Colton's Wedding

This weekend was the big wedding.  Yes, my Colton baby got married.  I couldn't believe he had gotten old enough to get married.  Where on earth has the time gone?  I remember the day he was born as if it were yesterday.  Now, he's a husband.  Oh. My. I. Am. O.L.D.

Melon Man wasn't able to go with me this time so I flew to Utah by myself.  He did take me to the airport, however.  I flew up on Friday and arrived in the early afternoon.  I picked up my rental car, expecting to get a Malibu or Altima or something, but instead, I'd been upgraded to a Jeep Liberty.  It wasn't the most comfortable vehicle, but it was nice to be up a little higher than in a regular car.

I had some "business" to do for work, so I headed to Gardner Village.  The first place I went was to Sweet Afton's...the candy store.  I just wanted to look around.  No biggie.

However, they had pineapple gummies and that was all she wrote.  I was in heaven!  I found all kinds of goodies...goodies my body didn't really need, but tasted oh so good.  I bought a huge bag of pineapple gummies and a bunch of other fun stuff and headed out to my destination...

Back in May when we went to Utah, Jen introduced me to The Bead Farm.  I loved it.  But...I wanted to use "my" credit card there and they didn't accept it.  So, I talked to the owners and then worked with my contacts at work to get them accepting.  Now, I had some follow-up work to do.  So...I shopped.  And I bought a bunch of fun beads to make some more watch bands.  In doing that, I used my card and sure enough, they were good.  Score!  So happy!

As I walked out the door, I noticed the windows.  It was the weekend of the big Utah-BYU football game.  The Bead Farm was in on all the fun.  They'd created fun window displays with jewelry they'd designed.  Just had to capture them!

In addition to the fun candy store and the neat bead store, the village was decked out for Halloween.  The stores were so cute.  The village was darling.  I sat a spell and just observed the place. 

It was nice just having a day off of work and being able to do something other than clean the house, run errands, or do stuff for others.  It was nice to just rest and do something for me for once.  It started to drizzle so I jumped in the Jeep and headed down to my hotel.

I'd decided to stay at a hotel this time for a number of reasons.  I could have stayed with any of my family, but mainly I decided to stay at a hotel so I could get some rest.  I am so tired and worn down.  I just wanted to sleep.  I checked into the hotel, ate my lunch I'd picked up at Wendy's, and then laid down on my bed to take a nap.  Jen called me just as I was falling asleep.  It was 4:30.  I told her I'd call her back when I woke up.

Two hours later, my phone was ringing.  Jen asked what I was doing.  I told her sleeping.  I was so tired.  She said Colton had been texting me about going out to dinner.  After about 45 minutes of calls on speakerphone and texting people back and forth, we all finally agreed on Applebee's.  I left and headed out.  There was a small misunderstanding about exactly which Applebee's we were meeting at, but in the end, it all worked out.  Unfortunately, Kurt's family had already eaten and Julie was in Ogden working, so it was just Jen's family, Kev's family, Dad, and me.  We had a fun time eating and talking.  I was bummed that this picture of Kev and Jodi turned out blurry.  It's so cute!  How I didn't get a picture of Ari, is beyond me.  She had her hair in spiral rollers for the wedding the next day and looking so darling.  The humidity certainly made my hair look lovely!

Taylor was looking so good.  He'd slimmed down quite a bit since he'd finished radiation and his hair has grown in quite well.  I was glad he was feeling good!  We all soon parted ways and headed back to our homes to rest and prepare for the big day.

I tried to sleep in on Saturday morning...but my sweet husband called me on his way home from work and woke me up.  We talked for a few minutes and I tried to go back to sleep.  But, I couldn't.  I laid in bed for a little bit, then got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast.  I came back upstairs, then crawled back into bed.  I watch tv for a while, drifted in and out of sleep, and just laid there.  I wished I could have slept deeply, but I couldn't.  Oh well.  Finally, around 2 p.m., it was time to get up and start getting ready for the wedding.

I headed out and arrived at the reception center.  It was at the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon and was called Millenial Falls.  It was lovely.  Jen and her family, Kev's family, and Dad had all just arrived.  Ari was darling with her ringlets.  She's gotten so grown up!

I wandered downstairs to the groom's room and captured a few pictures of Colton's last few minutes as a single man, along with his brother Jonah being assisted by their dad.  It was kind of funny...the groom's room was in the basement and was dark and had a television with football on.  I didn't make it up to the bride's room, but what I saw of it as the door opened and shut, looked like it was large, bright, and glistening! 

I headed outside to look around.  The grounds were beautiful.  I took picture after picture.  The waterfall was ginormous.  I only wished I could have captured its size in a picture.

 The foliage was so beautiful  I saw this single branch of a plant that was red amongst all the green and I had to take its picture.  The other flowers were simply beautiful as well.

It was approaching 4:30 and was almost time for the wedding to start.  People started to gather in the benches.  I continued to take pictures.

  

The music started and Colton and Bishop Floyd walked down the aisle.  Then the moms came down.  First, Shannon's mom, then Jen.  As Jen was walking, Cole and Reagan Peterson, the kids of her former boss Stacie, came running up to her.  They just love her.  It was a sweet moment.

Jennifer looked stunning.  I don't think I'd ever seen her so beautiful!  I grabbed a few more pictures while we waited for Shannon to come down the aisle.  First, Jennifer and Shane's parents, Craig and Kathy.

 Then, Sally, Kevin and Jodi, and Dad.

 And finally, Jennifer and Shane.

Bishop Floyd and Colton stood at the front waiting for the bride to arrive.  Colton looked calm and happy.  I was glad.

 The best man and the maid of honor...

 And a bridesmaid...

 And Taylor, a groomsman, looking very dapper.

 Then, the cutie pies came down the aisle...Jonah, the ring bearer and Ari, the flower girl.

 Taylor and Jonah waiting for the bride to arrive...

I loved the look on Colton's face the moment he saw his bride...

 I loved the things that Bishop Floyd counseled them to do.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  At one point though, I looked over at Ari.  I guess it's kind of hard for a 6 year old to stay focused on things such as wedding vows...

After the wedding, I took some more family and fun pictures...Kurt's family...Holly just did not want her picture taken!

 Scooter...

 Ang and Holly.  She finally was willing to have her picture taken when we offered her a piece of candy.

Ari showed me her purple fingernails...

 Scooter and Peanut were practicing dancing.  Look at them!  Where'd they learn that?!?!

 Peanut decided to teach Holly how to dance too...

 Jen pulled off her shoes and was just taking in the scenes...

 After Peanut was done practicing her dancing, she ever so gingerly drank out of a little goblet.  Notice the raised pinky...

 Dad...

The photographer finally brought Colton and Shannon back over by the waterfall for some of their pictures. I decided to tag along and take my own...

At this point, I went and called Melon Man from the gazebo and chatted with him for a bit.  Then, it was time for the reception to start.  I went and hung out inside.  After a while, it was time to cut the cake and dance...

 I caught this picture of Shane and Jen watching their son dance with his bride.  The looks on their faces are priceless.  I am so grateful that Shane married my sister.  He has been a good dad and husband.

 Tanner and Dylan looking on...

After the bride and groom danced their first dance, and Shannon and her dad danced, it was Jennifer and Colton's turn.  They danced to the song, Find Your Wings by Mark Harris.  The words were so poignant:

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know

You're walking in the truth

And If I never told you

I want you to know

As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more than memories

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off

But I'll cheer as you fly

 Back behind everyone, I found this....Peanut dancing away...

 Then, it was time for everyone else to dance.  Peanut headed right out onto the dance floor.  I couldn't ever catch her with her face toward me.

 Scooter and Holly danced the night away too...

 Next, Dylan and Peanut hit it...

 Jake and Courtney worked it too...

 Then Peanut and Scooter danced again.  Oh, to have that kind of energy...

 Soon it was time for the garter belt toss...all the eligible "men" lined up.

 Colton went in for the goods...

 Then, he shot it off behind him...

 I didn't get a picture of the bouquet toss, but Courtney Floyd caught it and Dylan caught the garter.

 Jen and Jonah dancing...what was she thinking?  Was it "I can't believe my son is married now" or was it "only mere years and this baby of mine in my arms will be gone too"...

 Auntie Julie danced with Scooter...

 Uncle Coco danced with Peanut.  Check it out...her feet are on top of his...

 Kurt and Ang danced...

 I loved this picture...it showed me how much Jodi really loves my brother...there is just something about the safety a woman feels in the arms of her husband when there is a deep, true love...

 Peanut must have danced with all of the boys...here she is with Jonah.

 He even dipped her!

 Daddy and daughter...she's growing up so fast...

 I was so happy to capture this sweet and tender moment...my dad hates to dance because he doesn't think he knows how.  But, he did just fine and the look on Dolly's face is priceless.  The fact that she was able to dance with her grandpa will be a memory she will treasure forever.

 One thing I try to do when taking pictures is to try to capture special moments that others may not see because they are busy participating in the event.  This was one such moment...dads holding their daughters close and dancing with them.  I wondered what my little brothers were thinking while doing this.  Were they thinking about how some day they would be dancing with these little girls again when they gave them to their someday husbands to love, honor, and cherish?  Were they feeling very tender feelings inside about that future moment?  Whether they were thinking about that day at all is inside of them, but it was a special moment to me when I saw it and I wanted to capture it - I am so proud of my brothers for the fathers they are to their children.

 It was soon time for Shannon and Colton to leave.  Everyone met them outside with bubbles.

 After the newlyweds left and the evening was wrapped up, all of our family except Julie and her boys, grabbed some takeout and headed to my hotel's breakfast room.  The kids finished watching the big football game and everyone was cheering because Utah won 54-10 over BYU.  Now, I'm not a huge BYU fan even though I went there, but I'm still devoted to it over the U.  It was a sad loss, but the better part was that I was able to see my family all engaged together in their devotion to a game (well, except Dad who hates sports).

 Kevin and Jodi, Dad and I, and Kurt and Ang got La Frontera, while Jen and Shane got Taco Bell.  The chile verde burritos were YUM.

 Jen gave me "the look" because I took a picture of her eating...again.  She hates that.

 It was such a fun time being with my family.  They soon left and I headed up to bed.

I was up early the next morning and off to the airport to head home.  I was asleep before we even took off and I slept almost the entire way home.  Melon Man picked me up and we headed home.  We had some dinner and by 5 I had crashed to sleep on the sofa.  He left and went to a church meeting around 6.  When he got home at 8:30, I was still asleep.  He turned off the tv and dragged me to bed.  I slept all the way until 5 a.m.  I guess I really needed it!