I flew into Des Moines airport on Thursday night at midnight for what would be a crazy but fun weekend. My cousin Jeff was getting married. My family hasn't had a wedding since mine almost 15 years ago. I have not been back to visit my family for 11 years, so the reunion was well over due! Friday morning we awoke to a thunderstorm, I love the weather.
This is my aunts yard, great memories here, I spent one month every summer here until I was 13. Things here are so laid back and calm. We jumped in the car Friday morning to travel to Ames, Iowa for the three days of setting up, party time and then tearing down, the Marshall family has well trained me on this ritual, I was ready!
We started to set up and then it happened, time to go have some fun with Adam, Liz and Megan. It was great to see them for lunch and a photo shoot at the hotel. We wished many times for Sarah's camera!
After lunch in true Marshall style Liz and Adam jumped in to help. Megan loved the dance floor and Auntie Tracy's camera.
Liz and I have a unique relationship, she is the closest thing I have had to a sister. I was able to participate in things with her that a big sister would do, when she was little. To her it was just afternoons out, for me they were opportunities to be a part of a relationship I had never had. Love this girl she is so funny and real!
She is quite the climber, she was a doll and had a great afternoon enjoying the outdoors.
The photo on top of this and below this are by Megan. I gave her my camera and said, Have Fun! She was laughing and giggling to herself, it was so cute.
This is my mom's side of the family, small but mighty. My Grandma is in the bright blue dress, my mom to the right and my Aunt June to the left. My uncle is in the black shirt back row, and their 5 children. The groom is in the green shirt, back row.
The rehersal dinner got crazy. My cousins enjoyed themselves. Groom, Jeff in the middle, Jordan in blue and Jeremy AKA ( Chef Buzz) in the red.
First photo as Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Lukehart, as I'm writing this they are in Jamaica on a private beach.
The reception was a great sit down dinner, the food was amazing.
Back at my aunts house we were greeted with the hot air balloons that fly over almost daily in the summer, Overall a great weekend in Indianola Iowa, with a stop in Ames.
THE KIDS AND I HEADED OUT FOR A COUPLE DAYS OF FUN IN THE SUN IN PALM SPRINGS. WE WERE ACCOMPANIED BY AMANDA AND HER KIDS AND MY PARENTS. WE ARRIVED AND NEEDED 2 LUGGAGE CARTS.
WE WENT RIGHT FOR THE POOL, IT WAS SO HOT.
THE KIDS WENT RIGHT TO SLEEP EACH NIGHT, THEY WERE BEAT.
HERE'S THE GANG, READY FOR DAY 2
TANNER SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME ON THE SLIDE....
AND SO DID HIS SISTERS!
TANNER WOULD SIT AND WATCH HIS SISTERS AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE SAT TO CLOSE....... 1,2,3
HE WAS A GREAT SPORT AND LOVED THE WATER.
