Settle Back and Get Comfortable

The night before the wedding Pawpaw and Margie took all of us out to dinner. The food was wonderful and we all had a great time together. Our whole family was able to make the wedding except for my cousin Andrea.

Aren't they cute together?

Dad and Mom patiently waiting for the food. It was definitely worth the wait, which actually wasn't that long at all. The service was great and the food even better.

Ashleigh and my cousin Michael.

Steven and Wayne, I think Wayne looks like Steven. What do you think?

Our course that's Margie on the left and that is my great-aunt Marie. That's right, my kids are lucky enough to have a great, great aunt still around.

My cousin Nicole and her little boy Peyton. He is so cute, I just want to eat him up.

He really loved the cake.

Peyton, (still eating that cake), Dylan and Blake.

I love taking pictures of Peyton.

GOINGS ON AROUND OUR LITTLE TOWN

The week before graduation our high school baseball team won a game that no one expected them to win. That win put them in the finals for the state championship. That next game was on the same day as graduation and of course there were seniors on the team. The game was to be played at Radford University, which was too far for them to play and then make it back in time for graduation. My first instinct was there would be no way my child would miss graduation for a baseball game. But in our little country town, sports is everything and it has been taught to these kids from the time they are born. Our seniors players went to the game, took their caps and gowns and graduated on the field at Radford University. It was an incredible graduation for those students. They then played the game and WON!!! They were headed to state!!! The state game was the very next day at Radford and for the first time in Strasburg history our high school team brought home the trophy. It was an awesome day for our town.

They had a parade coming through Main St. lead by the trophy on a purple John Deer gator, if you can believe that. Everyone was lining the streets and then everyone headed to the school to welcome the team home. It really made you glad to be part of a small town. I know so many of those boys on that team and I couldn't be happier for them.

At the school.

Our basball coach, he could barely contain himself.

.Way to go guys, we are so proud of you!!!!

Settle in and get comfortable part 2

The big day went off without a hitch. It was a beautiful day and the wedding was so nice. Margie looked so pretty and my Pawpaw was so handsome.

Pawpaw all dressed and ready to head to the church.

My Mom and my Aunt. Isn't my Mom beautiful? And doesn't my Aunt look great, just a while ago we weren't sure we were going to have her around and she is doing so much better. God really answers prayers, the Bible says ask and you shall receive. We really didn't expect her for the wedding but she surprised us and was able to come.

Me, Missy, my Mom and my cousin Nicole. Nicole is Missy's youngest daughter.

Ashleigh and her friend Lauren. Lauren is the friend that Ashleigh took to the beach for beach week. They had a wonderful time, sometimes maybe too much fun.

Wayne and Steven.

Dylan and Blake. Dylan is my cousin Michael's son. He had a little accident on his bike.(or should I say off his bike)

Pawpaw and Margie coming into the church.

The kiss and I think I see Margie copping a little feel, watch it, wait for the honeymoon you crazy kids.

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Fred Underwood. Her dress was beautiful.

I absolutely loved the cake. I had never seen one done with seashells before. All of the seashells, except the big one on the top and in the middle of the 2 layers, were made of chocolate. The looked so real. A lady from their church made the cake for them as a gift. I thought she did an awesome job and it tasted great also.

Cutting the cake. Come on, cut it faster we are all dying to try it.

They were both really sweet when they fed the cake to each other. Now get out of the way and let me at that cake. Oh, sorry, I got a little carried away for a minute.

The first dance as a married couple, actually it may have been their first dance ever. I hope they have many more dances together.

My Pawpaw and his favorite grandchild. Oh, yeah that's me, I'm the oldest that makes me the favorite.

Okay Steven, I'll give that you are his second favorite. Second born, second favorite. Aren't the cute? Sorry ladies, the one on the right is now taken, you waited too long but the one on the left is still available. Good job, owns his own home, a car and a truck and he's alot of fun. Oh, sorry I got off track there for a minute.

Pawpaw and his 2 girls.

Quite the cute couple, don't you think?

My Dad was Pawpaw's best man. He's always the best man in my book. He's giving the toast to the happy couple.

Ashleigh and Lauren decorated the car for PawPaw and Margie. They did a great job and they left the decorations on the car all the way to Myrtle Beach. They stayed in a bed and breakfast there for a couple days and then went to Charleston, SC for a couple days. They said people were beeping their horns and waving at them down the highway.

And away they go. Here's to a long and happy life together.

Checking In

Today's the day. Pawpaw is getting married. We really like Margie so we are happy for them but it will be kind of bittersweet because we had to lose someone so important to us to be at this point in our lives. I know God has a reason for everything and we don't always understand it. My Pawpaw is like a different person since he met Margie. He's wearing shorts and sandles, I've never seen him dressed like this before. The changes in him have been good changes and he is so happy all the time. He's 82, getting married today and starting a whole new chapter of his life. Good luck Pawpaw we are so happy for you. I love you and wish you all the happiness in the world. Thank you Margie for showing us this other side of Pawpaw that we didn't know exsisted.

Congratulations Ashleigh

She did it!!!! She graduated last night and it was quite a night. We had 17 family members there cheering her on. We were all so proud. Steven had to work and wasn't able to make the trip, he was really missed. Every since Ashleigh was born he has always been so close to her (they've had their rough spots through her teen years but when she was little there wasn't anyone like her Uncle Steve) so it really killed him not to be here. He was here in spirit though.

Walking the walk into graduation. They were supposed to have it outside but because of the threat of rain they moved it inside.

4 generations were there last night and my Mawmaw would have been so proud. She was definitely missed, there was no one like Ashleigh to her.

And we thought the silliness came from Rusty.

The countdown is on, Pawpaw and Margie get married on the 16th. We are very happy for both of them.

The very proud Daddy and Granny.

Ashleigh and her Granny.

Ashleigh and her aunt Bev.

Ashleigh, Wayne and 3 of our nephews, Brett, Jacob and R.J.

Ashleigh, Rusty, and her Uncles Gary and Bobby. (Are you starting to get the feeling that this is all about Ashleigh?)

This is Ram Country.

This is Ashleigh and Mrs. Korte. She was Ashleigh's favorite teacher of all time. She made history completely come alive for her students. Ashleigh class was her first teaching job in Strasburg and she told them she had better receive invitations to their graduations. She was there to congratulate them and cheer them on. She is the kind of teacher you want your child to experience.

Ashleigh and her 2 best friends, Brooke and Jamie.

Ashleigh and Mr. Dorman, her principal. He is another one of those people who isn't just doing a job, he truly cares about the kids. When Ashleigh was a freshman he started at their school as the principal and he is a wonderful person.

Ashleigh with her diploma. And her scholarship. Thank you to the Rotary for the scholarship.