Utah trip: Part 5

Ya know, sometimes living far away from everyone else is pretty rough.  Especially when it comes to those moments when your siblings make life-altering decisions without you there to be a part of it.  I guess I've had it coming for awhile now.  I got married to Eric while my brother Christian was on his mission.  He didn't even get to meet Eric until our sealing.  With Whitney, I was pretty much there at the beginning so I didn't feel out of the loop there.  I had known Jocelyn for awhile so I didn't feel out of the loop there either.  But Lacey and Kyle..... totally out of it here in Pennsylvania.  

They met in Bear Lake.  Lacey was working down there that summer.  Listen, I'm getting old and my memory stinks so I can't remember all the details but long story short.  They fell for each other hard..... fast!  So for a couple months I was hearing about Kyle this and Kyle that... and trying to piece everything that everyone said together to get a feel for the guy.  Lacey then left for Nepal for a 3 month service trip while Kyle and her continued a long distance relationship.  They were technically not engaged but kinda.  I never really understood that whole deal but all I knew was that there was a 95% chance this fellow was going to join our family.  

So we headed out there in December.... to welcome Zach home from his mission and to also welcome Lacey home from Nepal.  The first time I met Kyle was at teh church for Zach's homecoming.  I saw him coming from a distance and was kinda nervous...... this was probably going to be my brother one day for pete's sake.  

Right off the bat, Kyle Cheney is a super likable guy.  He's just this cuddly, lovable, fun-loving guy.  Poor fellow had me asking him questions the rest of the day.  I wanted to know his intentions, where his thoughts were, how he felt about my sister, what was his family like, what were his hopes and dreams.  He probably never saw me coming as the interviewer of the month.... but I take my job as sister quite seriously.  haha.  He's a super fun guy to be around, he plays guitar and sings, a RM, and a good listener.  What wasn't to like?  I felt so grateful..... as weird as this sounds..... to get to know Kyle before Lacey came home and they flitted off in their own little world being disgusting and obnoxiously lovey dovey.  haha.  love them!  

Now Kyle is my brother..... we party hard.  We dance, we sing, we joke, we play games, and he tells us all he loves us.  That's a big deal to me!  We love you too Kyle!  

So the wedding day!  Now, it started off with a little glitch.  I totally wanted to take a bazillion and one pictures but someone..... we shall not mention any names..... locked the keys in teh car that included my camera.  So....... the guilty party, made a quick trip to Whit's house fo rher camera.  Grateful I had it, but.... unknowingly it was set on Raw images the whole time which can't be downloaded to this blog (at least I can't figure it out).  So this post is definitely sparce with temple photos.  And let me include that Lacey's best friend Taylor and her mom called the locksmith and got them down to the temple to get our car open.  Lifesavers!

 Let me include that Whitney still looks ravishingly beautiful, 8 1/2 months pregnant.  If it had been me, I would be looking like 2 ton Tilley in this picture above.  You can't even tell she's pregnant here.... sick!

Love you Kyle and Lacey!  Soooo grateful we got to make a second trip out to Utah to be part of your special day.  It was indeed special!!  Looking forward to getting to know Kyle more and more in the upcoming years!

Utah Trip: Part 4

Lacey's wedding!  Sigh..... it was a magical, much anticipated for event.  For personal reasons, Kyle and Lacey chose to delay their wedding from May to July.  This was a courageous decision for them to make.  I know that postponing the wedding was soooooo difficult.  So first of all, you've just planned one wedding and Lacey had to turn right around and plan another.  Then you've got the questions everyone has about, Why?  Then you've got Lacey and Kyle's crazy busy schedules........ put that all together and wedding planning is a bit difficult.  There were bumps...... hills, but it really turned out to be such a beautiful day!  

I, myself am a wee bit obsessive when it comes to weddings.  So, Lacey was a dear and let me in on the planning of it.  

 Christian did the mason jar luminaries all over and he did awesome!!!! So picturesque.

 It's Peyton this time, that was caught red-handed.  We had a few extra cupcakes that didn't fit on the cupcake stand and he went to town.

 So this cupcake stand was Eric and I's pride and joy that evening.  Although it's a little skeewanpus, on the top....... it looks dreamy if I do say so myself.  We headed over to the neighbors, took a few of their logs and sawed them off to size.... with a little bit of wood glue, we put that thing all together.

Soooo proud of my Laterhosen!  Congrats you two crazy love birds!  Tune in next for more in depth feelings by yours truly about my new brother in law, Kyle.

Utah Trip: Part 3

The reception that Tuesday evening for Zach and Jocelyn's wedding, was a celebration indeed!  Let me back up and give some information on this wedding.  

I have known Jocelyn Cheney for years now.  She was my cousin Amber's best friend throughout middle school so I would always hear references of her.  We lived in Tremonton when I first heard of her, then on to Iowa City.  We made a summer trip out to Utah for Grandma's camp every year while living in Iowa.  When Christian and Amber both turned 16, they had a special double date planned for the week of Grandma's camp.  I remember being so jealous because I wish I had been 16 as well.  They went and had a picnic with watermelon then watched the fireworks at teh stadium.  Christian's date was....... Jocelyn Cheney.  

Fast forward a couple years, and my family moved to Nibley Utah my junior year of high school.  Amber became one of my best friends..... I don't think Jocelyn and Amber hung out all the time still but I'd see her around the high school all the time.  

Now fast forward a couple MORE years.  We were in the Institute Choir together and I got to be good friends with her aunt, Leann Nelson.  There are a zillion more connections that I could add that documents our family's lives intermingled but suffice it to say, we go wayyyyyyyy back.  I will add that my dad took Jocelyn's mom on her very first date, back int eh day.  Super awesome!

The point I'm trying to make is this, I've known Jocelyn for a really long time and always thought she was the sweetest girl ever.  We never got to be "besties" but I know enough of her character over the years to know that she is PERFECT for my brother.  NEVER thought I'd say that about any girl while refering to my brother Zach.  He is in my opinion, one of the best men that I've ever known.  I look up to him so much!  

The thing about this wedding was, I'm not alone in this opinion of these two amazing people.  So that's why I say that when this reception was a celebration, it really was.  Friends and family getting together to celebrate this wonderful couple and the beginning of their life together!  

Enough of my jabbering, let's commence to some pictures.......

 Jocelyn's mission girls!!  They were so cute all together!  Just giddy and soooo happy to be reunited.

 AHA!  Caught red-handed Ty-ty.  I'm sure it was enjoyable though.

 And much to his credit, it was just a single lick.

 Zach has always been obsessed with cereal, and if my memory serves me correctly, Jocelyn loves it as well.  So their departure was met with an immense amount of rice krispies!

Such a fun reception and an all around wonderful day!  It was filled with the spirit, lots of love, family, and friends!  What else matters?

Eric's Birthday

 Right before we left for Utah we had a celebration for Eric's birthday.  This guy is busy as a beaver so pinning him down for a simple celebration is harder than it sounds.  He was busy as can be getting a chicken coop ready.  Peyton is his right man hand!

 And Sadie FINALLy has long enough hair to do a "whale spout"... I mean, ponytail.  She is too darn adorable!

 We made lots of fun cards for Eric, we strung the kitchen up with streamers and fed him some peach pie for breakfast!

 Sadie was the entertainer for the morning.  Flame blower act.  She's legit.

 I'm older than him.  Just thought I'd throw that in somewhere.

Happy birthday babe!!  You rock!