Congratulations, Bruce and Mandie!

On May 23rd, our extended family had the pleasure of welcoming Bruce Vaughn into our "official" family, as he married my cousin, Mandie. It was a beautiful ceremony, and a fun weekend for us all (though a bit busy!!!) Here are a few pictures from the weekend. You'll have to forgive the order. Some are from the pre-wedding pictures, some are from the actual wedding, and some are from the reception. I combined pictures from a couple different cameras, so I'm not completely sure which is which on some of them!

The happy couple!

Payton and I

My brother and I sang "The Prayer" together. When we were kids, we sang together all the time. It has been a few years since the two of us have sang together, so we really enjoyed it!

Zach, kissing Payton (I was taking the picture while holding Payton on my lap, thus the odd angle! But, it was too cute to pass up!)

Jennifer and Zach...I love this picture of the two of them!

My brother, playing with Payton at the reception.

Payton was much more interested in exploring the piano than in taking pictures!

Zach was the Bible Bearer

These two handsome little guys look so innocent...but watch out!!!

I loved the hands in the pockets!

I thought this was classic!

Wyatt and Payton were the miniature bride and groom...so cute! Mandie was very wise to put them in a wagon together...made it much easier to get them down the aisle! I'm not sure that either of them smiled going down the aisle, but at least neither of them cried!

Payton was not much in the mood for pictures before the wedding, so we were happy to get a couple where she wasn't crying! Many reasons to not be in the best mood--teething, lack of sleep from traveling, time change, new people everywhere, etc., etc. Oh well! I was just happy she made it down the aisle without crying!

This picture made laugh! The way she is standing, it made me think of the Runaway Bride! Fortunately, it was just the miniature one!

Like I said, Payton wasn't in a great mood, but again, this picture just made me laugh! Zach was trying so hard to get her to smile!!!

There we go...kissing' cousins!

The best we got of a smile from these two at the same time!

"Are they seriously going to make us do this?!?"

Such a girly girl...I love it! Payton is really into purses and bags right now. Can't imagine where she got that from!

Bidding the new couple goodbye. I love it...back in the Midwest, they still have lots of fun with the whole "going away" thing!

Congratulations, Bruce and Mandie! We are so happy for you!

Grandpa's Girl

While my sister-in-law and nephews were visiting last week, we took the kids to the park one evening for a picnic and play time. Payton and my dad were having such a great time together...

Watching Zach fill his bucket with sand.

Payton has a new fascination with the slide!

Payton absolutely LOVES my dad, and the feeling is definitely mutual! It is so special to watch them together...just the way Grandpa's and little girls are supposed to be!

Fun in the Bounce House!

This past Friday night, we went to the Family Game Night for the young married families in our church. It was a really fun evening! I didn't take a lot of pictures, but I did snap a few of Payton playing in the bounce house. She had such a fantastic time! She squealed and laughed the whole time!!! The older children were so sweet to not jump right beside her or scare her. My sister-in-law, Mary, got some video, I think, so you can check out her blog soon to see that.

A little hesitant at first...figuring it out!

Payton with her big cousin, Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn was so excited to "help" Payton in the bounce house. They had so much fun together, as usual!

Robb even got in to join the fun at one point!

She was smart...she quickly figured out to crawl over to the side to stand up. Then she would "jump", fall, and roll to the middle! It was hilarious to watch!

I just love this smile!

Just like Mommy...

Payton's "new" thing is to try to copy everything we are doing...kinda scary! A few nights ago, I was just chillin' on the couch, and Payton decided to do the same. It was so cute. She wanted up on the couch, and then wiggled herself into a comfortable spot, and threw her arms up over her head like I had been doing. Such a "big" girl, she thought!

SO ticklish!!!

After church yesterday, Robb put a comfy Duren Roofing t-shirt on Payton before her nap. She found my shoes (all on her own!). She was SO proud of herself clomping around in my shoes! We were laughing so hard! They have a low heel, but on the wood floors, they are pretty loud, which made it all the more exciting! Quite the outfit, huh?!

I still remember playing dress-up with my mom's "high" heels...kind of a nostalgic moment to see my daughter doing that with my shoes! It brought this song to my mind: (my mind just switched the "he" to a "she"!)

I Want To Be Just Like You - Phillips, Craig & Dean

He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug
He calls me Dad and I call him Bub
With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh
He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you"
I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight
Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light
And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see
He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me

Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me

Got to admit I've got so far to go
Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know
Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try
With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right
But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best
Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness
'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees
And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me
Right now from where he stands I may seem mighty tall
But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all.

Just a walk in the park...

(actually, through the neighborhood, but it made for a nice title!)

Isn't every day Mother's Day?

Well, Happy Mother's Day (a day late!) to all you mothers out there! The weekend slipped by quickly...with me in bed for most of it! I caught some kind of nasty virus and have been sick since last Tuesday night. Finally, Saturday afternoon, the doctor recommended that I go to the ER. We actually went to a walk-in clinic, which was much faster and cheaper, and I got great care there. They gave me a full liter of fluids via IV, and included some pretty powerful drugs that did me in! However, by that night, all the sick feelings went away. I was just left feeling

p-r-e-t-t-y loopy and so tired! They also put me on a very strict diet (which made my mom's fabulous Mother's Day meal not so fabulous for me!). I am still pretty tired today, but definitely feeling tons better; by tomorrow, I expect to be in full swing again. All that to say...Mother's Day slipped by very quietly and completely and utterly PICTURELESS!!! We are having a fun family day on Saturday, hopefully, and I'll post some pictures then!

On Monday, before I got sick, we had our friend, and Robb's boss, take some outdoor pictures of Payton. He has a really, really great camera and did a very nice job. Here are a few of our favorites!

I decided that as nice as Mother's Day can be, so many plain, "everyday" days of the year feel just as special, with a husband as sweet as Robb, and a baby girl as good and charming as Payton!

And the winner is...

the door!

Payton had a little run in (literally) with the door. Unfortunately, she was hurt worse than the door! All part of learning to walk, I know, but we had to document her first big "boo-boo"!

She got quite a knot on her forehead, but it was pretty much gone by this morning. All that's left is a nasty bruise! I was trying to get a picture, but she wouldn't hold still!

Her spirits were not diminished at all, however, and she still managed to get in all kinds of trouble!

I need locks and chains for the garbage cans!!! What a little monkey!