The work ain't over!

Even though the I Do's had been said and the ball dropped to welcome in 2013, there was still PLENTY of clean-up to be had at the Shrine Center. So in our 1/2 stupid slumber, we started the morning off with breakfast while Sissie and Ray opened their gifts. I'm almost certain everyone had a nice time, but it's hard to tell. I was operating off of somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 hours of sleep so I was beyond rummy. 

At least in the pics everyone seems to be enjoying themselves....

PS HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Kathy and Danny for letting us drop Ashley and Natalie off at their house for the day so we could help clean without tripping over a pair of minis 

Present time!

You know it was a good party when the groom is still rocking his tux shirt over 12 hours later

Now that's a present worth receiving! 

Love me some Karri Jones!

Mrs. Drake getting a Keely snuggle

Aunt Shawna, multi-tasker extraordinaire 

Never one to be one-uped, Jake pulled out the big guns to vacuum 

Keely helping to sort the napkins

So long Pre-K...

...HELLO SUMMER VACAY!

As I dropped Ash off for her last day of pre-k this morning, I couldn't help but do a happy dance. While she's sad to be done with school, I love the idea of summertime with my girls! It won't always be easy and I know I'll have more than a few minutes of extreme annoyance as Ash and Natty try to annihilate each other. But knowing that Ashley belongs to me for the next 3.5 months brings me such happiness, it is with a smile I say "So long school! Hello summertime!!" 

Our little Pre-K graduate!

First day of school, September 2012

Excited to learn

According to Natalie

"Hey Mommy. The sun is like the microwave for the outside since it warms it up."

OF COURSE! Why didn't I think of that?

The grand finale

Finally managed to work through the remainder of the wedding reception pictures. Even though I'm grossly behind, it's been a lot of fun going through the pics from New Years and re-living the good time we all had.

Lots of gifts just waiting to be torn into

Shabby chic table assignments 

Who wouldn't love this ribbon?

Put a bird on it! Or better yet, stick a card in a cage and call it good!

The bouquet made from bridal shower ribbon and bows that Sissie carried at rehearsal  

Looks like Jake's got his hands full with the ladies

Vetterick's cutting a rug

Isaiah and his new squeeze

What happens when you party all night long? You get hungry. And that can only mean 1 thing: corn dogs! 

Big brother!

Oh my! Wonder who was responsible for silly string on the new couples ride?

A bubble send-off, led by Flower Girl Extraordinaire 

The following pics are brought to you by a krunk Jessica who saw Mom's dress hanging up and decided to try her hand at playing Melinda

Strike a pose

Yep, she's still drunk

Whoa! Which one is which?!

Is this really happening, Keely?

Are you going to start pulling up on things before you even fully figure out crawling?

Is this REALLY how you want to proceed?

Mandatory reporters don't read the following: when I see her like this, I push her down

Sweet as strawberries

This spring/summer I'm attempting something I've always talked about, but never actually done. 

Gardening.

Well not traditional gardening. Or even raised beds for that matter.

I'm starting small.

Almost minute.

Sugar snap peas in a box.

Strawberries in a hanging pipe.

That's gardening, right?

Maybe?

Somewhat?

Or will it only be gardening when (if??) I actually get to harvest peas and berries?

Ooooh the pressure.

Getting silly at the shop

Helping Daddy drill the holes for the strawberry pipe

Nothing like a man with a power tool! 

This mama even helped by drilling out 1.3 holes!

Time to place the plants!

PS Not sure which one it was, but either Ash or Natty captured this shot

More shots by Ash

Someone was having fun with the camera

I remember Natty capturing this shot because not long after she dropped my phone in the potting soil 

Ash was in love with the strawberry flowers

I'd guess Midget took this picture - she's obsessed with flowers

I can't even get Natty Kat to look at the camera, but it seems she's more cooperative when Ash is behind the lens 

Daddy-daughter stroll

So excited to see our sugar snap peas growing

One of about 20 rose buds on a bush on our back deck

Jake bought a bag of dahlia, glad and calla lily bulbs so we took a few minutes and put them in the ground

If all goes well, we may end up with some flowers like these

Finished strawberry pipe project. Crossing our fingers it produces fruit!

Keely Q hamming it up for the camera

After a tough afternoon planting and sowing, it was time to relax on the swings

Count on Natty Kat to get a little wild

Happpppppy New Year!

As the Schoonover-Drake wedding reception continued, we got closer and closer to welcoming in 2013. Funny thing, even though Sissie and Ray had only been married a little over 4 hours, they were officially an "old married couple" once the clock rang twelve beings as they were married "last year".

Precious party girl

Angie was ready for the countdown 

Cutest non-married couple of the party

Party Girl give me a haaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

So happy the Vetterick's could make it!

Oh Karri, it was SO good to see you! If only we didn't live 134,402,612 miles away :(

Looking snappy!

Trading in her veil for a specially-made New Year's  hat

Even minutes before midnight, Midget was still going strong

Mama getting in on the New Year's fun

One thing I learned? Jessica is a dancing machine!

Oh Natty!

Poor Natty Kat was getting tired

I think Ash danced with just about every person at someone point during the night - she's gonna make one heck of a hostess someday!