Alabama trip part 4- Carrie's wedding!

It's been so busy for me that I haven't even thought about blogging about Carrie's wedding til this morning. But here's the short version:

We were able to be quite the team between the Driggers and Smithson's and create a beautiful wedding and reception for Carrie and Lee. I was so honored to be a part of it. I'm very thankful to have married into such a close family.

It was an amazing day for them. I have to say that Lee is a brave man to step up and become a step-father to two little boys. He's so patient and loving with them.

Carrie and Lee were sealed in the Birmingham AL temple, they were also sealed to Carrie's two boys Ethan and Malachi. It was such a special experience to witness this. When those boys came in wearing all white and silent (for the first time ever, I think) I lost it. I wish I could've bottled the spirit of that room, so that I could open it on hard days and feel better.

That night I was exhausted and all 3 of us slept a good 14 hours the following day.

BIG NEWS: Believe it or not.... Carrie and Lee weren't "not trying" to get pregnant.... and 2 weeks to the day of their wedding.... she got a positive pregnancy test!!! They've been married for almost a month now and looks like they will have an addition in 8 more.

.......And just got a puppy.... ARE YOU GUYS CRAZY??!!??

Alabama trip part 3

After the aquarium we traveled to the incline railroad. It went up so high!! The boys were so excited to get on the train they were almost vibrating with excitement and rode the whole way up with goofy grins on their faces. It was a lot of fun.

Next we made our way to beautiful rock city. It was a gorgeous garden that the owner turned into a kind of theme park. Complete with little enchanted elf caves, and displays of fairy tails. It was so gorgeous I could have spent all day there.

Alabama trip part 2

On tuesday Kim, Ethan, Kai, and the 3 of us made our way to Chatanooga. Or "Chaganua" as the boys would call it. We went to a HUGE aquarium. It was so much fun!

The boys were so excited that we were going to see sharks. Did you know that sharks growl? Ethan entertained us by snarling like a shark for most of the trek.

A few of our favorites were the baby alligators, sea horses, feeding sting rays and visiting the butterfly house.

The kids had a blast, and getting to cool off in the lazy river was the perfect end to our visit.

Alabama trip Part 1

We flew into alabama friday evening and stayed for a very jam-packed week. BJ had his 10 year reunion, and Carrie got married! In between I snuck in some site-seeing. But I'll talk more about that later.

BJ's 10 year high school reunion was great for him. But you know how it is when you get old friends together and you don't know anyone they're talking about. I felt a little awkward. I was also a little jealous, BJ had such a close senior class. We got to take a tour of the school and make bets on when Tiffany would cry (one of BJ's closest friends) They were a lot of fun later that night when we met at a bar to watch the senior video. I got to dance to some of the hits of 2001 while laughing at pictures of BJ in jorts, earings, gold chains, and socks with sandals.We did some porch settin' on a lazy sunday afternoon. I love hanging out with the in-laws :)

Everyone took a ride on aunt Teri's "car" as Ethan called it.

The new happy family.

This was the trip we discovered Kenley has allergies :( poor baby developed a cough, constant itchy eyes, and had a hard time breathing and therefore sleeping at night. We tried a few medications before settling on Allegra. What a difference it made! She was back to herself in no time.

This was just too cute: She got really hot running around outside so I changed her out of her clothes and she took off running and I couldn't stop laughing watching her run in just a diaper and tennis shoes.

She has a lil' swagger! Her hips swing when she walks with attitude. So of course I had to let her run free :)

Girls Trip!

We had an impromptu girls trip to visit family in washington. It was so much fun!
On one day we went to dash point beach and it was such a beautiful day I couldn't help but take a bunch of shots.

Got to see my favorite Lindsey again!

Cousin Danelle loves the water

Sister Kari is so photogenic don't you think?

Kenley loved watching everyone at the beach but didn't like the water or the sand, but i'm holding out hope she will when she's older!

She loves her auntie Lindsey

This is a painting my cousin Danelle did for her last year at girls camp. She is so talented!

On another day we went to the fair

Kari found her favorite flowers, daisies!

The food at the fair is super-sized. Thats no donut, thats an onion ring

Kenley loved when we shared our mountain sized shaved ice

Cutest thing ever, Kenley was giggling and trying to grab the alpacas

We got to meet up at the park with family I haven't seen in years and I finally got to meet my new cousin Daphne, isn't she beautiful? I also finally met my 2 new aunts Amanda and Rachel, my uncles did good with these two!

Grandma oblivious to Kenley tearing up the table cloth :)

We spent a ton of time on the road and my sister was saying some pretty hilarious things, here are a few of my favorite:

The tanker truck advertising coffee and Kari Saying "is that truck carrying coffee?"
"Have you ever seen your reflection in a window or mirror and thought 'hey that person looks a lot like me!'?"

"You know which place I mean, the place where the dead people live?"

I'm glad we were able to go and spend some time together before everyone moves on; Kari and I going to school and my mom moving to west virginia.

Such a fun trip with some of my favorite girls!