Megan & Mike's Wedding

The day after I arrived in Minnesota we headed over to my Grandma's house for my sister Megan's bridal shower
The lovely umbrella cupcake cake - cute!!

The lovely nibbles table - lots of very nice food

My grandmas - Sis & Sally

Aunt Denise & me

Mom & her friends - so nice for so many people to come to the shower

Me & the Bride Megan

Megan looking lovely in her dress

One of the fun games involved drawing a picture of the bride - but you had to do it on the top of your head - very difficult! Megan got to choose who was the winner!

Joni, Jolie & Jani

Time to open gifts!!! (notice my notebook - I was the gift recorder! :)

Lovely cushions to match her new beadspread - they match the color of her bedroom

Aunt sue with one of the toasting glasses Joni & Jani decorated for Megan & Mike

cousin Jenny showing off some of the lovely embroidered gifts Megan got

Megan was a BIT embarrassed by this one - ha ha!

Joni used her fabulous scrapbooking machine to make the designs on this package - so cool!

The hosts - the aunties - from left Jani, Sue, Lolly, Megan, Joni, Denise & Julie

Megan & her Godmother Lolly (Leticia)

Sisters - Me, Mariah, Megan & Mandie

Cousins
(back row l to r) Molly (Josh's fiance), Mariah, Jenny, Megan, Jolie, Jenny
(front row) Me, Katie, Mandie, MacKenzie & Lisa

Mom, Megan, Grandma Sally & Grandma Sis


The following Thursday evening - we had a 'bachlorette night out' for Megan
All dressed up as the Bride to Be!

Megan & the Grandmas

Me & Megan

Megan with the aunties - Jani, Joni & Denise

Putting out feet up - time to relax a bit!

Megan & auntie Julie

She did really well with the bachlorette bingo cards!

Sisters - I guess we all like pink! That wasn''t even planned:)

Aunties

& the 3 aunties who are sisters - with Megan

Mike was at the Twins game for his bachelor night out - so we got this picture of Megan with one of the Minnesota Twins:)

This random guy bought Megan a cocktail as a congrats - that was nice:)

Megan & Grandma Sis

Another guy gave her $20 !?! NICE - early wedding gift!

Joni, Jenny & Me doing our best 'Blue Steel'

Grandma Sally & Julie

Jolie & her Mom Jani

Mariah got a strike - YAYYYY!

Bowling Bride ! Pretty darn cute

Mariah & Megan both got strikes!

Jani & her 'embarassing my Niece the Bride' t-shirt - lol

After a pitiful run of barely knocking down any pins I actually got a STRIKE!

It was a REALLY fun night - great to get out and celebrate


The next evening was time for the wedding rehearsal
Listening to the Deacon telling us what would happen tomorrow - Megan & the boys

Us girls listened as well to the church's wedding planner lady

Dad & Megan practicing the big walk down the aisle

The lovely couple - Megan & Mike

We also practiced sitting down during the ceremony..... Me, Mandie, Mariah & Jenny

I admit Marcus and I did not go to the rehearsal dinner......
A long time ago Marcus bought tickets to go see the Scottish band Travis perform - and he got me a ticket for my birthday! So after the rehearsal at the church we raced down there. Travis was FANTASTIC!!!! And Fran the lead singer is so fab - his voice was better than the album, they played a LOT of great old stuff, and he even walked into the crowd at one point and was only a few feet away from me!!!! They ROCK - I would SO go see them again!

Next day I was up early - Jolie picked me up and we headed over to Megan's to get ready for the BIG DAY!
Megan getting her hair done by Mariah's boyfriend's sister who is a hairdresser (also named Megan)

Jolie helped out Mandie & I with our hair as well (THANKS AGAIN JOLIE!!!!)

Megan all set in curlers!

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! (Jolie also did all the makeup - fab!)

Eventually we made our way to the church - Jenny was workin' it!

my brother Marcus with cousins Trevor & Kyle

The girls had a little 'waiting room' at the back of the church where we hid out until it was time for the show - doesn't Megan look SOOOOOOOOO happy and beautiful here?!?!!

Dad at the church

The ceremony was beautiful & went really well!

Afterwards there was a receiving line
Mike, Jani & Megan outside of the church

Then the bridal party headed off for some park photos.... when we were finished we made our way to the reception venue

Luckily I got there JUST as my cousin Jenny was getting ready to take a few photos before heading off with her date Pat to the dance (a wedding & prom all in one day!!!)

Jenny & Me - doesn't she look STUUUUUUUUUUUUNING!!!! (and only 16!)

Me, Jenny & her Mom Denise
and another one of us - I'm SOOOOOOOOOO glad I got to see her in her stunning dress before she had to leave for Prom!!!!!

We had some time to kill before the reception - so we had cocktails in my parent's room

Me & my friend Jessi - she was a great help too with the setup at the reception venue!

My great Uncle Norman (my Mom's uncle) and aunt Denise

Mandie, Pat (Mariah's boyfriend) & Mariah

My Mom's friend Beth (who coordinated all the gorgeous decorations in the ballroom), Grandma & Mom

Uncle Kevin with the bride

Aunt Joni, Me & Megan

Joni & Mandie

Norman with his two nieces my Mom Deb & Denise

Grandma Sis & Mike - her new Grandson-in-law

Kevin, Mike & Kyle toasting the happy day!

Me with my two good friends Mike & Beth

My Mom's friend Beth put flowers on the cake - doesn't it look FAB!

Posing for a cake cutting photo!

Megan & Mike enjoying their fabulous red velvet cake

Dad with his brothers Joel & Jay - it was a happy event for everyone - fun to celebrate :)

Groomsman Marcus

Me with my friends Beth & Jessi

The happy couple!

The reception room looks fabulous!

Happy Grandmas

Pat & Mariah

There was a LOT of glass tinkling - promting the couple to kiss - fun :)

For their first dance Marcus sang, played guitar & played harmonica to their favorite song

I can't remember the name of the song...... Marcus ???? can you put it in the comments?

Megan thanking Marcus - he really did do a great job

Then the dancing began!!!

Fun fun!

Mother & Son enjoying a slow song

Sisters dancing together too - wow I guess I DID get tan this summer - lol

Grandma & Mandie

I am guessing YMCA? or something like that???

Beth & Megan

And a family shot - Grandma Sally & her kids

Sisters looking lovely

Marcus & Jessi

Beth & Mike

Me slow dancing with Grandma - I'm laughing cause I had to stick my bum really far out to get down to her height:)

Getting emotional - Me, Mom, Dad & Grandma

Beth, Jolie & Jessi

The next couple in our family to get married - Molly & Josh set their day for summer 2009!!

Kevin & Joni enjoying a dance

The band was GREAT - thus the dance floor was always filled!

This is what happens when the band plays Mustang Sally (my cousins pointing at Grandma Sally!)

Jani with the newly married couple

Tossing the bouquet

My great buddies - it was SO SO nice to see them - I love them both like sisters:)

Father of the bride & the bride

Dance Dance Dance!

And more dancing.....

I even got my cousin Johnny to slow dance with me for one song!

Beth & My Dad dancing - they later cut in on me & Johnny so Dad and I could dance together too:)

Beth & Joni being silly


Anyhow - to wrap up it was a FANTASTIC NIGHT!

I flew out the next day, no fun to have to leave so soon after the wedding, but I had to get back to work. I miss everyone like crazy, but I also will treasure the happy times on Saturday night.

It had been awhile since I have posted

I am home in Minnesota... sorry for the lack of blogging

But our family's beloved aunt Shirley (my great aunt) died this week

Thus, we have had a tough time, we miss her dearly.....

My sister's wedding is also on Saturday, and I am back in Oz on Tuesday...

I will put in wedding prep photos later.... but right now we need to just grieve the loss of a wonderful lady.

Busy busy busy

Dad and I fly to the states tomorrow, and this week has been VERY hectic (thus, the lack of blogs).

I made it to the airport ok to pick him up(well, other than that I ended up in a pay lot and had to pay $7 for 20 minutes of parking - nice), but missed my exit on the way back (we were stopping to pick up Murray from work). It was another one of those signs that was posted up over a split in the road - but it is SO big and easily viewed from the other road it makes you think THAT is where you should be. Anyhow, we somehow ended up going through the harbour tunnel, had to turn around and go back over the harbour bridge, took a wrong turn again, and finally picked up Murray - he drove home from there. Whew

I am looking forward to going to the states and I am happy that I have a full week to help with the preparations for my sister's wedding and to just see everyone - HOORAY!

Lovely Weekend again

But first - a few more pictures from Murray's birthday - because I got a copy of Helen's photos this weekend
He liked his big yummy double burger!

Massive!!!

What? For Me? I think he liked the surprise - and the singing waitresses!

It looked pretty cool too!

The main dessert was chocolate mouse coated in chocolate - fabulous!

And now - this past weekend!
We enlisted our friends Cameron & Richard (who had just flew in from the U.K.) to come over & help us set up our new BBQ!

It was NOT an easy job! They were told it'd take around 2 hours - it ended up taking 4!!

It took so long that it started to get a bit dark!

And they had to get out the flashlights - but we HAD to finish - because we were planning on cooking dinner on that thing!!!

This is the cleanest it'll ever be I am sure!

A mysterious gap next to the hot plate - we found out the next day that there was an extra piece that fits in there - oh ok - no worries

These stones are 'flamer tamers' to help distribute the heat & hopefully cook the food evenly!

After half an hour to 'cure' the new grills - we popped the food on!

Cameron & Murray working hard !

Then - DISASTER - Cameron dropped a sausage!!

Sneaking it back on the grill - WE SAW THAT!

Finally everything was done and we sat down to eat - Cameron, Me & Richard
(and and notice the new patio table which we also picked up this weekend - we LOOOOOOOOOOOVE it! and got a great deal - fantastic!)

On Sunday we headed to a lovely beach not far from Manly for Zephyr's first birthday party!
Murray, Cassie (Zephyr's Mom) & Me (it was a green themed party!)

Hamish (Zephyr's Dad) & Murray

The gorgeous & tasty tiny cupcakes - SO cute!

Helen with a cupcake, me with a face cookie! They had lots & lots of great food!

Eventually the birthday boy woke up from his nap and had a snack while wearing his king frog cape!

The cake Cassie made - isn't it fantastic!!! The shark even has fish in it's mouth lol - so creative!

I think Zephyr liked it too!

Cutting the cake

And scooping out the blue (coconut) 'water'

Father & son

Murray, Zephyr & Me

Murray & Zephyr watching people try to smash open the pinata!

We got him a few toys from the pinata - he liked the ball, Murray liked the whistle

Hmmmm what is this thing on my wrist?

and how did THIS get on my finger?

We had to take advantage of photo time with Zephyr as of course he was hot property and had to work the room to say hello to everyone:)

Me & Zephyr
Happy Birthday Boy with Helen

It was a fun party - great to see people we hadn't seen in ages, lovely food and a gorgeous & happy birthday boy! :)


and finally a random photo when we stopped to pick up a few more things for our BBQ later that day - just outside the store they were demonstrating a BBQ by cooking a beer can chicken - it smelled SO nice!!! How bizarre to cook AT the BBQ store though - so Aussie!

Friday Friday

Tonight after work we went to see the movie 'Love the Beast' - Eric Bana's movie about his love affair with a Ford GT Falcon Coupe. It was a cute movie - except for Dr. Phil's boring commentary (yawn). I liked seeing the inside of Jay Leno's car/bike garage though - well more like a warehouse - AMAZING!!!

Also - I found a little desk calender in the stationary cupboard this morning and it said each day had a quote - so I set it up on my desk! I read every quote from January 1st up to today and picked out a few I really liked.....

*The Happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

*Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?

*The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessing. - Eric Hoffer

*I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad. -George Bernard Shaw

Oh I can do it :)

I added value at work today - finally - it felt good to not feel totally lost - hooray!

Also- good things
*I fly back to Minnesota a week from tomorrow
*tomorrow is casual day at work
*and my Dad arrives on Monday

Happy Thursday!

:)

Back to the grind

Today in the little kitchen on my floor (where you can heat up lunch & get a cup of tea) I noticed on the bulletin board a very creative sign.

It was a piece of paper set out like those ads with little tear off strips at the bottom - which usually hold a phone number regarding the item for sale.

It said 'FREE - strips of paper for writing down phone numbers, or to dispose of your chewing gum, or for spit balls - up to you - price - FREE!

LOL - and most of them were gone - that made me smile - how silly!

p.s. I love that here like in the UK they have a couple of cartons of milk in the fridge & free tea bags & coffee for your afternoon fix (tea with milk hold the sugar for me thanks!) And best of all - free cookies!!! I think I may grow to like this place:)

other good things today - they finally got my badge working so I can go to the restroom without having to buzz the doorbell to get let back onto my floor and they installed a phone at my desk so I don't have to go sit in someone else's desk to make calls - fantastic!