Mark got Married!

My little brother got married over Christmas break on December 29th. My little brother and my new sister-in-law Mallory have been dating since they were in the 9th grade. She has been apart of our family for 8 years and this December she officially became apart of our family and we are so happy to have her.

It was a very beautiful wedding. As I mentioned in a previous post I made the boutonnières and corsages for the wedding as well as Mallory's bouquet, and not to toot my own horn too much, but I think they turned out pretty beautiful.

Boutonierre

corsage

corsage

Mallory's bouquet

The day before the wedding us girls got to go get out nails done, and Paul had to stay home and take care of the girls (thanks Kayla for the extra help). Addelynn and I both got snowflakes on our toes. It was lots of fun getting to hang out and do girly things.

Addelynn and I getting our toenails done

Me, Addelynn and Kourtney getting our nails done

As with any wedding there were lots of preparations. We prepped for the rehearsal dinner, made some signs, made programs, and tied ribbons on the programs too (Paul even got to show off his future surgeon skills by tying the ribbons with some suture knot, and since no one else could tie that knot he ended up tying most of the ribbons). It was a crazy time getting it all done, but in the end it turned out beautiful and it was all worth it.

My mom, Mallory, and Mark making programs...Nick was not helping

The "doctor" tying knots

final product

Sign for rehearsal dinner

After the rehearsal dinner Tyler had a bump on his arm so naturally "Dr." Paul had to investigate. Tyler was such a trooper letting Paul poke on him.

Hadley and Hailey playing with their reindeer

Playing Headbands for adults

It was lots of fun

Kourtney and Ben guessing what they are

Grandma and Hadley took a nap while we played headbands. The rehearsal dinner wore them out.

When the wedding day came we were all ready. The girls did pretty well during the wedding too. We started out sitting, but then Hadley started fussing right before the bridesmaids came in so I rushed her to the back. Then we snuck back in when Mallory had got to the front of the church and I thought we were good until she heard her dad when Paul got up to deliver a reading and she decided she wanted to scream hello to him. So we headed back to the back of the church for the rest of the wedding, but we had a pretty great view.

Our family at the wedding

Our view at the back of the church

Mark's cake

Mark and Mallory cutting the cake

We wish Mark and Mallory a blessed marriage and all the luck as they start their life together in San Antonio, and we are glad that they are not too far away from us.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

This year we spent Christmas in Oklahoma with my family. At first we were gearing up for the long 8 hour drive up there with the girls, but then we were so excited that it worked out for us to stop for the night in Dallas and stay with my best friend Beth. We were very excited for the girls to finally meet their 'Aunt' Beth. While we were there we got to enjoy dinner with our college friend Dave and his wife Phebey. It was good to catch up them and hear about their upcoming plans and move to India to work with an organization that trains pastors and runs an orphanage. We're excited to support them on their journey and hear all about it.

Hadley and Hailey with 'Aunt' Beth

The next morning we were finally in our way to OK. We went straight to my mom's work to show the girls to all her co-workers. They are such celebrities and everyone loves them. But I mean how could you not. After meeting all my mom's co-workers we made our way home to meet the uncles for the first time! My brothers were so good with the girls, and they had fun hanging out with them all week.

Uncle Steven with his favorite baby Hailey

Nick feeding Hailey

Uncle Brett working out by holding both babies.

The next day was my little brother's bachelor party so my mom, the girls and I packed up and stayed the night at my grandparents with my sister-in-law, nephews and niece. It was so much fun seeing the girls play with their cousins for the first time. Even if Trevor didn't really enjoy playing with them just yet.

Hanging out with cousin Addelynn

Hailey taking a nap with Uncle Ben

meeting Addelynn for the first time

Trevor was curious from a distance

Addelynn playing under the jungle gym

Trevor did not want to play with the girls at all

Addelynn was such a good big cousin

Tyler with his arms full of cousins

Hadley snoozing with Aunt Kourtney

Great Great Aunt Norma and Great Great Uncle JT came to visit too. (with Hailey)

The next day we opened up presents with my older brother and his family before they went back to Tulsa.

Trevor opening presents

Addelynn with presents

Tyler with his present

The girls got cheerleading outfits.

Trevor helping his dad open presents

Aunt Kourtney got an OSU Santa

That evening we decided we couldn't wait any longer either and opened more presents at my mom's house. It was hit or miss with the girls this year. It worked out that someone was always sleeping, but they have enjoyed playing with all their presents once they woke up.

Hadley and Kayla are excited to open presents

Steven got a Yankee cup

Hailey helped Aunt Mallory open presents

Dasher even got a present

Hadley opening a present

Steven and Nick opening presents

Oh my look at all those goodies

playing with my new giraffe teether (Hadley)

Paul got his Pistol Pete shirt he had been wanting

Checking out her walker

On Christmas Day we woke up to white flakes falling from the sky. The girls first Christmas ended up being a white Christmas. How amazing is that! We went to my grandma's and had a great Christmas meal.

snuggling with great grandma

Christmas is tiring for Great Grandpa too

Meeting Great Uncle Randy

Meeting Great Aunt Lisa

Playing in the snow!!

Paul and Dasher like to lay the same way

It was a great first Christmas for the girls and it was nice to be home and have the snow and feel of Christmas all around. The rest of the break we spent preparing for my little brother's wedding. But more about that in the next post. Hope everyone else had a truly blessed Christmas like us.