and finally....(drum roll please)....

We've had birds nesting in the top of our bamboo shade on our patio all summer.  When they first started flying around looking for a place, the DPR immediately ran out to chase them away spouting opinions on how they were going to die out there if they built a nest because as soon as we turn on the AC it will be too hot....yada, yada...
They built a nest anyway, regardless of his opinions.  Then they did their birdy thing and before you can say "yumpin' yiminy" their were 3 little eggs in the nest.  Honestly, I didn't pay that much attention after that....until the end of July.  The little birdies were all busy and focused and I pretty much felt the same.

The WEDDING:

  in pictures.....

lovely.

happy.

beautiful girl

tinted jars for lanterns and flowers

felted birds cake topper

We are family.

sweet.

buckets of flowers

Vanilla Bean cake with Lemon-curd filling and buttercream...oh my!

on the patio

sundae bar---yum.

first dance

Stealing a quiet moment

Birdies flying away....

When we got home, I went to hang the lanterns on my patio.  I was dreaming of seeing the colored glass in the sunlight.  There.... I found the empty nest.
And I realized, it was really....really empty.

(sigh).

Love on Amelia Island

I flew home today from Amelia.  I slept most of the way, because the stygian witches (aka: sisters-in-law) kept me awake all night talking and laughing and watching movies, and then laughing some more.  I had beautiful dreams of a gorgeous beach wedding with April and Steve.

I thought of little girls in white dresses....playing with a basket of seashells...

And...I remembered a vision of a beautiful god-dess.... ( I really like to say that word)

There were peach linens with seashells and birds of paradise...

and of course cutting cake...

Seth gave a toast...I think he said something like..."live long and prosper"...or "be excellent to each other"....something to that effect.  We all agreed.

Then, I woke up and it was time to get off the plane.  

I can't remember now if it was just a dream....a very good dream.

Good things always seem to happen on Amelia.

Sarah and Josh

I have just recently been able to see my family at a wedding reception for Sarah and Josh. They got married a couple of months ago and had this reception in Rexburg, Idaho.
Love, Love, LOVE my family! I am truly thankful for the couple of moments that I get to have every so often...to just reconnect! I had such a great time....take a look at the beautiful day we got to share with each other:

Sarah and Josh stealing a kiss....

I made the cake to match her original wedding cake....

Mindy brought her sweet little Sophia for us to see....

Fiona came and wore her pink boots....love her!

Did I say how much I love my family?

Kym and Adam/Family Reunion

We just got home last night from Rexburg. What a blast. Kym(fabulous niece) married Adam(totally cool new best friend)....and oooohhhh what a party! The air was crisp and fallish(wonderful), the food was plentiful and beautiful(delicious), the bride was dressed in simple white(breathtaking), and my family was reunited(blessing). take a look for yourself and see what I mean...
Megan wore her RED shoes...

all the cousins were having entirely too much fun!
and the day....well it was truly awesome- in the true sense of the word!

Claire and I made the cakes...check these out-

The grooms' cake was chocolate Diablo cake with dark chocolate
ganache, almond filling and molded chocolate leaves.
The wedding cake was orange almond cake with chocolate ganache
filling and buttercream frosting.
The leaves on the wedding cake I made out of melted sugar along with
the nest for the birds. I love how it turned out.
(thanks to Claire for all her hard work...or it would not
have "turned out")

The best part was catching up with my family. I love these people!!
I feel so blessed to be a part of their world.

I love you Kym.
...and Adam..."welcome to the family", good move.

Megan and Joseph

I just got back last night from Richland. Claire, Kindle, and I drove last week to Washington for Megan's wedding....I must share...because it was awesome! Here are a few pics:

After the ceremony, Mindy had planned a beautiful luncheon for the family...totally cool...I know who the person is behind the curtain that keeps everything running...it's Min.( she even cut the vinyl monograms for the doors) It was truly great. She did a fabulous job.



We spent the evening at a beautiful reception...laughing our heads off with the Baird family.




I made the cake....I call it the Blake cake because it is chocolate cake with almond coconut
(my take on almond joy). It was good....very good.

(I love how the coconut looks like the hydrangeas on the tables)

me and my peeps.