Happily Ever After

Kota lighting up firecrackers at Uncle Kory's. Kory hooked Dakota up with a lot of them. He was entertained for hours!

Robin and Toby's garden, 1 of 3, all about the same size. They are layed out so nice. They are works of art on their own. I hope to have one garden this size someday.

Toby built this General Store around a small camper. It is fixed up like an old fashioned store. I'm reminded of the Newell K. Whitney Store when I go in there.

Still giggin' isn't she cute?

Kory's daughter River enjoying the mud puddles before the wedding.

I enjoy taking nature photos, here is an ornamental crab apple tree outside Robin's house.

Kota in his first tux. You know he didn't even need my help getting it on. He's a natural.

Aww, they clean up nice.

Welcome to the family Tricia.

Klay wating on Tricia to come down the aisle.

Talon carring the rings and trying to get away from the flowergirl. Because when your an eight year old boy girls are gross!

The groomsmen

Here she is Klay, she was worth the wait!

Mr. and Mrs. Klayton Crawford, whew all 8 are married!

It's finally over Talon....

Kayla and Autumn in their birthday dresses from Grandma.

We made a mad dash for the border after the wedding. Kota has football practice starting Monday. So we had to leave right after the wedding. We drove 4 1/2 hours to get a jump on the 16+ hour drive.

Weddings bring back such wonderful memories and reflections on my own marriage. It is good to have moments like these to make a person stop and think. I think I have to say that it has been happily ever after in my life. Not in the fairytale sense, but in the realization that building a family is what makes life happy. That started with my young marriage to Kyle. We were such kids then... (18 and 22 years old) Although we felt like adults when this all was happening. We've experienced so much life together, literally growing up together. We've shed tears, worked by the sweat of our brows together, built a home, lost our jobs, gain a new faith, and have been sealed together. What an experience so far. We were just talking about how perfect life was and are we ready for the next trial to work through. It seems like when you realize that your life really is better than what you thought that is when the next trial seems to hit. I suppose that is the flow of life, up hills and downs. It is great to see all eight Crawford kids are married and happy in life. Kota said it felt like we were leaving home tonight. He is going to miss his uncles. I wonder if it would be the same if we lived up there? Would it be the same...our kids were treated like royalty while being up there (the cool older cousins). It seems Kota might be MN bound when he graduates. I suppose that is how it works, they grow up and leave. Hopefully my two will call home to talk to mom as much as Kyle does. I love that about him, that he likes to talk to his mom, that gives me hope for mine in the future.

Well, two weeks of bliss is winding down in a hotel room in Menomee, Wisconsin tonight. 12 hours of driving to be in Ohio tomorrow. We expect to be in around 7-8 pm. Then happy birthday to Kayla.