Keri's Wedding

I took off work at 3 p.m. on Thursday and headed to Canyon. Keri & Lance's rehearsal dinner was at a restaurant called Feldman's. We went to Palo Duro Canyon afterwards to 'rehearse'. It was beautiful in the canyon. I hadn't been out there since the last time we went to see Texas which was years ago. Everything was so green from all the rain!

We got up Saturday morning EARLY so we could be at the canyon to decorate. We were there for four hours! And when we got back that afternoon before the ceremony the wind had blown everything down! Not to mention while we were taking pictures one of the park rangers came and pulled a 5 ft long rattlesnake out from a rock directly behind where we were. I guess it makes for a good story!


Here's a picture of all the honorary bridemaids...from (LtoR) Brooke, DeShea, Lana, Me & Kanessa.




Me & Keri


Me & Kristen, sister of the bride.


The beautiful bride.



The honoraries and Lance, the groom.




Me & my handsome hubby. He's such a sweetheart. My mom had a 'bike accident' the day before and crashed on the cattle guard. So he drove her to the wedding and assisted her with the massive stairs you can see in the background.



The two of us with our good friends, Jason & Desiree.

The groom's table. Part of our job as honoraries including serving and there just so happened to be one set of serving utensils for all five of those cheesecakes plus a wedding cake. It was nuts and I was glad for that part to finally be over. We ended up using our hands mostly and plastic forks...very, very messy! Serving in high heels on concrete-not exactly my idea of a good time.

We spent the night with my grandad since the wedding was only about 30 minutes from his house.

"Why I outta..." taking out my wedding frustrations on my husband. J/K!

Me, Gdad & Marty.

We shopped some on Saturday and then went to Mom & Dad's for the rest of the weekend. Marty put up wildlife cameras and Mom and I cleaned out drawers and things. She was still getting around slowly after her little accident.

What We've Been Up to Lately

The past month has flown by. Again, it seems like we have something going every weekend.

The last weekend of July I went to OKC and spent some time with one of my best friends from college, Whitney. Saturday we shopped, went to the spa and had sushi for dinner. It was FABULOUS! Sunday layed out and did a little more shopping before I headed back to Texas.

The following weekend we went to Amarillo and spent some time w/ my Grandad and then came back through Pampa on Saturday and had dinner with my grandparents. It was wonderful family time.

This past week Marty and I celebrated our two year anniversary. It's gone by so fast! We haven't really got to "celebrate" thus far because there has been too much going on, but we may head back to the mountains for Labor Day weekend. He did send me some beautiful flowers, though.

Friday was Marty's 28th birthday. We woke up around 3:45 a.m. because he decided to take the day off to help my dad work cattle. I don't think he felt great, but I think he enjoyed being off from work. He got a new 'cow horse' this past week so he was anxious to try him out. I headed down to Mom and Dad's after work and Mom fixed a big supper and an oatmeal cookie cake for Marty. She tried to make his initials with chocolate chips, but decided to forgo that effort and did "H" "B" "M" for Happy Birthday, Marty. Can you make out the letters?

Saturday Mom and I headed to Amarillo and did a little shopping. Saturday afternoon together with a friend from high school, we threw our other friend, Keri, who is getting married this weekend a lingerie shower. The attendance wasn't staggering, but we had a good time.

I took this picture Friday evening. This was the prelude to it raining all day Saturday, Sunday and thus far today. Thank you, Lord. It's magnificent!

Our cats have been super cuddly lately. I don't know if it's the weather or what. I thought this was too cute not to post.

Colorado

On Saturday we left Canadian and headed to my parents' house so we could leave early the next morning. We were on the road by 5 a.m. and arrived in Durango around 4:30 p.m. The weather was already so much cooler. It had been three years since I'd been to the mountains and man it felt good to be back.

We took Lily, the other daughter my parents never had, and she had a hard time getting comfortable on the drive up.

Mom and Dad at Diamond Belle's Saloon. We've been frequenting this fine establishment since we've been coming to Colorado. Almost 20 years now...that makes me feel SO old!

Mom and I spent the first day shopping and on Day Two we headed to Silverton.

Here are Lily and Mom stopping to smell the wildflowers.

And then on to Ouray or "little Switzerland". We wanted to take a Jeep tour from there, but we got tied up in road construction on the way there and Dad didn't think we had enough time.

Marty & Dad at the bottom of the Box Canyon Falls

Wednesday we loaded up and went to the cabin. I forget how truly amazing it is there. Life just seems so much simplier when you wake up to a view like this.

Here's a side shot of the cabin.

Mom & Me sticking our feet in the Rio Grande Reservior. It was freezing, plus it was starting to rain so we didn't terry long.

This is the view of the valley from the deck of the cabin.

One of the things my dad wanted to do was take a Jeep over Cinnamon Pass and show Marty some of the places he had hunted. It was breathtaking.

My cute little parents.

This is right after we topped the pass.

Who knew pinecones in their early stages were soft and purple?

This is the view from 13,000 ft.

Here's a nice mule deer in downtown Lake City. My dad and Marty insisted I get a picture.

I thought this picture summed up our trip. My dad is usually so anxious to get home towards the end of the trip because of all the work he has back home, but this was our last night at the cabin and he was as relaxed as could be. I think he really enjoyed having Marty along. He had someone to share his passion for hunting with and it made all the difference in the world. Plus, Mom and I could shop w/o worrying about Dad being back at the hotel w/o us.

It was a great trip. I know it sounds cliche because the world is "God's Country", but up there, it's different. It really does feel like God's Country w/ the massive landscapes and mountain ranges. A field of wildflowers amidst rough mountain peaks. He just feels closer here than anywhere else...