plan in advance what drinks they will order from the flight attendant all by themselves. They are buckled in with headphones out before we even leave the gate and then listen intently to the safety demonstration every time. Juliet was our wild card this trip. Though we've flown with our babies at all different ages, ten months was a new one for us. Ten months is old enough to not willingly fall asleep where ever or whenever. Ten months is social and easily overstimulated, hard to keep still, but not old enough to really occupy with an activity. All things considered, she did pretty well. She barely slept on the flights and let us all know how she felt about not being in her crib during nap time which was a little stressful, but we made it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llg0dWlswh4
We had a four hour layover in Chicago, which gave us lots of time for bathroom breaks, a much needed coffee, lunch and regrouping before boarding our next flight.
I love watching Abby and Ella hold hands as they walk through the airport or as they watch the airplanes with excitement. They really are the best of friends. Four hour layover: Ella was making friends with everyone she met, asking them personal questions about their lives and Abby spent her time crafting in the airport food court. Juliet was letting the whole world know how ticked she was that no one was bringing her to her crib, but finally fell asleep in the Ergo carrier (lifesaver!!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbiK7l2syF0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-GmJ9ujbPo
We made it! Hello Utah! The mountains are breathtaking.
We were thankful to have a night in Salt Lake before we headed up the mountain for wedding festivities. It gave us time to get acclimated, grab dinner and get some much needed sleep. An early wake up and two hour time change made for some tired girls.
Ella was still making new friends as we waited for our rental car! :) I love her heart to really get to know people.
This is a little dance I like to call "The Crazy Before the Meltdown":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY6zK-_hQz0
I couldn't get enough of these breathtaking views as we left the airport and drove to our first hotel.
While out west, we thought it was appropriate to make a stop at In-N-Out burger for a quick dinner. Burgers and milkshakes all around!
...in front of some cartoons! Aren't hotel rooms fun?
The next morning, the big girls went for a swim with Daddy, while Juliet and I got ready for the day.
We stopped to take some pictures against this gorgeous backdrop before heading to lunch.
Juliet's first trip to Chick-fil-A was a success! After we all enjoyed our nuggets, we headed for the mountains (or the "big hills" as Ella called them) on our way to Tommy and Tori's rehearsal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TQWjKy4bw4
The ride up the mountain was amazing and exactly what we needed after an exhausting day of travel. The girls all fell asleep and took naps. Joe and I listened to worship music as we took in God's breathtaking landscape and then....we found the most beautiful Starbucks I've ever seen tucked right into the valley. How cute is this? The caffeine was an added bonus.
When we arrived at our resort with a few hours to spare, we all got into our bathing suits and headed straight for the pool. I didn't really have an idea of what the mountains are like in the summer, but I quickly fell in love with it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS3YVHj-tr0
Then, we headed back to our room, got fancied up and headed to the church for the wedding rehearsal.
These cuties had it down...especially little Jamie who couldn't stop smiling with a girl on each arm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmWEfavL7Ms
I love this picture of the flower girls with the bride and groom.
Our biggest climb up the mountain happened after the rehearsal at church. The rehearsal dinner was up the mountain at 8300 feet. It was the first and only time I really felt dizzy from altitude. The conversation we had with the girls on their way up the mountain was one of my favorites.
Abby: Mommy, I'm nervous. What if I get thirsty tomorrow before the wedding?
M: Why are you worried? We will make sure you are drinking water and will even take you potty before you have to walk down the aisle. Nothing to be worried about.
A: No...Mommy...didn't you hear the lady? She stood in front of all of us and said to make sure we don't drink before the ceremony because we don't want to ruin Aunt Tori and Uncle Tommy's special day. I'm just thinking I might get thirsty.
Love. this. girl. :) She takes the rules very seriously and was also very relieved to learn that alcohol is a very different kind of drinking than water. Phew!
The Montage resort was breathtaking. We enjoyed a delicious dinner in this room. Ella got to know everyone at our table in great detail, including asking Tori's cousin's boyfriend why he had yet to pop the question and informing him he should take some pointers from Prince Charming. Abby ran around the patio and hung out with the ring bearers.
Because of the time change, Juliet fell asleep and slept through most of dinner.
Until she woke up...and then she was pretty hysterical.
This first cousin shot is my very favorite. I love that these cuties are going to grow up together.
Wedding day: Since we didn't need to be anywhere until the afternoon, we spent the morning enjoying time together around the beautiful resort. Aunt Cyncy came to hang in our room after breakfast. Then, we all headed to the pool where we spent time with Grammy, Uncle Brad, Aunt Alex and little Johnny too. Our little fish were in their happy place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDR-os5Ytvg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hFs6Vyr63M
Joe was the first to get ready and head off to join the bridal party for pictures.
The next two hours was spent trying to figure out how to juggle three girls while making sure everyone was wedding ready! We did it and arrived for family pictures with a few minutes to spare. :)
Our lovely flower girls
One of the most memorable parts of the weekend was how Ella connected with Tori's mom. They had the sweetest connection. By the end of the weekend, Ella was calling Shay, Missy, which is the name her grandkids call her. In a crowd, Ella would push through everyone to run and grab Shay's hand. On the bus to the wedding, Ella asked to sit with Shay and held her hand the whole way. It was precious.
One of the girls' favorite parts of wedding weekend was riding the bus to and from events. They rode the bus down to the church with the rest of the bridal party while Juliet and I took the car. So, when I walked into the church I saw these little sweeties all ready to go with their flower crowns and my heart melted. They took their role so seriously and did a great job!
Alex and I watched the ceremony from the back with our sweet (and noisy) babies.
Tori has been a part of the family for a while, but we are SO excited that she is officially AUNT Tori now! The girls didn't want to leave her side.
During the cocktail hour, Abby and Jamie chatted as they strolled around the patio. Abby may or may not have been leading Jamie around with her arm around his waist.
The girls couldn't wait to get out on the dance floor and when they finally did I barely saw them the rest of the night. They danced with everyone and had the best time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUCxMzMJSc8
Juliet was asleep before dinner arrived. The time change and a late night wedding were just too much for this sleepy girl and she slept through most of the wedding, so I danced from my chair and enjoyed these baby snuggles.
the proud parents of the groom
mr. and mrs.
Juliet did wake up to join the party at the very end. Girlfriend left it all on the dance floor. It was the perfect way to end the night. The girls danced their hearts out all night. We knew it was time to go, when Ella crashed on Joe's shoulder and Juliet started melting down. Abby was still going strong and left reluctantly! Party animal!
This pictures is one of my favorites from brunch the next morning. I think it's safe to say this girl knows how to do brunch in style and with lots of bacon!
We ended wedding weekend in the best possible way. After a full weekend of festivities, we were all ready for some down time. We were especially excited to spend our last day at the pool relaxing in the beautiful summer mountain air and spending lots of quality time with family. We brought out snacks, swam and hung out together for hours. To have so many people (Uncle Brad, Aunt Alex, Johnny, Uncle Tommy, Aunt Tori, Uncle John and all of us) together in one place was the best. It was the perfect grand finale and a day we will never forget.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ho2uchpMY4
Welcome to the family, Aunt Tori!
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