Carillon Beach

Last Friday, Brad, Annie, and I joined his family at Carillon Beach for the wedding of Leigh Ellen & Mitch.  It was a lot of packing and quite the journey to get down there!  Annie immediately fell asleep and did great for about an hour and fifteen minutes until we had to start driving around in a big loop on Highway 331.  

Brad had a conference call for work and was afraid of running out of service on the rural highway so we kept turning around to stay within cell phone coverage!  Eventually when it was his turn to talk on the call, Annie and I got out and walked around a random gravel road and field!

Eventually, we got back on the road and slowly made our way to the beach.  We did stop again at Doc's which was one of literally just a few places that we saw to eat.  Thankfully, they were willing to make us a cheeseburger even though they had already stopped serving lunch!

The porch at Doc's

Finally, we made it to the beach in time to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.  We had a fun night and delicious dinner at the Old Florida Fish House on 30A.  Annie and I stayed until 8:30.  She did great staying up way past her bedtime and with all of the people and excitement.  

Annie slept in until 9:00 Saturday morning since she went to bed so late and since she was so worn out.  After we all got up, we ate breakfast with the family at a local dive called Steaks, Shakes, and Pancakes in Panama City.  We all lounged the rest of the day and got ready for the wedding at 5:00.  Unfortunately, Annie only got one nap in on Saturday so she was very tired.  

The Newlyweds

The wedding was beautiful and the food was delicious!!  We also took lots of pictures with the family!

All of us!

Love this one of Annie clapping with JoJo and Grandpa!

Aunt Nicole and Uncle Taylor

Just the girls!

Annie enjoyed dancing with her Daddy...

and walking around exploring with him!

Thankfully, Annie is a trooper and did great!  We stayed at the wedding until 8:00.  She was asleep within 1 minute in the car.  Poor baby - I felt like we just wore her out!

 Thank you to Tom and Joanne for the fun weekend!  We enjoyed getting to spend time with the family!

Brad's family left early Sunday morning to pack up his grandmother who is moving to Birmingham, but Brad, Annie, and I stayed so that Brad could do work in Mobile on Tuesday.  More to come on the rest of our trip! 

Mr. & Mrs. Flachsbart - Friday

Friday, June 17th started off with Elizabeth's bridesmaid luncheon hosted 

by her Godmother at Daniel George!  The food was delicious and the flowers were gorgeous!  

Look at the huge orange peonies!

Elizabeth & Mom

Elizabeth & her new mother-in-law 

Anne, Melissa, Aunt Laurie, Aunt Janet, Holly, Alston, & Lauren Taylor

Aunt Janet & Melissa were both bridesmaids in Mom's wedding so it was fun for them to be there! 

Caitlin, Laura, Dr. Morgan, Ann, & Anna 

Emily, Elizabeth, Mom, Aunt Judy, & Michelle

I was taking the picture!  And later, Aunt Mariska also joined us.

Emily, Maid of Honor

Me, Matron of Honor

36 weeks pregnant

Aunt Laurie was so excited to get to be here for all of the festivities!

The Bridesmaids!

We each gave Elizabeth a special item or memento along with a little speech about a memory together or something special with Elizabeth.  I gave Elizabeth the garter that Mom made for me when I got married so that she could wear it for her big day as "something borrowed."  Then, Elizabeth gave each of us a Vera Bradley small, monogrammed duffel bag and Hanky Panky that matched our bridesmaid dresses!

After the luncheon, we all went to get manicures and pedicures.

Friday night, we started with the rehearsal at the church and then the rehearsal dinner at The Garden Cafe at the Botanical Gardens!  

Unfortunately, on the way from the rehearsal to dinner, Brad and I got a flat tire.  Thankfully, we were able to pull off the interstate safely and change the tire.  Brad did a great job and had us going again in under 20 minutes!  I wish I had a picture...Brad in his suit, me 36 weeks pregnant in high heels on Friday night, downtown, changing a tire!

Here is the best picture from the rehearsal dinner!  It was a gorgeous room and very intimate setting!  

We started off with a great slideshow of Elizabeth & Alex!  I always love the slideshows and getting to see all the pictures.  Brad and I still watch our wedding slideshow and videos on our anniversary each year!  

After the slideshow, friends and family gave speeches.  Almost the entire wedding party gave speeches and they were truly some of the best and most well written speeches I have ever heard!  Emily & I wrote a poem titled "Twas the Night Before Your Wedding" that was fashioned after "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  

More to come about Saturday!

Elizabeth - The Bachelorette

On June 4th, Emily and I hosted Elizabeth's Lingerie & Bachelorette Party at Emily's house!  

Here is Elizabeth, the guest of honor and soon-to-be Mrs. Flachsbart!

We started off the night with cocktails and cupcakes! 

Alston, Anne, & Elizabeth

Caitlin, Maria, & Louisa

Then, we asked Elizabeth lots of questions about Alex!  We made it a drinking game - if she got the answer right, the girls had to drink and if she got the answer wrong, she had to drink!

Finally, she opened her lingerie!  She recieved some of the most beautiful lingerie I have ever seen!

From Emily's, we headed to Cocina for dinner and then the younger girls (!) went on to the bar!

The party was a big success and lots of fun!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Happy 4 year Anniversary Bradley!!

I am so thankful that God made you my husband.  

You are a wonderful husband and  I am so proud of you.  

I can't wait to see you in your newest role as a Daddy!

Thank you for 4 years and hopefully many, many more to come!  I love being married to you :)

Mr. & Mrs. Hunt - Saturday

Saturday, the wedding party got ready at the Sonnet House as well as the Bride & Groom!

Then, Aunt Janet, Holly's Mom, and Emily, and others spied as Holly & James 

saw each other for the first time that day :)

It's hard to see but here they are seeing each other finally!

Before the ceremony, the Jones family did our usual photo session that we do at all major events!

 A great shot of Brad!!

Brad and I took some great maternity shots as you can see!! 33 weeks

Jones siblings + "out-laws"

Dad and his children

Mom & Dad and children

My cousin Katie was also at the wedding!  She was 36 weeks pregnant - expecting her first baby, 

a little girl also!

Then the ceremony began!  It was a gorgeous evening but very hot!

The bridesmaids and groomsmen progressed in!

Then the bride and her Dad!

I love this picture of the back of Holly's dress!

The kiss!  It's official!!

Afterwards, we all enjoyed a beautiful reception on the same grounds at the Sonnet House!

Laura, Maid of Honor & Jeffrey

Cake cutting!

First Dance!

It was a beautiful celebration full of family, friends, and dancing the night away!  

Congratulations & best wishes to Holly & James!!