Weddings

I see it's been a week since I posted to my poor neglected blog. My step-daughter got married on Saturday, so I was little busy last week making sure me and hubby and our two girls would be dressed appropriately. As for me, after visiting almost every woman's clothing store in northern IL, I ended up wearing the first dress I bought. Could have saved myself a lot of time and aggravation, but at least now I know there is nothing out there in retail land that looks good on me, hmph!

So back to the wedding. It was lovely. Raina (my step-daughter) had originally planned on having a large, elaborate wedding this December. It was becoming a much larger event than she had hoped for, so early last spring they (her and her fiance, Erik) decided to make it a "family and close friends event only" and moved it to Erik's family's home and moved it up to July. I think there were probably 40 people total in attendance, including the entire bridal party. It was still very elegant and formal and everyone seemed to have a nice time.

Here's a picture of the lovebirds:



I never had a wedding. I moved out of my parents home and eventually in with my boyfriend (now hubby). Then I got pregnant, LOL. When you do things backwards, a big wedding is a bit redundant. John and I got married at the courthouse in March, and we had a backyard pig roast reception in August. When I look back, a wedding would have been nice, but with age comes wisdom and it really is an awful lot of money to spend on a party. We spent an awful lot of money just going to Raina's wedding. She wanted us in pictures, plus her dad had to walk her down the aisle, so we spent a pretty penny making sure we'd all look up to snuff.

My sister had a big wedding. My parents were paying for it so they got to call the shots. It was nice, about 100 people, at a country club. I do remember it being a lot of fun. But a few years later I remember my sister saying she wished she had been given money for a down-payment on a house instead of a wedding. The novelty wears off. Yes, you have nice pictures, but she says she barely remembers the day, having to run around and talk to people and thanking them for coming, and making sure everything was done properly.

I'm not dissing weddings. If someone has the money, go for it. Weddings can be a lot of fun and certainly special to the couple involved. But I don't think people should go into hock to give their kids a wedding. And given the choice, I think kids nowadays should think realistically, what is more important, a big wedding or a place to live? Just a few weeks ago my youngest and I were out running errands and we saw this girl on the side of the road with a sign that said: "Car Wash, Help Us Pay For Our Wedding". If you need to hold a car wash to pay for your wedding, maybe you should just go to the courthouse. (They actually made it into our local paper.)

John and I have two other daughters, so obviously the wedding thing will come up for us again. We got lucky this time, Raina and her fiance wanted to pay for their own wedding. I think my own girls are a bit more relaxed about the wedding thing. Neither is really a girlie girl and they don't have romantic notions of a prince charming and a fairy tale wedding. I was talking with my youngest about her dad having to wear a fancy suit to Raina's wedding and how he wished he could wear a Hawaiian shirt. That's our kind of wedding. Catherine said we could wear Hawaiian shirts to her wedding : )

In my dreams, one day before we die, my hubby and I will renew our vows on a beach somewhere. He can wear one of those Miami style suits, a white cotton, breezy suit with a Hawaiian shirt underneath, and I can find some kind of flowy summer dress, and we can both be barefoot. Maybe our kids will be there, maybe some grand kids. We could go out and eat lobster afterwards. That's my kind of wedding.

One look
One smile
One touch
One embrace
One kiss
One love
Two people
Two minds
Two souls
Two destinies
One road
One journey
One ending
Together.

- Melissa Higgins -

Happy Birthday to My Hubby John!

We know we're getting old when the only thing we want for our birthday is not to be reminded of it.

~Author Unknown~

It's my DH's birthday today. A ripe old 55 years today. In case anyone wasn't aware, he is a tad bit older than me.

Last year I wrote out 54 things I love about my DH for his birthday. I'm sure they'd all be the same if I did it again, so I won't.

I know he reads this blog, even though he never comments. So, John, I just want you to know that I hope you had a great 54th year and I wish for only better things for the both us during your 55th. I Love You : )

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.
~Martin Luther~

I've Just Seen A Face

When I was first going out with my dear husband, he sang a song to me on a street corner in Chicago. I have always considered it my song. In honor of this being Valentine's Day, thought I'd share it. It's currently playing if your volume is up.

We've been together almost 18 years. We celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary last Saturday. We've had our disagreements over the years, we've had our fights, but through it all, I've loved him and I know he loves me. And when I think of this song, it reminds me of our beginning, and makes me love him all the more.

I've Just Seen a Face
(the Beatles)

I've just seen a face I can't forget the time or place where we just met
She's just the girl for me and I want all the world to see we've met

Had it been another day I might have looked the other way and
I'd have never been aware but as it is I'll dream of her tonight

Falling, yes I am falling
And she keeps calling me back again

I have never known the like of this I've been alone and I have
Missed things and kept out of sight but other girls were never quite like this

Falling, yes I am falling
And she keeps calling me back again

Falling, yes I am falling
And she keeps calling me back again

I've just seen a face I can't forget the time or place where we've just met she's just the girl for me and I want all the world to see we've met

Falling, yes I am falling
And she keeps calling me back again

Falling, yes I am falling,
And she keeps calling me back again


Falling, yes I am falling
And she keeps calling me back again

Husband Meme

I am knew to the meme thing. I actually didn't know what they were until just a short while ago. I searched google and found a blog with a good explanation of what a meme is (in case anyone reading this doesn't know).

So with that in mind, I stole this meme from Juls over at The Clearing. I'm kind of afraid to fill it out, I'm not sure if I can answer all these questions correctly about my hubby. I know my dear husband reads my blog, so, John, if I answered any wrong, correct me please : )

HUSBAND MEME

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV: What is on the screen? History or Discovery Channel

2. You’re out to eat. What kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Thousand Island or a Vinaigrette

3. What is one food he doesn’t like? My olive oil/tomato dish : )

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? Beer, brand depends on where we are.

5. Where did he go to high school? Dundee High School, Dundee, IL

6. What size shoe does he wear? 11

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Guitars, music stuff

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Roast Beef, cheese and Miracle Whip

9. What would the Husband eat every day if he could? He wouldn't eat anything everyday, he gets bored with food quickly.

10. What is his favorite cereal? I don't think he has one, he rarely eats breakfast.

11. What would he never wear? Lazy shoes (ha, he knows what I mean : )

12. What is his favorite sports team? Doesn't have one, not that into sports.

13. Who is his best friend? If we're talking guy friends, I guess Egan. I hope I'm his best all around friend.

14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do? How about what is something I don't do that he wishes I would? Clean better. Or I suppose just clean, period.

15. How many states has he lived in? I think just one, IL.

16. What is his heritage? Swedish and Polish

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind? None, he hates cake. I might make him brownies.

18. Did he play sports in high school? No

19. What could he spend hours doing? Playing computer games, playing his guitar, reading blogs.