Caiden is ONE

This little man turned One last week, he is the last of the grandchildren (for now) and as he turns one we can't imagine what our lives would be like without him.  He may have been a surprise to all of us and a bit of an adjustment for many but in the end he's a child, a life, we share the same blood, he needed us and we needed him.  Some can still not adjust but we left them in the dust.  I come from a loving family of the more the merrier and we are more and we are merry and if we have challenges we take them head on and work through what needs to happen, pick ourselves up and move on.  

Okay enough on that let's get back to this cute little boy who turned one, a special day that only happens once.  When Adam and Monica brought him over he was napping.  Miss Andee has learned how to crawl out of her crib and into Caiden's crib so not much napping happened at home.  He was slow with the smiles but he soon recovered.

Here's the smiles little buddy.

This is Adam's old and very loved Tonka truck.  I love the missing paint and rust, however Caiden didn't think too much of it.  No buttons, no noises..... 

Caiden has beautiful blue eyes and a perfect laid back personality.  

Monica baked him a cake that looked like a donut, it was the cutest ever.  Jr and Andee thought we were having a birthday party at Grandma's house.  Caiden is ready for the cake smash photos.

It started out well.  Tasting the frosting.....

And then he moved his foot and it went right into the cake.....

It went down hill fast from here.  He does not like to be dirty, sticky, or in this case blue.

But he kept putting his foot into the cake the madder he got.  

I moved the cake so his foot wouldn't keep hitting it but he still wouldn't have anything to do with it.  I tried to get him to taste the sweet frosting but he couldn't get past the frosting foot.  

He was on the move to daddy to help him.  Game Over..... we gave him a bath in Grandma's sink and he was all smiles again.  Guess mud puddles will be off limits from this little man in the spring.  Don't worry I'm sure Jr and Andee will teach him to jump in them and enjoy the bath after.

Happy Birthday Caiden

Beach Photos, Dance and The End

At the reception we were right next to this amazing beach and lake..... it was cold so no-one got to enjoy it.  When we went to scope out this location the sun was setting right on this beach and I wanted sunset photos...... well I got beachy, cloudy, misty photos.  Can't get everything that you want right?

How could this smile get any bigger?

Then the wedding party joined us.  

Goof balls!!!

Their first dance.

Someone decided he didn't like mommy and daddy dancing so he stood there by them....

I got Jr to come sit by me so they could have their dance.

Not for long though...... but they really didn't mind.

NO kissing!!!

Then Monica got to dance with Jr 

 Then her dad.

Then I danced with Adam.  

This son of ours has a very tender heart, he's been through a lot, they've been through a lot, we've been through a lot. 

I was taught family is important, I was taught family is tough, I was shown love as my parents stood by my side when I didn't even think I needed them, I learned God has a plan for all of us and we need to trust Him.  I found out that I suck at being strong.  

But together we make great family memories.

This is the end of the wedding photos.  If you made it this far, thank you.  It was an amazing wedding everyone who attended looked like they had a great time and Monica and Adam were speechless with the love they felt from everyone.  

Our Saturday night ended with a fantastic campfire of stories, snorting games, jokes, and so many laughs our sides hurt.

Sunday we had food and drinks to finish so we went to Adam and Monica's house.  It was a sunny warm day and we sat outside for hours.  One of their neighbors came into the field behind their house to cut down the wheat.  All of a sudden I seen a dragonfly circling above our little group and I thought about my wish for a sign from our family in heaven.  Then I seen another one, and another one, and soon there was about fifty dragonflies circling our group.  As you looked at the farmer in the field he was surrounded by dragonflies and they were flying from him to us.  I might not have gotten my sign at the wedding but this sign was loud and clear that our weekend was over but they are all still here watching over us.  

Weddings are certainly special and everyone needs their special day and everyone will be different, there will aways be love, there will aways be family and their will always be those signs if you just open your heart.

Wedding Day 2

The original wedding plans were for a small Friday afternoon ceremony with grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews..... then have everyone else join us for the reception the next day at a campground that Monica camped at while she was growing up with her family.  

Then a few more people got invited and then a few more and then the location changed so a few more got invited and simple turned into my version of simple, which isn't simple but I seriously could have taken it further but didn't if I knew what was good for me.

So Saturday's Reception was going to be the celebration part of the wedding with a few more family and friends.  And that it was.  We headed over to the campground on Friday after the last guest left and gathered around the fire with both families.  We spent the night in Lynn and Jesse's camper and got up Saturday morning to run home for a quick shower.  Here is John and I for Wedding Day 2.

We still had to keep the guest list small due to the number of people allowed in the pavilion and with 2 very large families we couldn't invite everyone but we did the best we could without hurting anyone's feelings.  

My great nieces are twins and full of all kinds of energy and I have to say they love their Auntie Connie and need to be touching me, teasing me, playing with me, hanging on me and most of the time giggling with me.  I decided to get us all together with my cell phone..... that was a big job.

We all have the same mouths........ open all the time.  

They are pretty special to me so if they want to hang on me and be silly with me I will let them.

Monica didn't wear her dress right away at the ceremony site but she did go back to the campers and put it on later.  It was so funny to see this white dress walking through the woods but I never grabbed my camera soon enough to get that.  

The ceremony location was beautiful next to the lake.  It was a little cool that day but it was supposed to rain and it never did so we'll take a little cool.

Tried to corral Andee from running whenever we could.

If you were cold this fire was all you needed to keep you warm.  

The supper was a pig roast where the whole pig was roasted and brought to the ceremony fully intact.  Ellie dressed him up in his shades and beach towel.  

He was the main attraction, every guest was in this room looking at the pig, asking questions, and taking pictures.  

Of course the bride should control the pig.

The caterer carved one little hole in the side and all the meat came out through that hole and the pigs outsides stayed the same.  

Most unique wedding photo ever........???

The meal was beyond delicious, it was amazing.  We had so many compliments on the food and thank yous for the invite to be able to share it with us.  

Join me with the next post when I share pictures of them on the beach, and the dancing.