A Lovely Evening for a Lovelier Couple

Sharing a sweet moment

Everyone had a great time

Claudia, Lauren and Jim

Kristen with her dad and twin brother

Merchants was a great host!

The scene when we left downtown

Everyone made their way from the rehearsal in Gallatin to downtown Nashville for the dinner.  When I realized a few weeks ago that the CMA Fest (Fan Fair to me) was the same weekend as the wedding I panicked.  How were we all going to get downtown for the dinner?!?!  I think several others involved felt the same way.  But, we all made it to the restaurant without any difficulty.  Luckily, they offered valet parking so we did not have to worry about that.  Traffic was also relatively light considering everything going on.  I did enjoy the people watching on the slow drive down Broadway.  We saw our fair share of tourists!

The dinner was lovely -- we enjoyed a cocktail hour first to allow everyone to arrive at the restaurant.  The food was delicious and the stories, toasts and memory sharing were even better.  Several funny stories were shared about Jon and Kristen, but most of all it was evident how much they are loved by many and how everyone sees the love they have for each other!  They are positively glowing and greatly anticipating being husband and wife!

Paul and I as well as Jim, Claudia and Lauren stayed to clean up everything following the dinner.  All the flower arrangements and decorating were done by Paula's friends and it all needed to be dismantled and taken back to Gallatin.  Paula had several pictures from Jon and Kristen's childhood enlarged and we mounted them on foam board.  We joked that some of the wedding party might just have a new piece of art for their homes!

We did not get home until 11:30.  Mom kept the kids for us.  Katherine was fast asleep before 8.  Luke was a different story....he was asleep on Mom when we got home.  He wanted to sleep on a pallet in our floor so we let him.  Mom said he kept asking where we were and why we were staying gone so long.  Sweet boy missed us!

Time to Rehearse

The wedding party

Katherine does not have to practice being cute!

A high-five for one of the groomsmen

An uninvited guest - the crew fertilized the newly planted crops during the rehearsal

The rehearsal went well.  Like any rehearsal I have ever been a part of (including my own) there were some glitches but I have confidence that everything will go beautifully tonight. 

Just a word about our kids...they did marvelous!  Katherine sat in her stroller or in my lap and babbled, laughed and smiled.  The preacher told me she looks like a porcelain doll...what a compliment!  Luke did well, too.  He grew a little impatient toward the end of the practice but did great when it was his turn to go down the aisle.  The coordinator told everyone just roll with the punches when it comes to Luke.  You never know what might happen when there is a 3-year old involved.  But, we know whatever it is he will be cute!

Preparations are Underway!

Even the front door got some wedding love!

It was awesome to see the tent going up

No detail has been overlooked...

Well, the weekend we have all been anticipating for over a year is finally here!  Everyone is working fast and furiously to make everything go off without a hitch!  The farm looks amazing...Bill and Paula have done an awesome job getting everything prepared for the big day.  Paul took of yesterday and today and has been hard at work helping wherever needed.  I took off today and helped for a while this morning.  Everything is going to be absolutely beautiful!!!  We are so excited to have a new family member, although I feel like Kristen has been a part of the family for a long time. 

Just Another Train Track

Luke is still all about Thomas.  Most every night he asks us to build him a train track.  We try to leave them up at night, but Katherine also loves trains, well....tearing up the track!  She really likes to chew on the trains and the track.  Since Mom gave Luke some more track his tracks can get pretty elaborate now.  I still just do the basic ones, but Paul does some pretty crazy ones with bridges and twists and turns. 

I spent my day off trying to get some loose ends tied up for the wedding weekend.  I still needed to find a pair of shoes, iron Luke and Katherine's outfits and get my toes done.  Luckily it was a very productive day and hopefully I can focus on helping at the farm on Friday.

That's Our Girl

 

Katherine is progressing so quickly with her mobility now.  She has been officially crawling for a couple of weeks.  She is also pulling up on anything and everything and "cruising" around the furniture.  It is so fun to see her learning.  She is so proud of herself and always has the biggest smile on her face when she does something new.  We love it! 

What is that?

Katherine usually plays with some of my things in the morning while we are getting ready.  Luke decided to put one of my hair clips in her hair.  She did not seem to mind at all.  Then, Luke took multiple pictures of Katherine and Paul.  He really is getting quite good at photography!

And they're off!

Luke loves to show Katherine how to crawl

She's on the move now!

Katherine is becoming more and more mobile. Paul and I have a theory that if Luke would leave her alone she would have been crawling a long time ago.  That boy just can not get enough of his little sister.  He continues to get up in her space all the time, especially when she is on the floor attempting to crawl.  She can crawl on all fours for a little bit now, but usually drops down and belly crawls the rest of the way.  We keep saying that when she is able Katherine is going to haul off and sock Luke in the nose!

So long, old friend...

This Thomas balloon has been a fixture in our living room since the infamous "Day Out with Thomas" last September.  He celebrated Thanksgiving with us as well as Christmas and New Year's. Luckily, Luke had a Thomas birthday so he fit right in.  We finally decided it was time to say good bye to our dear friend.  We thought Luke would be upset but he did not seem to mind at all.  He just knows he will get one later this year when we go back to ride on the "Big Thomas".  I must say the balloon was a very well spent $9!

Hanging Out

It was this big, Mom!

Luke loves helping with anything and everything!

We love nights when we can just hang out as a family.  I bought a few plants over the weekend so Luke helped me plant them.  He is all about helping any way he can.  Sometimes he is too much help!  It is still so hot here but the humidity was not as bad this afternoon so we took advantage of it.

Memorial Day with Family

Katherine enjoying her time with Pop

Luke always has to help

The grandmothers took the kids out to swing after supper

Since Paul and I were both off Monday and did not have anything planned we asked our parents to come over for supper.  Paul smoked a Boston Butt and we had pulled pork, fresh corn-on-the cob, baked beans, pesto pasta salad and a fresh salad with lettuce from Bill and Paula's garden.  Paul made homemade ice cream for dessert.  All the food was great and we enjoyed having them over. Luke always gets so excited when he has all the grandparents together in the same place.  He doesn't hardly know what to do!

I felt like I had been on vacation.  Since I stayed home with Katherine last Friday I have been off for four days.  It was pretty nice, I must say!

The Reynolds' Annual Camp Meeting

Luke took this picture

Not the best picture but it is the only one we got

Luke looking for the train

Mr. Reynolds giving his annual pre-meal speech

The day before Memorial Day means one thing around here -- it is time for the Annual Presleyterian Camp Meeting!  It was a hot one this year but that did not damper the festivities.  Luke played and followed Gigi around.  Katherine was good.  She had a low-grade temp some more this weekend.  She also has goopy eyes and a runny nose.  It seems to  be considerably worse when we are outside so we are pretty certain she has allergies.  We have kept her on Allegra daily.  I can only imagine what she would be like if she was not on that medicine. 

We cut the evening short in the hopes that a good night sleep would help Katherine feel better. 

Katherine at 10 Months

The countdown to Katherine's 1st Birthday is on!  The weeks go by like days around here.  Here are the latest happenings with our sweet girl...

Eating:  She has made great strides in this area.  She usually has a bottle in the morning before going to school.  She eats breakfast at school usually consisting of a baby fruit and cereal, but sometimes I send yogurt for her.  In the last week we have also started canned fruit such as peaches, pears or mandarin oranges. She enjoys all of them.  She has two bottles at school, lunch and a snack.  Sometimes lunch is a Stage 2 vegetable or table food depending on what is on the menu.  Snacks are usually puffs or yogurt melts.  She eats supper with us and nurses at bedtime.  She still does not like green baby vegetables, but she will eat peas or green beans with us.

Sleeping: I usually feed Katherine around 8 or 8:30 and she sleeps until 6:30 or later if it is not a school morning.  Naps are still unpredictable.  She normally takes three cat naps at school and then a longer nap in the early evening when we get home.  Weekends she usually takes a good morning and afternoon nap.

Mannerisms: Since Katherine discovered her two fingers a couple of months ago she has not let go.  The usual pose is first two fingers of right hand in mouth with left hand holding her left her.  People ask us if she has an ear ache but it is just her comfort mechanism.  She holds her ear when she is tired, especially when she is going to sleep at night.  Hopefully she will let her fingers go soon!  Paul had her in line somewhere and a Hispanic man behind him said his son still did it and he is 14 years old!

Milestones:  Katherine now has two teeth on the bottom!  They are so cute and you can easily see them when she smiles.  She is becoming more mobile, although she is not crawling according to the text book definition.  She loves to pull herself up on her knees and is oh so close to standing all the way up.  Walking while we hold on to her hands is her favorite now, she grins from ear to ear and is so proud of herself.  She is still babbling but there are few recognizable words.  One day I really thought she said "mama", but I think it was wishful thinking!

Jon and Kristen's Party

Hanne played in the fountain

Luke and Emma put on a show!

The happy couple in one of their gifts - handmade chairs by Mr. Tom

Katherine took it all in

Paula with Luke and Emma

Jon and Kristen practicing cutting cake!

Our second party on Saturday was a pre-wedding party for Jon and Kristen in Gallatin.  It was a warm night but that did not put a damper on the festivities.  Luke had fun running around with Emma and Hanne again.  The Martin's have an amazing house and garden.  The kids played all over!  We had a great meal and then enjoyed hearing about wedding customs from all over the world from Sharon. 

We had talked to Luke a lot before we got there about not "hovering" over Emma and Hanne.  We invoked a "one hug" rule.  He could give each of them one hug and that is all.  He tends to be kind of in your face sometimes.  He did really well with our new rule and the kids had fun.

Pancakes and Pajamas!

Luke making his very own apron!

Katherine waving "hi" to everyone

Attempting a group shot - Luke would not have his picture made

Smart boy - at a table with all girls!

Eating a sausage ball

Luke was right in the middle of the girls opening their presents

Emma and Hanne got lots of fun gifts

"Pin the topping on the pancake"

Katherine loves to be standing up now

Too much partying for K - she fell asleep!

Katherine woke up from an evening nap Thursday night with a temperature of 102.  So, we knew she could not go to school so I stayed home with her.  She did not really run a temp all day Friday so we proceeded with our jam-packed weekend.  First up was Emma and Hanne's birthday party.  The theme was "Pancakes and Pajamas".  It was great fun!  All the parents loved that it was in the morning.  It started at 9 which is perfect for little ones since they are up by 6 anyway.  Each child got to make their own apron which was so neat.  Of course, Luke picked a yellow one!  There were lots of toys to play on in the backyard and then everyone enjoyed breakfast.  After that was gift opening.  If you are an avid reader of our blog you will remember how Emma "helped" Luke open all his gifts for his birthday in January - well, he had the chance to return the favor.  He helped the girls open their gifts so fast no one could keep up with everything.

After gifts they played "pin the topping on the pancake".  The kids had a great time and Luke did not want to leave!  He just loves Emma and Hanne.  We got him to leave by promising him he would see the girls later tonight at another party.