Tradition & Throw-Up

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was one of those weekends you would gladly take a redo on. You know it's bad when you look forward to Monday and a fresh, clean start.

Marcus & Georgia both had stomach problems this weekend. We diagnosed Marcus with the stomach bug and Georgia we really aren't sure. I really think she had a touch of it herself. Because...

She fell asleep in these positions. Very non-Georgia Grace like. She has been a crib sleeper/napper since she was 12 weeks old so this was the first sign something was up.

She was totally fine one minute, laughing and jabbering, and then out of nowhere she upchucked...in her beautiful smocked pink pearl dress at Aunt Paigey's wedding shower three hours from home in a coffee shop!

Thank the Lord for a change of clothes and wipes.

Bless her sweet heart though. Her gag reflex that I have mentioned before is so intense.

We decided earlier in the week it was time to start brushing her teeth with an actual toothbrush. I get the toothbrush to her mouth and she gags! It is the strangest thing.

Even though it was a yucky weekend, we pressed on and attended my sister's wedding shower and church on Sunday (Marcus didn't get sick until Sunday night, and we didn't realize GGH was sick until afterward. We try not to spread sicky germs around!).

Paige and Eric's shower was held at his family business You & Me Coffeeshop in his hometown of Corbin, Kentucky. Such a neat, quaint shop situated in the downtown area.

Cute bride alert! 

They do showers a little different in Corbin. The shower was hosted by 9 different women who were associated with the Salmons family. The ladies opened the gifts for the couple and displayed them on the table for everyone to see. If the shower had been in someone's home, each gift would have been displayed in the room that it was for (i.e. sheets-bedroom, knives-kitchen). I had never been to a shower like that but I appreciated the tradition it represented. Also, it was an all-female shower besides the groom. I like that. Very southern.  

The newlyweds with their favorite niece who was giving some lovins during picture time. This was her 2nd OOTD.

I am so glad we were able to make the three hour trip for this special event. The drive from WKy to EKy is beautiful this time of year. Long, but beautiful.

During our outfit change, this happened! I was a little distraught from the whole event obviously. At least she was still for a minute :)

Sunday we kicked off turkey season! She's way too busy for pictures these days. This was the best I could get after several blurred attempts. She stayed in the church nursery and only cried for about 30 seconds and then she was fine. Progress!

Here's to a better week. We need everyone well and stomachs functioning properly for the Thanksgiving feasts next week!

#lovesalmons

The #lovesalmons wedding is officially a wrap! Words can't describe the amazement of the whole event. To be able to plan a wedding in about 30 days and for it to be absolutely stunning is completely a God thing. His hand was on everything, to Him be all the glory!

Here are a few candid moments that I just had to share (most of them can be found under the #lovesalmons hashtag on twitter and IG). Enjoy!  

The bridesmaid's reaction to seeing her for the first time. I'm so glad I grabbed my camera for this moment. There is nothing more sincere than raw emotion.

We have the exact same picture of me on my wedding day. There's just something about generation pictures that makes me melt. I think this would be perfect framed on both of our dressers.

Simply breathtaking. I have never seen her look so beautiful. Eric was a complete mess when he saw her for the first time :)

Let's just talk about her dress for a second. I'm going to toot my horn because I found the dress!!! We had to order it so she never got to try it on. When it arrived she slipped it on and it fit her like a glove. Seriously it was not altered in any way! This dress seriously was made for her (a God thing y'all). It reminded us so much of Princess Kate's. Of course I think "Princess Paige" wears the crown in this comparison :).

And her bouquet was made by her bridesmaid Sophie who is taking a floral design class and just gave it a shot and it came out like that! That gal has endless talent.

Just a few details captured by one of the groomsmen's girlfriend (who by the way flew in from VA and the groomsmen Luke flew in from CA!!). It was a picture perfect fall evening. 

Our beautiful flower baby riding in her wagon which she decided was pretty cool AFTER the ceremony ha! Oh well, I think it was special that I got to walk my baby down the aisle with me.

Sweet bridesmaid Kara took this of us right before they left for their honeymoon weekend. I couldn't be more proud to call her my sister AND best friend.

Instead of the traditional guest book Paige's bridesmaid Megan free handed a world map on a canvas and everyone signed their name on a country and prayed for that country during the prayer portion of the ceremony. I loved everything about giving this traditional concept an intentional purpose.

And this picture tells the story of the night! It was spectacular, breathtaking, spirit feeled, and Christ centered. 

We have had so many people ask if there will be a video of the service and the answer is YES. The Best Man Dallas owns  Dallas Wilson Video Productions and his assistant filmed for him so he could be in the wedding. His videos are AMAZING. Seriously if you are a bride in the Kentucky/Tennessee area you MUST get him. I wish I had known about him 3 1/2 years ago! I can't brag on his work enough!

More to come but I think these images give you a great idea of what an incredible night it was. I love those two #lovesalmons so much!

****And here are a few more professional pictures taken from the big day that I knew must be included in our family scrapbook

Studs studs studs

The wedding party

My sister, my best friend

 She is such the baby and I am such the first born :)

Awesome detail of the back of her dress in this picture. Her dress is my favorite of all time.

Just look at my face-I think I was making faces at GGH in the corner


The failed attempt to ride in a wagon down the aisle and a near wardrobe malfunction

 But all was well in Mommy's arms. I liked it better this way anyway.

Giving her blessing to Aunt Paigey and Uncle Eric

Wedding party praying over the couple. Paige started to feel weak at this point so I am fanning her profusely.

Mr. & Mrs. Eric Salmons!!!

Dancing down the aisle!

My two best girls

 

And they lived happily ever after :)

Five On Friday

Taking a quick second in between laundering our garments for the big event tomorrow and writing my MOH speech to post my Five On Friday. No time to tarry so without further ado...

One

Merry Christmas to us-we are going to Jackson Hole, Wyoming!!! We are taking my dad to celebrate the big 5-0 the week after Christmas (he turns 50 January 6th). We hope to visit Yellowstone, the Tetons (a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains), and the National Elk Refuge.

We are staying at The Lodge At Jackson Hole. I'm dying over the pictures. It looks so cozy and dreamy. There is an indoor pool, hot tub, and a spa. Too bad there are so many things to do in JH because I might not leave the lodge ;). I can't wait to visit the old west! 

Two

K-PREP scores are back and our school system scored in the top 25th percentile as a district in the state of Kentucky!! Butler County Schools have earned the classification as a proficient/progressing high progress district. Only 17 districts in the state earned that distinction! (See full article here). I have several family members (including my main man) who work in the school system and I know first hand how hard they have worked to earn these honors. I'm confident in the education Georgia Grace will receive here which will be here quicker than I want to think about. Way to go BC Schools!

Three

#tbt (throwback thursday, an explanation to my 40 year old self reading this ha!) is all the rage right now so I had to post this picture of me one year ago today. We met Georgia Grace 13 days later as Superstorm Sandy hit the east coast and shes' been making waves ever since :). I'm still in denial we are celebrating her first birthday next weekend...

Four

You don't realize how much you need the government until it is shutdown. I saw this screen on my computer several times this week when I tried to access MyPlate materials for a campaign we are developing at my hospital. I told our CEO that we had the best excuse ever for not rolling out the program on time ha! I'm thankful a compromise was reached and all government jobs/services were restored.

Five

Today is wedding day!! My sister and soon-to-be brother in law are tying the knot tonight in front of family and friends in our hometown. It will be a wonderful night of low-key simplicity displaying a love that mimics Christ and the church. I can't wait to see my sister as the bride. Beautiful won't even begin to describe her. I'm just hoping I don't do the ugly cry. #passthetissues

Happy wedding day Eric and Paige!

Salmons' Showers

In the midst of taking care of a sick baby this weekend I helped give TWO showers for my bride sister this weekend. She is getting married next weekend so we had to squeeze in her bachelorette party and church shower Saturday and Sunday. I told you October was going to be FULL!

Saturday night we kicked off the festivities with her bachelorette party at my mom's house at the Hidden Valley Golf Resort :). A lot of the girls were from out-of-town so it was so nice of them to make the trip. Isn't she the most beautiful bride-to-be? She has that natural glow of happiness!

She seriously has the sweetest most devoted friends. One of them took a midnight shift so they could come. One of them drove up from Nashville (and got caught in stand still I-65 traffic). I love how they love her.

One of her best friends Sophie made these bra and pantie cookies for the party and they were so adorable! She is so creative. I love her!

She was well gifted in the lingerie department. She even received a few lessons on what certain pieces were and how they worked ;)

The apron that our cousin Lynn made and I personalized for her. She's excited to do some cooking! I hope she keeps that excitement ha.

YEEAHHH!

And the most beautiful moment of the night. After the toilet paper wedding dress game, eating thong cookies and opening fun bachelorette gifts, her friends asked if they could pray over her. Of course! I remember 3 1/2 years ago when I had my bachelorette party someone made the comment "Will it be a bachelorette party or a bible study?". The best compliment (although it wasn't meant to be one) I could receive :). If people see Jesus in us then we must be doing something right.

Sunday we had a shower for Paige and Eric at our church in Morgantown. Her showers in Bowling Green and Corbin (Eric's hometown) will be after the wedding so I'm glad we were able to have her hometown shower this weekend.

I love them so much. They are the perfect pair no doubt.

The official hashtag for the Salmons wedding is #lovesalmons (hint: "love salmons" instead of "love birds")

The sweet groom and bride

Georgia Grace tried to steal the show by showing off her new walking skills with her squeaker shoes. She also enjoyed the shower food if you can't tell ha! I'm so glad she was feeling good so that we could bring her. A big thanks to Grandma Harrison and Grandmomma for helping with her during the shower!

They were so excited about every gift. When they would open something she would say, "Now we can have one guest over" or "Now I can make cupcakes" Ha!

This quilt was made by our Great-Grandmother McCoy and has been stored in a chest at my Mamaw Carolyn's house just waiting for this special occasion. I received mine at my wedding shower and our brother Cody's is in storage waiting for his special day (which may be in the near future-yay!!). The quilt is gorgeous and so intricately made. We had some talented women in our family.

My Mamaw Novis restored these cast iron skillets that were our great-grandparents for Paige. They had grease about an inch thick in each and mamaw spent many hours getting these to their current condition. Such a wonderful, thoughtful labor of love!

She was more in the playing mood than the picture taking mood ha!

Such a special day for my sis. She received so many gifts ranging from the awesomely practical to the amazingly personalized and creative. She has a great start to filling their new home.

And last but not least a big happy 1st wedding anniversary (Sunday) to Uncle Jake and Aunt Shanna! They are celebrating at Disney World this week. I seriously can't think of a better place to be for your anniversary!! Wishing them safe travels and a wonderful vacation!