Naomi's Wedding

I am just a little behind in posting about my sister's wedding. We had a wonderful drive up through Montana and arrived Monday night for a surprise birthday party for Gary. It was fun to get to know Gary and his family that night. We stayed with Gary and his brother Everett at their house "down the road." Now this is Taber, AB so that consisted of driving through a lot of farmland. :) Poor Everett's room was next door to ours and the kids were not so good about going to bed quietly. And he had to be up and out of the house by 6 AM. The next day we left for Cardston just after noon. Naomi had asked me to be her escort for her first visit to the temple. My parents friends Rick and Ginny Williams saved the day by coming in at the last minute to help my Aunt Margaret and Grandma Knoll babysit the 10 grandchildren which included 2 babies. :) They brought bubbles, sidewalk chalk and treats. There is a reason they are our favourite people. :) The temple was beautiful. I hadn't been there since my own endowment session 11 years ago. It was such a beautiful, spiritual experience. I am so grateful for the temple and the promises and blessings given there. Afterward Naomi (who had not eaten for most of the day) was feeling a little faint so Gary took her home while the rest of us had a picnic in the park and then a nostalgic drive through our childhood hometown. It was fun to show Landon my old elementary school, and three of the four homes we had lived in. One of them had been torn down so he actually only saw the site of the old hotel. We stopped in to say Hi to Greg and Debbie Burt and then headed back to Lethbridge for bed. The next day Naomi, Candace,(a friend of Naomi's from beauty school who lives in Jackson Hole, WY, also a bridesmaid) Rita and I headed into Lethbridge to pick up all the last minute things for the wedding. Like order cake for the reception, buy the food for the luncheon and reception, oh and buy the stuff to make Naomi's wedding cake. Nothing like remembering at the last minute she didn't have a cake! :) It was a fun day filled with laughing and Five Guys Burgers and Fries. You can't do better than that. We headed back to the house to get started on everything. My dad and Nic had taken Rita's kids and Emily swimming at the Taber pool. Emily went down the tall waterslides all by herself! My Auntie Margie was waiting for Naomi as she was having to alter two wedding dresses trying to make them work for the wedding reception. (Naomi's dress had been at a seamstress for alterations and she had butchered the dress.) So the day of the wedding we came back to two BEAUTIFUL wedding dresses and Naomi had to pick. She chose one for the Lethbridge reception and the other is for the Powell River reception. We love Auntie Margie! Rita was up until midnight making a cake, laying fondant, and decorating it with Naomi. After our afternoon family picture Gary had stolen Naomi away for a date. She returned at about 10 and remembered she did not have a veil. So my mom put one together. It was crazy but Naomi held it together. And the next day she was all smiles, no nerves or worries. The temple ceremony was beautiful. She and Gary are such a wonderful beautiful couple. Perfect for each other. Naomi was stunning as she left the temple in a very stylish white dress and cage veil. Gary leaned down to hug Russell and some how popped out the lens of his glasses. But Everett's bowie knife came to rescue. Thank goodness for Cowboys. :) The luncheon afterwards was beautiful and such GOOD food! We headed into Lethbridge to stay at the hotel. The kids were so excited to be able to swim and go down the water slides! The hotel had mixed up our reservation but after some perseverance from my dad we got our rooms and without a raise in price. We went straight to the pool for some well deserved relaxation. Candace joined us for the night as well. We met up with Naomi's childhood friend Karlyn and her family at the pool. Emily and Collin loved going down the slides. Especially on the tubes. (They had to go with their parents though as the slides ended in four feet of water.) They also loved the wave pool. Everyone slept very well. We headed out for pictures the next morning with Naomi and Gary at Charlie's horse ranch. (A place Naomi volunteered at.) It was fun to meet Charlie and see his place. Candace also wore the hat of wedding photographer and she set up some cute shots. She left right after to drive home to Jackson Hole. We hope to see her later this summer. The kids all loved looking at the horses, petting the cats and climbing the hay bales. Charlie passed out chocolate bars. Mmmmmm. The kids went back to the hotel for naps and then we headed to the wedding reception. It was in a converted barn. It was gorgeous. Matt and Ashley put together a cute slideshow and Matt MC'd. There was a dance after. Lots of fun! The pictures on my camera have not been downloaded yet but when I do I will post them. It was so wonderful to see my sister be married to an incredible young man. Congrats!