Graduation and Blessing Day

Still catching up here. Please don't judge me!

So my [our] Rexburg trip concluded with two big events: Cecilia's graduation, and Blessing Day for our sweet little Giselle. Cecilia has worked hard to keep her grades up and get everything done and complete for her graduation. This is no small task when you consider that she was doing it while pregnant, and then also as the first-time mom of a newborn.

Commencement -- we couldn't even find her in the masses here:

Brandon was pretty proud of her, too.

It's not easy juggling a new baby and school, but she sure did it!

So proud of her!!

The family came down to Rexburg to join us for graduation and the blessing, and one evening we slipped down to the river at Idaho Falls for some pictures.

Oh, it was so beautiful there, and so, so peaceful.

The following Sunday, we went to church with Brandon and Cecilia, and Giselle was blessed. Cecilia's mom made a pretty blessing dress for her, and I made a little memory bouquet for her wrist.

Todd's aunt LaRee came, too -- it was so good to see her again. It's been a long time!

(Do we look old enough to be grandparents? Don't answer that!!)

My sweet niece, Lyndsey and her hubby Ross also came that day -- so fun to see them again and have them join us!

I'm such a sucker for baby-yawns.

At the end of the day, THIS is what it's all about.

Since it's so much later now that I'm recording this, I have a different perspective, perhaps. Or maybe it's just that I've had more time to think about it. Right now, this little angel is pretty far away, and we haven't gotten to see or hold her lately. I think I've got newborn withdrawals. (Even though she's not a newborn anymore!) Just sure am missing this little one.

But oh, what joy comes with a baby!!

Wedding Day

Take a deep breath. This is it.

(Oh, maybe that's just the way *I* was feeling!) It was Wedding Day, and the day this momma had to let go. Well, sort of. I guess you're never really "let go" out of the family. The day dawned sunny and hot and beautiful. In the hotel room, there wasn't a trace of jitters... everyone is all smiles!

Brandon and Cecilia chose to be married in the Mount Timpanogos Temple, which is located in American Fork, Utah. Because of the sacred nature of the temple ceremony, no cameras are allowed inside. We were happy to see that the couple's closest friends and family that could make it were inside with them. It was beautiful. Trust me. I think I cried all the way through it. (Isn't that the mom's job??)

Once again, the pictures will mostly tell the story, as the happy couple came outside to join everyone:

Three generations on the groom's side:

Three generations on the bride's side:

These close friends were a big part of Brandon & Cecilia's experience at the temple. We're so glad they could come:

Huffaker parents and grandparents of the couple...

A favorite cousin and their little ones. With an Emma-sized photobomb, too:

Extended family on the groom's side:

(No, this is NOT all the Huffakers. These are the ones that were at the temple that day)

Cecilia and her mom and grandma share a fun moment:

(That's sooo typical of them!)

On to the Utah reception that evening....

These are some of our great friends, who have moved to Utah. The amazing coincidence: we invited them to the temple, but they had to turn us down: they had a family member getting married in the exact same temple and at the exact same time as Brandon and Cecilia! What are the chances?? It was still so wonderful to see them at the temple, though they were going to a different room for a different wedding. We love these guys!!

This wonderful couple traveled down from Idaho to be with Brandon on his big day. He had a lot of experiences with Brandon during his youth and Scouting days:

The cake feeding may have gotten a little rambunctious....

But that's ok, because she got him back:

(and we didn't forget the tradition of decorating the getaway car .... ummm, rather creatively!!)

We're glad to welcome Cecilia to the family. Brandon can use someone keeping him in line! (heh, heh, heh)  Really, we wish them all the best in their lives together!

P.S. The wedding festivities are not yet over.... the happy couple spent several days at Glacier National Park for their honeymoon, and then this coming weekend is their local Idaho reception.



Temple Square

August.

 

Such a huge month for our family! I think I will tell most of the story in pictures. Starting with the happy couple -- in one of my favorite pictures of them:

 

We went together to the iconic Salt Lake City Temple on the day before the wedding day. This is one of the busiest temples in the world, and we took just a few moments for a fast picture on the steps in front of the doors:

While we were inside the girls spent time on Temple Square. If you leave a camera in the hands of my teenage daughters, they will use it.

What Emma really does while waiting....

She actually made a little friend too:

And she loves spinning in her dress. The flowers on Temple Square are so beautiful and lush. I am in serious landscaping envy right here. I feel like I need to hit my whole yard with Miracle-Gro.

 

Oh, wait. This is not all about Emma.

 

This is what it's really about:

And this:

Stay tuned.... we're moving into the main event: WEDDING DAY!!

Temple Square

I wanted to share a few pictures from our trip to Temple Square. With BYU softball camp being the week before Cameron was due at the MTC, we simply stayed in Salt Lake for a few extra days. It gave us a chance to do some school shopping, and we also wanted to take the kids to Temple Square, because they'd never seen it in person. So, the day before we took Cameron to the MTC, we went to the Salt Lake Temple.

While we were in the temple, the girls saw the sights on Temple Square. All of these photos are taken by Alyssa, as they walked around. When we were done, we grabbed lunch downtown at the Nauvoo Cafe and went to ... Deseret Book!! It was a really great day.

There's no mistake on this first picture: it's the reflecting pool near the temple. I thought Alys did a great job with this.

There are several statues to see, including this of the mother playing with her children:

The Conference Center is just across the street. We would have taken the tour, if we'd had more time.

Seagull Monument and the Assembly House:

The Christus statue in one of the visitor's centers. Emma looks so TINY next to it:

Look closely on this next photo, and you'll see Darcie and Emma in the foreground on the left. It was such a gorgeous day that day!

I really love this shot that Alyssa got. The unknown couple is sitting at the edge of the pool, and they look so peaceful as she snuggles next to him. And they're not super young -- still happy after many years? Love it!

Can't help but get a classic temple shot:

Although there is a lot to see on Temple Square, I get the feeling that maybe Emma got a little bored here...

Finally Cameron, Todd, and I joined them:

(Yes, it's really us)

After spending over a week in Salt Lake, it was finally time to get Cameron to the MTC. Great memories with him for that final day together! I only wish that we could have had Brandon with us as well. Then it would have been complete.