A visit with Dave's sister Shelley

She came to the Hotel and had breakfast with us

We then went and saw Shelley's house. It was only 3 blocks from our Hotel

Doug & Mandy's wedding day
August 8, 2009

Holly, Kathy, Mandy Rachel, & Grace

Doug and the groomsmen

Eating something before the wedding starts

Mandy & Grandma Sue (Dave's mom)

Gabby manning the guest book and gift table

Givng his girl away

saying their vows

Father-Daughter dance

Throwing the bouquet

Trip to Minnesota

Monday
We left the Portland Train Station at 4:45 pm.

When we got into the Gorge there was a brush fire on the tracks.
We had a 3 hr wait. They would not allow any of us off the train to walk around
because they said there were rattlesnakes.
We did not get much sleep on train. The seat are awful.Grace

Going through Montana was so gorgeous. We stopped in
West Glacier and I fell in love with the tiny town.

We passed over the Continental Divide at Myriah Pass, elevation 5216.
The west side is the Columbia Watershed and the east is the Mississippi Watershed.

We passed Fort Union, ND.

Wednesday
We pulled into Grand Forks at 2:40 am and Mark was there to pick us up.
We got to go back to his house and spend a few hours sleeping on a real bed.
While we girls were sleeping Mark and Dave went Golfing.

We left Grand Forks at 2pm and drove to Fargo. We stopped in to Walt's to visit.
Both of the boys were there. I was surprised at how tall Tanner is now.
Dave, Tanner, and Walt played Football in the back yard.

We left around 5pm and headed to Rochester. At 11pm we pulled into Rochester MN.
Mandy and Doug met us at our hotel. Got to visit for an hour and half.
Thursday
We had a long day. Doug and Dave took off to go mini golfing.
We girls went to Wacky Bear and made our stuffed animals. Grace choose a pig, Gabby
a kitty, and Mandy a panda. Very cute.

At noon we went to the church and set up for the wedding. The men took the girls
swimming in the hotel pool. They had a great time. Enjoying there new BIL.

Met back up and we all went to House of Bounce, a huge warehouse full of
blow up toys. The girls had a blast.

AT 6pm we each went to the separate bachelor/ bachelorette parties.
Mandy, me, and the girls went to the Ramada to visit with Mark, boys, Sue, and Paul.
The girls had the little boys all wound up and bouncing off the walls and beds.

Friday

Dave and Mark went to play pool.
The girls and I ran all over town getting last minute items for the rehearsal dinner.
Then to decorate the club house.
Lunch we went to the Ramada and spent time with family.

The kids had a blast on all the slides and playing with cousins.
Rehearsal went well. Dinner was potluck style.
Doug and Mandy provided all the meat and Dave got to grill it all in the rain.
I held the umbrella and ran food inside.
We came back to the hotel and the girls wanted to swim more, so
Dave took them to our pool.
All the while I got to iron all the clothes and hem up Gabby's dress.
It was 10 inches to long.

A new nephew
Clayton Lee

Papa and the boys

Todd, Justin, and Clayton

The girls at attending VBS this week.
The theme is The Amazon.
It is three glorious hours of quiet.

Before (April 2009)

50
Pounds that is.
I have hit my first big goal.
It has been 13 weeks.