Mini-boat Madness: Day 4

Probably my favorite shore excursion: Mini-Boats on St. Thomas! Between the laughter of Mike catching all the waves as I held on to him for dear life, yet another freakin' crazy bus ride (did I mention they have no open container laws on these islands? Talk about your happy driver...), snorkeling for the first time, Sea Cucumbers (ew), and rum punch-induced socialism, this was an AWESOME afternoon!

We met Paschal and Marika, from Holland and also on their honeymoon, on this excursion. Too much fun seeing them the rest of the cruise!

The other white meat?

We Almost Died! Day 3

I'm not even kidding you. We got on the 25 passenger bus in San Juan to take us to our first shore excursion: ziplining through the rainforest! We're blast through these backroads up and down two lane residential streets with incredibly steep grades. We finally make it to the bottome of the inredible incline just below the zip line drop off, when the bus won't go up any further. In fact, it's slipping backwards. So the driver throws it in reverse, hits a concrete ledge lift up one side of the bus, and still CONTINUES TO REVERSE. We look towards the back of the bus, and there is no road left behind us, only the fall off of the cliff with which it seems we're about to become intimately acquainted. I don't know if he thought we were just stupid tourists, or what, but screaming at him to stop wasn't working. So finally, a dad stood up with his kids and said "We're getting off this bus right now." I was in too much shock when my feet finally touched the earth to take a picture of the tire, which was about an inch away from going over the edge.

And then the second guy to try to get the bus up almost hit me, and the tent I was standing under. Again, overcome with shock I just watched this happen as Mike and another mom on the excursion pulled me out of the way.

I named this towel animal (I think it's a rabbit) CC. For "Close Call"!

Elegant Night: Day 2

And the beginning of the towel animal menagerie!

Carnival Freedom Cruise: Day 1

Honeymoon photogs! I didn't take nearly as many as I thought I would. I think I was TOO relaxed!

On our way to the Port

At DIA in the very small window where planes were actually flying out of the blizzard-ridden airport!

Made it to DFW where I got back to my roots...

And Mike battled the illegal cowboy!

AND FINALLY! FLORIDA!

Champaign woes:

We'll get there fast, and then we'll take it slow

And this is what we're leaving for the Caribbean!

Thank You Notes

Mindy got us a card with a picture on the front of a bride and groom with thought bubbles. Above the groom, it says "Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!". Above the bride? "Thank you notes! Thank you notes! Thank you notes! Thank you notes!"

So true!

The Gregory Inn

Because all I can think about now in the 3 days I have to work in between my wedding and honeymoon is our cruise we're about to take, I thought I'd post the photos I took of the little details where we stayed on our wedding night! Yay wedding stuff! And small details, which I love.

Heart

Saw this downtown last week; thought it was fairly approp. So I photographed it!

You just got married, what do you do now?

Play mini-golf!

I'd like you to notice what we're wearing. It's gorgeous, in the high 70s, I'm even wearing sandals! Take note for later this week...


Mmmm...adult sippy cups.

No Better Story Than This

Wow...I'm married!
Photos courtesy of the amazing Debra Dean!

Fly Me to the Moon by Frank

'Twas the Night Before the Wedding

Some of my favorite from the rehearsal:





Nar's awesome Maid of Honor speech complete with Care Bear suitcase reference:



Bryce's pre-nuptual agreement:



Finally, here is the poem my dad wrote for his speech:

'Twas the Night Before the Wedding
by Kurt Wetterling

The toast given by my Dad at 8 Rivers the night before the Wedding!

‘Twas the night before the wedding in the Mile High City
And we’re here for Mike and Kendra, so handsome and pretty.
The pantyhose are hung in the hotel room with care
As Grandma asks one more time, “Now what should I wear?”

The groomsmen soon to be nestled all snug in their beds
The bachelor party in Vegas, still pounding their heads.
With Robin in her kerchief and me in my cap
And Grandpa wishing he could just take a nap.

When out in the parking lot there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my seat to see what was the matter.
It was only sweet Kendra, trying to park hew new truck,
Slamming the door she proclaimed “What the . . . !”

The book store is ready, cupcakes all gleam with frosting
As I contemplate once more just what all this is costing
When what to my wondering eye should appear
But five tiny bridesmaids and all of their gear.

The planning is all over, there’s no turning back
The apartment is rented, the boxes unpacked.
But it seems just like yesterday she’d call home and fret,
“I’ll never meet anyone!” Then she got on the Net.

“Now Mindy. Now Preeti. Now Karley, Steph, and Jen
I’ve met the man of my dreams, a new life we’ll begin!
He asked me to marry him at the Balloon Festival
Come fly up to Denver, Come fly up here all!”

So tomorrow Mike & Kendra start their new life together
Navigating rough storms, or the calmest of weather
Staying together through sickness and health
Loving each another no matter poverty or wealth.

And then in a twinkling, I hear someone say
“Who gives this woman?” And I think my gosh, it’s today!
I reply “Her mother and I” and sit down in my chair
And begin to feel light headed, it must be the thin air.

Mike takes his place, and I hand over the sword.
Would it be too much to ask for him to just drive a Ford?
Other than that he’s the knight of her dreams
And by all counts and measures, the right one it seems.

Standing straight in his suit, his eyes just a twinkling
I know in an instant just what he is thinking.
And while I’m grateful today for all the joy he’s brought her
Loose the twinkle, Big Boy, she’s still my daughter.

So it’s on to Lucky Strike Lanes and bowling and beer.
We’ve done what we came for when we all landed here.
We’ll party like sailors before the ship leaves port,
Bill, Shirley, Robin, me, Juandell and Mort.

Dorothy & Robert dry a tear, there’s a brand new Clayton
Mike finally settled down with the girl he’s been datin’
Karley has some dance moves she’s ready to be bustin’
They better all be with bridesmaids or I’m telling Dustin.

Lift up your glass, raise them high. It’s all good, no tears
And toast Mike & Kendra, wish them many, happy years.
And pray they fall deeper in love, closer as one
To our precious oldest daughter and her husband, our new son.