Our Wedding of the Summer

The only wedding we had this summer took us back to Shreveport to my sister's sister-in-laws wedding.    I helped throw the Bridesmaid's luncheon with the help of my Mom and sisters at Sue-Sue's house. 

Everything about it was beautiful and perfect.  The cake, the flowers, the home, the people.  The actual ceremony was stunning.  Check out Candace's blog for that.  Kate, may you have a long and wonderful marriage!  (And don't forget Stephen's grandmother's advise)  ;)

WRC's house on Olive Street.

WECB-PMB,Jr. house on Linden

In addition to throwing the Bridesmaid party on Friday, we were able to squeeze in some great times in the 'Port.  Of course there was Superior and Monjunis to eat, but we also took the kids on a historical Shreveport tour, going by the house of my great-great grandfather, William Rufus Cavett and the house of his daughter, Willie Eleanor Cavett and several cemeteries, explored Centenary's campus and made a fire station visit. 

We finally made our first trip to Sci-Port with our cousins and Amber and Jonny, finishing it off racing an extremely strong storm to Chick-Fil-A. 

Four Funerals and a Wedding

I know, it's backwards from the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral with Hugh Grant, but that has been the story of the past 8 weeks. But, let's highlight the happy part of this--the wedding. It was my Dad's niece/my cousin, Leah Dahms. We travelled to Austin for the ceremony and got to spend some time with friends the night before. It was Kendrick's first time in a hotel which both boys were very excited about. They both slept in the same bed and they went to sleep fine (from what Crystal said). Saturday, while I was Bridesmaid brunching, the boys headed to the Inner Space Cave just north of Austin. They had a great time and saw some really cool formations while I hit South Congress Street to shop with my sisters, sister in-law and my neice.

That evening we drove into the hill country to a gorgeous mansion. The ceremony was supposed to be outside, but it had rained too much the day before. It was a different kind of ceremony than I was used to, but it was still fun to watch my 88 year old grandmother dance back down the aisle for the recession. Dinner was a full spread of yummy BBQ followed by dancing. We all got our groove on and had a great time. Cavett was way into dancing and shook his little booty all over the place. I never seemed to get a good pic of AG and Cavett dancing, but there was much of it. Unfortunately, the camera was in the car during the majority of the time and I didn't get a pic of the beautiful bride, but it was so good to be around the Dent side of my family and have some happy.

Birthday Weekend

This past Friday was my 35 birthday. I feel it. I'm no spring chicken anymore. Oh well, there is worse, I suppose. Friday evening both my sisters, my brother, my sister-in-law and my Mom came in town. I'd like to say that it was for my birthday that day, but it was a coincidence. It was actually for my cousin, Katie's wedding on Saturday. But, it was still a good time.













We put the kids to bed Friday and had a very nice sit down, lounge around the table kind of meal. (Sorry, Candace). Saturday the sisters went for a run and I did circles around them on my bike. Unfortunately, it was fairly misty, so it was pretty icky. Brunch followed at Cafe Brazil--must be the best breakfast and coffee in Dallas! We dressed and headed to Fort Worth for the wedding at TCU leaving Stephen at home with two little boys-one of whom (Kendrick)threw up all over me before I jumped in the shower. At least it was before the shower.


It was a beautiful wedding-short and sweet. Katie was stunning and we were so glad that we could all be there to support her. The most fun part of it was that Cavett got to meet another relative that shares his name! They were both named for my great-grandmother's side of the family. Cavett was the surname. Mom, Candace and I ended up coordinating with black and white again. Funny thing is that the wedding was black and white too! The ride back home provided less than desirable--my attitude, driving in the rain, and a sick little one at home that I was wanting to get back to. The evening was all football and a train birthday cake which Kendrick shared with his 3 other boy cousins his age-Zeke and William. Even though he was sick, I couldn't spare him, his cake, singing, and candles! Unfortunately, we never got a picture of all the cousins together that I am aware of. Maybe that will happen when they are 9 or 10. Ha!

All in all it was a good visit with family and much needed. On the opposite side of the spectrum though, keep my grandfather in your prayers. (My sister wrote a great blog about him and Jesus. CHeck it out!) He has been in hospice for a week now and is having trouble breathing. They found a rapidly growing tumor in his frontal lobe. It may be soon. Have I mentioned before, I hate cancer?

Addendum: Granpaw went to be with Jesus at 1:30 today.

July

Is it really almost August? How can it be? I have enjoyed being off of our regular routine in Sugar Land, but I am ready for a steady constant schedule. How many more days till school starts? Oh well, here is what has been occupying our minds and time....

The first full week of July was full of guests. My former co-worker, Wendy came to visit for a few days and we had some great "girly" time. It was good to visit with her to catch up on her life. Greg Warren, one of Stephen's groomsmen and our college friend, showed up in town and we caught dinner with him on Wednesday night as well.

Thursday after swim lessons we headed to McDonald's. It was Kendrick's first visit and Cavett's second, though he can't remember the first. They loved it! The one in Allen has a fantastic playground. The whole reason we went was a "blind date." It was a playdate to meet a friend of a friend from Sugar Land. We hit it off and we are looking forward to another playdate come August.

Thursday evening Brenda and Isabela arrived and Sammy followed bringing Stephen back with him. (Hopefully that was Stephen's last trip back to work in Houston.) We had a very memorable weekend full of laughs and tears, and of course the typical dress up times for the kids. We also got in a little shopping time too. We miss them terribly!

Highlights: Chick-Fil-A Cow Appreciation Day and Cavett's major fit in the restaurant

Lauren Davis' 1 year old Birthday Party

Brenda left on Tuesday morning and my crazy cousin, Sarah stopped by for the afternoon. Never a dull moment with that girl! She constantly has me in stitches, but yet can talk about real things too.

Highlight: Cavett is now asking to do the dishes!

Wednesday I spent cleaning and cooking. All of Stephen's siblings and parents were coming over for dinner and all but one spent the night. It was really fun to have them all over and pull out all my good china and crystal, but the events surrounding were not as joyous. Richard has cancer--an 11 cm inoperable mass on his liver and after further scans many small lesions all over his body. Chemo will start soon. For the past 3 weeks when Stephen hasn't been working, he has been with his Dad and family at the hospital. Again, I go back to so many scriptures I clung to in the mourning of my own father and my heart aches for what Stephen feels.

On a brighter note, Thursday we left for Shreveport via Tyler (to pick up Memaw) for my little brother's wedding. It was a perfect wedding and it was all just beautiful, not a single flaw! Congrats to Jonny and Amber. I told Mom at one point this weekend that it feels like I have known Amber all my life and that it was like she was born into our family. She is that wonderful! On the other hand, want to know who stole the show? Yep! That would be the "ring master and the ring leader"! They were perfect and stood so perfectly still through the entire ceremony. Only glitch was that they couldn't remember whether or not to take the bells with them on the recession. They also stole the dance floor as well. Cavett got to go to the toy store yesterday to pick out a special toy as a reward--this never happens, so this is BIG! He chose a gun, of course.

Highlights: Cavett's prayer after the wedding "God bless the beauitful bride, Amber who got married today."

Watching the kids dance.

Playing "Prince of Wales" with the Dent family after the reception.

When Cavett was asked his favorite part of the weekend, it was "dancing with Amber."

For more pics of the wedding head to my Facebook page.

We have 3 days at home and then we are back to Shreveport to drop off the kids and a car with my sister and Mom who will keep them while we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary with a trip to Napa, Sonoma and San Francisco. Stephen has a convention there next week and I will leave him on Thursday to fly back and take care of the kids plus my sister's two kids while they go to Portland, OR for a parents only weekend.

So, really.....after this next week, I will be ready for some monotony, a schedule, school to start. It's been a fun summer, but I need some structure. See you in August.........

Oh wait, I just remembered another issue...we are building a pool, so we have had pool guys out, bank guys calling, tile and travertine to decide on and I have been trying to keep Stephen grounded in his dreams. It will be nice and big, but may not be finished by the end of the summer. We will start digging Aug. 6 and may be done sometime in October. More fun times to come....

The Fourth and Fiftieth with the Hills

This past weekend was all about family, the in-laws to be exact. We packed up on Thursday morning and headed to Grand Saline where we met all 2 aunts, 3 uncles, 5 cousins, a great-grandmother, a few distant cousins and Grandmama and Grandaddy. All except the distant cousins, we were all lodged in the house or in the camper out back. Quite a feat!

Not only was it the holdiday weekend, but Stephen's parents were celebrating 50 years of marriage--an awesome and inspirational accomplishment! We had a wonderful time celebrating and remembering. It was also Grandmama and Uldene's (great-grandmother) birthdays. Can you say CAKE? There was much to go around!

We passed the time with a trip to the library, the city pool, the Dollar Store, picking blueberries, playing in the baby pool, making a Slip and Slide (and being pulled down it with a rope--Uncle Skip's bright idea so that you stayed on the plastic better), playing a round of Golf Tennis, frisbee and badmittin, climbing trees and shooting fireworks. Cavett was so distraught that he couldn't go with the big cousins to actually shoot the fireworks off. Only 8 more years, son. It was just too hot to fish this go around. Let's just say that my kids were so worn out that they slept an extra hour this morning.

So congratulations Grandmama and Grandaddy! May you have many more years to celebrate. And Happy Birthday Grandmama and Uldene, (94 years!!!!) We love you!