The Ceremony

 A few antics from Tucker and then the serious.  I love this boy!!

Time to get serious.

Exchanging the "I do's"

Exchanging rings.

Husband and wife!!

After the ceremony we had a delicious dinner and then cleaned a few things up.  Wished the bride and groom all the happiness available and finally sent them on their way.  They were spending their honeymoon in Bear Lake, California.  

Tucker and the Gertsons stayed up until a little after one playing games, while the "older" people went back to their cabin to bed.  I understand Tucker and Emmi stayed up until after 2 p.m. talking.  So glad that Tucker is close to his nieces and nephews.  They all love him and he loves them.

The next morning we packed everything up and loaded everything back in the cars and then headed down to San Bernardino to drop Emmi and Jeff off at the car rental place.  We then decided that we had a little more time than we thought so we stopped at Emmi's favorite place, Red Robin, for lunch on Neal's treat.  The lunch stop was totally unplanned and all of us wished we had Tucker with us.  

After lunch, we said our "goodbyes" to Emmi.  She and Jeff were driving to the LA Airport for Emmi to catch her flight back to Hawaii and Jeff to catch a later flight back to SLC.  The rest of us piled in the van and Annie drove us safety back to Salt Lake.  We arrived her about midnight.  I'll end this post with this:

I sent Annie a message this morning that said:  "I'll just say again what an incredible wedding it was for Abby and Antonio.  How proud I am of you, your talents and your insight on making all of this past weekend a magical, full of fun times and providing wonderful memories.  Families are complicated and in spite of frustration and awkward moments you pulled everything off to perfection!   Love you with all my heart!"

The Wedding Day

 We all got up fairly early in the morning and began the final preparations for that evenings ceremony.  Lynda Ann and Emmi drove to San Bernardino to get the chairs that Annie had rented and to get a few more flowers.  Some of the begonias had wilted during the night and needed to be replaced.  The rest of the flowers were looking fresh and gorgeous.  

While they were gone the netting where the bride and groom would stand was put up, lights interwoven through the material and final touches around the patio.  

Tucker arrived a little after noon.  His arrival was anticipated by everyone.  He always brings high energy and fun to any gathering.  

Lynda Ann and Abby left about 1:00 to go to the hair dresser to get Abby's hair done for the wedding.  When they got back things started popping in preparation for the evening event.  Somewhere in there a group of us played Shanghi, which Andrew won, and then final touches on the patio.  Antonio's sister, husband and their two little girl arrived and the festivities began.  

 

This picture was at the Chocolate Factory.

Beautiful sunset for a beautiful evening.

Sorry, these pictures are from Thursday evening.  Dinner out on the patio.

Now the festivities.  Picture taking time.

Pinning on the boutonniere.

This is Antonio's niece.  She is full of energy and quite the little poser!!  She was the little flower girl!  She even did that with a flare!

Tucker not only gave the wedding vows in English, but also in Spanish and did an amazing job.  We were all really proud of what he had prepared.  He did an amazing job as the official officiator!  

Antonio holding the brides bouquet.  

One handsome dude!!

Lynda Ann made the cake plate.  

Antonio and his brother-in-law.  I don't remember his name.

Just horsing around.  So Tucker!!!

Hayley and Alex.  We are hoping for an announcement from these two - soon.

I had to throw this one in.  There are sometimes when you have to express that you've done everything you know how to do and Que Sera Sera.  I think that was Annie's look.  I've done all I can do and this is now the big moment we've all waited for.  

Annie loves her new son-in-law almost from the first moment she met him.  No question that he is welcomed into the family.

California Wedding

 There are hundreds of pictures and hundreds of stories and even more memories of this magical occasion for Abby and Antonio.  It would be impossible for me to write from start to finish all the adventures and memories that were created, so I will just give a Readers Digest version and hope that what I write will jog memories years from now.  

We rented a van that would hold all of us for the trip down and back along with all the wedding decorations, tables and luggage.  In the van we had Lynda Ann, Jeff, Emmi, Mallory, Neal, Jeannine, Andrew, Alex and Hayley.  The surprising thing is that we still had plenty of room to wiggle.  

Such an incredible fun group!

Huge van.  Tall enough to stand up in!  Well for shorter people, like me :-)

Andrew standing on top the van!

The van even had a screen for movies.  We watched Overboard.  

We left about 7:00 Wednesday morning and were officially on our way to Lake Arrowhead in California.  We made a few stops on the way down to grab food, treats, water and use the facilities along with filling the van up with gas.  We arrive in Lake Arrowhead late that afternoon.  Lynda had arranged for two cabins to house everyone comfortably.  

Thursday we drove in to San Bernardino to get flowers and the wedding cake.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning the patio up, arranging all the flowers in the vases, hanging lights, unpacking and arranging lanterns, etc. etc. etc.  It was a fun day getting things ready for the festivities for Friday.  Abby and Antonio arrive early afternoon and they were able to make lots of decisions about how to decorate the patio.

So incredibly fun to have Emmi in town and to be able to experience this momentous occasion in her sister's life.

Abby and I as always kidding around with each other.  It was a very happy and fun day.

Lots of love and hugs!!

Getting ready to start putting the fresh flowers in the vases that Lynda Ann had spent hours making.  

All the lanterns that had been borrowed and bought.   

The sisters excited to help and show their talents in flower arranging.

Neal loves flowers and was excited to get his hands in the arranging.

Each vase was put together with love.

Lynda Ann, the mother-in-law to be, having a quiet moment with Antonio while the two of them were working together stringing lights on the railing.

All the vases completed with a finishing touch here and there and looking beautiful.

Left over flowers were taped together to be put in between the decorative logs.

Jeff and Annie string tiny lights around the tree.  Even Jeffrey got to use his hidden decorative talents!!

Abby and Antonio setting up the logs and lanterns.  Well, I think Abby was directing and setting up and Antonio was doing what she needed as she needed his help.  "You're a good man, Charlie Brown!"

It's amazing what you can create with cut logs found behind the cabin, a few lanterns and some left over flowers!

The working crew.  Left to right:  Neal, Andrew, Alex, Hayley, Jefferey, Lynda Ann, Emmi Mallory, Russel, Ray, Abby and Antonio.

A picture to show that I didn't just take pictures.  The phone was in my pocket available and ready but lots of work in between taking memories.

The sequence of events eludes me a little bit but there was one evening that we all piled in the Van and drove to Arrowhead village to have pizza and look around.  The sad thing is that all the stores had closed for the day so we didn't get to do any shopping.  But with or without shopping it is always fun with these two!

A pose around the water front.  Andrew, Mallory, Lynda, Neal, Ray, Russel, Emmi and Jeff.  Poor Neal, always managed to get stuck by Ray.  Even in the Van!!

Games that evening and then to bed.  Lots to be done the next day.