a funeral and a wedding

Last week was a busy one.

Troup, a cousin of Joe's, much like an uncle, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack. We went to Alabama for the funeral, which Joe officiated. It was a sad occasion, but it gave us the opportunity to introduce our children to that side of the family (and for me to meet some relatives). Troup loved horses and we spent some time with his beloved animals while at his beautiful home in Auburn. Hannah loved playing with her "new" cousins, too.

She fed and rode one bareback!

Joseph liked watching, playing with the hose and petting a tiny puppy.

{Joe with Uncle Jerry and Uncle Earl}

{Riding on the "tractor" lawn-mower with cousin Terrill}

I couldn't help but take this picture:

We shared suitcases and when I opened the boys' to add some stuff and saw that, I just couldn't help but capture the cuteness with my phone. I love his little dress shoes in his daddy's.

The next morning we took the kids to see the Auburn campus. We thought it would've been football season when we were next there, and the kids' first time in Auburn. We were planning on going to stay with Troup and his wife, Ginny and see a football game. Sad we never got that chance…

The stadium was open so we got to go in. Hannah and Joseph were amazed.

{Jordan-Hare Stadium/Pat Dye Field}

I have to admit, Joe and I thought it was pretty cool, too.

{Samford Hall}

Obviously, the indoctrination process has begun. On Instagram I called it "campus orientation". 

At the end of the week we headed to Savannah for my cousin's wedding. We helped host the rehearsal dinner at my mom's house and had a lot of fun playing with family. I'm kicking myself for not getting a family picture, but I did take a few pictures:

Congratulations to Jessica and Uriah (and Jasper)!

Look at that sweet little smiling face in the background between the happy couple. Hannah loves a "marry girl".

We had both happy and sad times all in a week. Hannah and Joseph did ok despite the many hours spent in the car. In between the traveling for family things, Joe had to travel twice for work. Needless to say, we were excited when Sunday got here.

And that brings me to Mother's Day. I cannot believe this happened, and seeing all the pictures on Facebook was salt in my wounds, but for the first time I did not get a picture with my children. This may seem unimportant; Joe didn't think it was too awful ("You have lots of pictures…"), but I did. Granted last year's picture was a pain with Hannah pouting and Joseph not staying put, but still… Oh well.

Preschool creations:

I know it's been a week, but I still want to say happy (belated) Mother's Day to all you moms and to those who mean the most to me - you know who you are. I love you.

nola

Back to our trip. On Wednesday, April 3rd, we arrived in New Orleans. My mom rented a big house in the Garden District. Seventeen of us stayed there. It was fun, if a little crazy. As I mentioned before, I didn't get any pictures with my camera, but between my phone and Facebook, I managed to scrounge up some of my family.

{Hannah and Cousin Jackson at the welcome party Wednesday night.}

{My sweet boy, post-sleep obviously.}

{Thursday morning, with Uncle Ben and Jackson watching the construction going on outside our house on Napoleon Ave.}



{With Cousin Juliana, Thursday after manicures and pedicures.}

{Thursday night at the rehearsal dinner, toasting the bride and groom with Ben.}

Wedding Day:

{Friday morning, Wedding Day breakfast. Joseph enjoyed Aunt Charli's beignets very much.}

{In the limo - unsure at first. No carseat, afterall.}



 {My Hannah girl, outside the Bride's suite.}

{Later in the limo, totally herself. Love how her bag of chips is right in front of my face. Classic.}

{Flower girls!}

{My little ring bearer!}

{The ceremony was in the courtyard behind the Pharmacy Museum in the French Quarter. Beautiful bride, beautiful groom, beautiful everything!}
 

{Laughing at Joe's homily.}

{Making it official.}

{Listening to Lucas, our cousin who is a professional opera singer, up in the balcony (Joseph was up there, too, with Aunt Katie at this point). Amazing!!}

{My girl with the best man, Uncle Ben. Really...just like me.}

{Hannah hugging Ava on the dance floor.}

{Dancing with Cousin Lucas - who, as she reminds everybody - broke her trampoline (at a party at my mom's house, back in October) Looks like she's forgiven him.}

{With the groom!}

{Breakfast on Saturday at Cafe Du Monde, before we pack up and hit the road.}

We made a stop in Birmingham to visit Joe's cousins before our final leg of the journey home, with one sick kid and one exhausted family!

And that's all. Looking forward to seeing the photographer's pictures. Hopefully there's a good family one.

savannah

We were in Savannah for almost a week for the October 13th wedding of my cousin, Juliana. I've said it before, but it's nice to actually go to Savannah for more than 48 hours (or less).

Among other things, you get to have pedicures,

ride around town, running errands and going fun places,

 

{Just ate at Green Truck, doesn't he look happy? He'd be a fool not to.}

and play at Meme's house.

My mom did a fabulous job hosting the bridesmaids' luncheon at The Olde Pink House on Reynolds Square in Downtown Savannah.

I especially loved the centerpieces:

If you are in Savannah and need a wedding/party/event designer I highly recommend Amy Harvey. She did our wedding and we've used her several times since. She is extremely good at what she does. Working with everything we (my mom and Crystal) had already collected for the decor theme, and adding to it, she made it perfect.

Four of the Gnann girls present {Hannah Maddalena Gnann Buck, Lindsey Leigh Gnann Brooks Buck, the bride Juliana Gnann Moore, and Melanie Gnann Schandolph Brooks}:

Hannah was all about the bride.

The rehearsal dinner Friday night was held in my mom's backyard. A family friend of the bride did the flowers. He also did lots of other things throughout the wedding weekend. Very talented, Bob is.

We borrowed the s'mores bar idea from Joe's 40th birthday back in January. Definitely a crowd-pleaser.

The wedding, officiated by Joe, was at Wesley Gardens. Beautiful place on Moon River and the setting of many family memories. It was the windiest day I think I have ever seen, but because of that, thankfully, no bugs!

Juliana's bouquet was a ball made of family and antique brooches and other jewels. So perfect for her, our fashionista and family stylist.

I did not document the wedding festivities as well as my cousin, but I did grab a few of her photos off Facebook. Thanks, Trudie!

We took Joseph home to be with my sister, Angie, and then headed to the reception at Vic's on the River. We had a great time and Hannah thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Dancing with Uncle Ben and Uncle Will Will.

Sunday was our 6th anniversary. Since Joe took the day off, we stayed in Savannah an extra day, went to church at Wesley Monumental UMC (where Joe was serving as an associate when we met). The kids liked playing around the altar.

We had lunch at Huey's on River Street (really yummy beignets), and then played in the tugboat.

Ben, Will, and I played on this exact tugboat when we were young'uns. {It has been repainted a few times since.}

Sunday night I went out to dinner with my hubby while my mom babysat. We went to a new place downtown with a great atmosphere, called The Public (no website yet, sorry). It's on the corner of Liberty and Bull Streets. Very good. We took a little walk while we waited on a table and then afterwards had coffee and dessert at Gallery Espresso on Chippewa Square. Beautiful night. The sixth anniversary is traditionally the "candy anniversary". Joe gave me a super nice piece of jewelry. I wore it to dinner.

And that's it for pictures. Before we came home on Monday, we had a follow-up appointment scheduled with Hannah's orthopedist. Her legs/feet look great (and so do Joseph's by the way). Great news, as we were worried we might have to go back to the braces. Joe and I also went to a luncheon honoring Joe's parents at AASU. With a combined almost-80 years of service, it is admirable all they have done for the university.

It was a very full six days with not a lot of down time. On Saturday, however, Joe and I both got to run part of the Rock-n-Roll Marathon course downtown. The weather the whole time we were there was perfect. So good to see family, too.