happy thanksgiving!

we are so very thankful today.
we are home enjoying this time together
playing video games
watching football
doing book reports
starting my december daily book
running a mile
making a pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and green beans
drinking good coffee (and later good wine)
feeling inspired
catching up on breaking bad (seriously, we are on season 3 and can't stop watching)
planning for christmas
decorating the house
getting ready for a birthday
cleaning
enjoying the beautiful weather
and so much more.

happy thanksgiving, yo!

today i am thankful

karmomo

i woke up this morning at 4:40am, stumbled through the house to get my coffee going, changed out of my pajamas, and then woke jordan up.  he got himself ready for school and practice.  at 5:15 i woke andrew up and grabbed sofia out of her bed and got them in the car.  by 5:20 we were on the road.  jordan has water polo practice at 5:45 and this was really the only way of getting him there.  

we came home at 6 and i let them go back to sleep but then rushed to get them ready and out the door to school.  in the car we practiced spelling words and challenge words.  i know they are tired but there is a test today and i've been gone every night this week at school so this is the only chance we have to go over them. we end the study session with, it is what it is.

this morning was one of those mornings where i wanted to complain and say "this would be so much easier if bobby were here." i could be sleeping and letting the kids sleep. i could have been home a few more nights while one of us was at all of the back to school nights.  but instead i was thankful for the moment.  being up early, seeing that other people are up that early, no traffic (always something to be thankful for on the 405).  thankful for getting to school on time, properly dressed and fed.  yes, this morning would have been easier if bobby were home, but it was fine.  we did it.

the question i am most often asked these days is "how are you doing it?"  3 kids, 2 schools, a hectic schedule. and the answer is easy - i'm not doing it alone.  i have so much help and support.  and honestly i have no other choice.  this is us now.  it is what it is.

so today i wanted to say "thank you" to every single person that has helped us along this journey, and there are so many.

to the parents who offered me their frequent flyer miles to go visit bobby. thank you.

to my dear friend who picks up jordan every morning and takes him to school even though i am not keeping my end of the bargain. thank you.

to the moms who offer to take sofia to a play, to drop off and pick up andrew from a party or who just say "if you need help, let me know". thank you.

to the girls who went to lunch with me and let me vent for 45 minutes. thank you.

to the friend who sent me a facebook message with "friendship thoughts and support vibes". thank you.

to my friend who gave me a hug this morning cause she could see i was struggling. thank you.

to the ladies who read my blog every week even though my postings are random and sporadic. thank you and here's the link to that recipe.

to my fantasy football team who gave me the biggest win during the first week and reminded me to trust my instincts. thank you.

to the teachers who remind me what a special place our school is and that the work i do is for a purpose. thank you.

to the mom who took jordan to water polo practice on saturday so i could enjoy some time at home with the kids. thank you.

to my parents who help me with the garden, fix things around the house and watch the kids at night while i go to meetings, back to school nights, and socials. gracias.

to my sister who takes me to dinner cause i really needed some girl time and a fantastic meal. thank you.

to uncle jessie for watching the kids and making it so fun for them. (and for being named jessie which sofia thinks is cool because of full house). thank you.

to the mom, whose husband passed away a few years ago,  and is offering me words of encouragement. you are my hero. thank you!

to my in-laws who pick up jordan at 9pm on wednesdays or come get him from school while i go to a meeting, and help me with laundry, dishes, car repair and meals. thank you.

to jordan who has grown up so much over the last few months. who has put sofia to bed because she wasn't listening to her grandparents. who tells me every detail of his day. who despite being exhausted is happy and cheerful. thank you.

to andrew for helping me find humor everyday. for stepping up when jordan is not home and taking the lead as the man of the house. thank you.

to sofia for reminding me everyday just how much i am loved. for keeping me on my toes. for the snuggles and cuddles that i need everyday.  thank you.

to all 3 kids who watch me make mistakes and don't hold them against me. who see me get stressed out and make me laugh. and who sacrifice their time for the good of the family. thank you.

to bobby for working so hard and despite having a stressful, difficult, very long day calls me every night to check in and say "i love you." i miss you and thank you!

i couldn't be more blessed.  i couldn't feel more supported.  i couldn't be more grateful.

thank you!

thankful

today i am thankful.
and so very happy.

wishing you a deliciously happy thanksgiving.

thankful for today

Source: sarahrhoads.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

i so wish i had taken this photo.
i wish i could find this window so that i could take a photo like this.

i am thankful for today.
for everything that we have.
for everything that we are able to do.
for my beautiful children who i feel privileged to share this time with.
for my husband who makes life fun and so worth it.
for my family, parents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews for being awesome.
for my in-laws, and their families, for always making me feel like a part of the family.
for friends who listen, care, text, email, fb me, have us over for dinner, invite us to parties, chat at carpool, make me laugh, share their kids, and motivate me.
for technology that lets me communicate and express myself. for being my time waster and escape. for helping me discover and feel inspired.
for good food and pretty pictures.
for music and silence.
for our home and the stories it holds.
for laughter and tears.
for heartache and joy.
for those little moments that remind me how precious life is.
for the gift of time.
for the kids' school.
for my husband's job.
for the energy and motivation i have to be healthy and strong.
for every single person that reads these words.
today i am thankful.

five on friday:: gratitude projects

i wanted to share with you a few things you can do to express your gratitude.  some of these i have done.  some i will be doing this year.  and some are just plain cute.

1. a gratitude journal

probably the easiest and simplest way to keep a record of all that you are thankful for.  you need a little notebook and a pen.  try and write something everyday, or every chance you get.  you'll be surprised how quickly it fills up. i used a moleskine kraft journal.  i glued pieces of scrapbook paper on top and added the word "gratitudes" on the side.  i use mine to keep gratitude quotes as well.

2. be thankful box

i made this one year that i was feeling very crafty.  i bought the box from michael's.  then i painted, stamped and covered it with scrapbooking paper.  you could just as easily use a simple pre-decorated box or even a jar.

i also made this tag book and put a picture of each of us.  on the back i wrote what each person was thankful for that year.  my goal was to do this every year and thus fill the box, but i moved on to other projects so this is the only book in the box right now.  i'll have to think of other things to fill it with.

3. a gratitude album

i loved this idea from cathy zielske.  last year i printed these simple thank you cards and placed them at each person's place setting.  then everyone wrote what they were thankful for on it.  i also took a picture of each person at dinner.  i printed the photos and place it on the empty space to the left and slipped them into a 4x6 photo album.  so simple.

4.  gratitude poster

photo from becky higgins

this idea came from becky higgins.  i loved it when i saw it so i am doing it this year.  a large white posterboard, letter stickers and a pen.  we will have it somewhere in the house where anyone can write a thank you when they feel inspired.   i hope to find a place to hang it all year long.  that way we can always be reminded of the things we are thankful for.  you can read more about it here and here.  and i will post mine as soon as i have it together.

5. thankful tree

Source: simplyvintagegirl.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

i love this.  and what a cute home decor item.  imagine having this at the dinner table on thanksgiving.  your guests can each write something on a leaf.  don't tell but i'm thinking of giving this as a gift to our thanksgiving dinner hosts this year.  i think they'll love it, don't you?

i hope i gave you some inspiration in case you were interested in doing a gratitude project.

have a great weekend.

on gratitude

Source: whatinspires.me via Gioconda on Pinterest

thank you.
gracias.
merci.
grazie.
a hug.
a written note.
an email.

i love all the ways of saying thank you.
i encourage my kids to say thank you.
i think it's so important to not just say the words but to have those words say something to the person they are intended for.

thank you for taking the time to think of me.
thank you for your thoughtfulness.
thank you for your help.

with that said, i am terrible at sending out thank you notes.
it's the procrastinator in me.
but i did start a project of collecting all of the thank you notes that we've received this year.
from friends, teachers, brides and mom's to be.

next year i will make it a point to be diligent about sending out thank you cards.
consider that my first goal for 2012.

november is the perfect month to be thinking about gratitude.
finding a moment everyday to give thanks and appreciate something small, or big.
maybe it's saying thank you to your kids for working hard at school.
or telling your husband you appreciate that he comes home from work and still has energy to spend with his kids.
what about just giving a moment to appreciate your home, the things you are able to own, your car that takes you from here to there.
we always say grace before we eat, but now i try to give thanks after i've eaten a good meal.

it doesn't take much to give thanks.
but it certainly gives back a lot.

thankful thought: today i am thankful for an unexpected day off.  andrew's fieldtrip was cancelled due to a forecast of rain.  that means that i was able to go to zumba, pick up pictures at costco, and work on a few things at home that i would have put off.  i am looking forward to going on the fieldtrip in january.

if you can find the time to be grateful, i think you can appreciate life even more.

{re}focus:: november

Source: tumblr.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

i seriously can't believe it.  only two months left in 2011.  once halloween is over everything seems to go by in a blur.  crazy that it's already november, huh?

but in a way it's kind of exciting.  goodness is coming.  time with family and friends.  days full of celebration and memories.  it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

i know this time can get hectic so i want to set some reasonable expectations.  my goals for this month consists of two things:

be grateful:: take time this month to truly be grateful. for the big and the small.  for the big moments and the little moments.  for those things i take for granted but i am truly so thankful for.  i'll be sharing some of those moments on the blog this month.  really looking forward to it.

finish what i started::  i set a lot of goals for myself over this year.  a lot of them are done, but i'm still working on others.  i want to go over my list and see what i can realistically achieve this month.  i'm not putting pressure on myself in  any way.  i'll only finish those things that i really care about.

that's it.

(my secret goal is to get my christmas shopping done by december 1st.  i'd love to spend all of december working on my december daily and enjoying the season.)

if you are setting goals let me know.  or if you want to share something you are thankful for today, please do.

today i am thankful for energy and motivation.  it's keeping me going and i love it.

happy november!!

i will never forget...

...where i was on september 11, 2001.  it was 2 days after a road trip.  the phone rang in the early morning. jordan was 2 and sleeping in his room.  i got to the phone just as the answering machine picked up.  it recorded the first few minutes of my conversation with bobby (it stayed on our machine for a few years).  he was at the gym and saw the news on tv.  he called to tell me about the airplanes crashing into the world trade center.  i was in disbelief.  i was saddened.  i was scared.

that's what i remember most about that time.  feeling scared.  feeling like we weren't safe.

i watched hours and hours of news coverage over the next few days.  i laid in bed with bobby and cried. it was devastating and depressing. i hurt so much for the families, for the kids, for our nation.  a few days later i found out i was pregnant with andrew...

at my first dr.'s appointment, she asked how i was doing with the news.  i told her that the joy of being pregnant was what was getting me through.  it was hopeful and filled with love and made me happy.  i never felt saddened that i was bringing a baby into the world amidst this dark time. i believed that my children would make a difference in this world.  i had to believe that, and i believe it even more now.  we are bringing up children that care about the world.  that have compassion for people.  that do what they can to help.  big or small.

that got me through.  that made me realize the good in the world.

i actually liked the mood over the next few days here.  people were friendly and helpful.  there was support for one another.  we all shared something in common.  that moment.  yes, we were all scared.  we were all victims of the same tragedy.  and now there was a bond.  a camaraderie of some sort.  i felt united.

i will never forget that day.  i will never forget the lives lost.  we will continue to pray for the families, the soldiers and our country.  on sunday i will kiss and hug my children and be thankful for what we have.

wishing everyone a peaceful weekend.

gratitude :: holiday edition

so i am supposed to be at the grocery store right now.  but sofia decided that 10am was the perfect time to take a nap.  it was a long weekend people, with a lot of partying and a lot of late nights.  i hope the boys can get through their day.

thanksgiving: good food and good company. 18 of us gathered at my parents' house for a traditional dinner.  my mom made the turkey and stuffing, my sister made cornbread, my sister-in-law made the ham, i made the mash potatoes and salad, and my other sister-in-law made dessert. we were set.  everyone filled out these thankful cards and i will add pictures to them and put them into an album.

after dinner the kids watched movies and the grown ups including my niece monica, played "things".  it was so much fun.  we laughed at the answers and people's guesses.  and some of the questions had many interpretations.  it was fun that we all hung out and had a good time.

tangled: friday i did not head out for black friday sales.  instead we slept in then went to my parents' house again for posole.  yummy! (i know my mom worked hard.  that's why i love her.) everyone came over at various times and we looked at ads.  talked to those that did brave the craziness, monic waited 2 hours in line at urban. in the afternoon we took the kiddos to see tangled.  i was looking forward to it and was not disappointed.  it was funny, and sentimental and cute and a bit scary.  i loved every second of it . . .and so did sofia.  at least i think she did.  she was sitting with gaby and jessie.  andrew and i got really nervous at the end.  but it all worked out.  we loved that it was a return to a disney classic.  kind of like aladdin or emperor's new groove.  i would definitely recommend.

sushi with friends: saturday was another casual day.  slept in, then i headed out to the mall to check out some sales.  i really think i just needed a breather.  i looked around but didn't end up getting anything.  that night we went out to dinner with our friends bill and juliet.  her birthday was last week and bobby's birthday is this week.  so it was a perfect time to celebrate.  we see them a lot but always with the kids.  so getting a couples only night out was a little out of the ordinary.  we took them to a good sushi place on ventura where the rolls do not disappoint.  i even tried sake for the first, and maybe last, time.  after dinner we went to a coffee shop called aroma cafe.  i was stuffed from dinner but they ordered caramel cheescake, creme brulee and chocolate mousse.  i sipped on a delicious cappuccino.  it was lovely.

a day of rest: sunday was all about relaxing and staying in pajamas.  the kids played video games while we started putting up christmas decorations, lights and the tree.   we pulled out the box of decorations and let the kids have at it.  i made just a few tweaks since sofia can only reach so high.  and we only broke one ornament which is good for us. it looks great.   but i'll save the after picture for another day.  all i know is that we are ready for some good cheer.  we finished the day off with homemade pizza and toy story 3.  ahhh, the good life.


hope everyone's holiday was relaxing.

gratitude :: november 25

this quote: 

source: melaniemauer.com

and this one: 

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

i'm making mashed potatoes pioneer woman style and the winter fruit salad.  celebrating with family and feeling full of gratitude!  happy thanksgiving from the mitas family.

gratitude :: november 24

Before

a new smile: this kid is getting a new smile and we couldn't be happier.  the braces were put on today . i feel bad about scheduling it the day before thanksgiving but it had to get done and this way he doesn't miss any days of school.  he had the spacers put on last week and that went better than expected.  he is a trooper.  they are starting with the top braces because it's easier on them to do it in phases. he won't get the bottom ones until january. so for now he'll look like this.

After

we were given many instructions and tools to keep good hygiene and the poor guy has to stay away from sticky, chewy and crunchy foods.  not to mention the sugar.  he has flouride, a special flosser and some pain meds just in case.  i remember having braces and feeling uncomfortable but it was never terrible.  hopefully he'll do the same.

the process should take about 2 years.  but i'm looking forward to seeing his beautiful new smile.

gratitude :: november 23

grandparent's - ok, this one was easy.  today the boys' school celebrated all of the wonderful grandparents that are a part of their lives.  we changed things up from last year.  first we got rid of the wind, but brought in the cold.  the grandparents were invited to have a look at a school day for each of the students.  they went to spanish class, science class and even participated in a bit of pre-algebra jeopardy. the boys had 5 grandparents there to  show off.  sorry you couldn't make it grandpa tom, we missed you.

 my responsibility this day was hospitality.  each grade was in charge of bringing a food item, bagels, fruit, coffee, etc.  we found 3 costco pumpkin pies in the teacher's lounge (don't worry they weren't going to eat them) and put those out too.  they were a hit.  grandparents do love their pies.

events like this tire me out big time.  and i have taken notes as to how to make things easier and better next year.  but in the end it's always worth it.

thanks grandparents for always being there, for lending support, for babysitting, for having fun with us, for your help.  we love you.

i was too busy working to get any pictures.  but i will post when the photos from the event are available.

gratitude :: november 22

birthdays and babies: i am a sucker for a good party. i love celebrations and traditions. and i love that our lives are FULL of them.  sometimes 2 or 3 in one weekend. yes, it's a lot of work but so worth it.  this weekend we had 3 celebrations.


the first was the birthday of our sweet friend rachel who turned 6. she is part of a family that is very similar to ours.  3 kids all the same age as our kids. they love the same things. they get along swimmingly. and their parents are really fun to be around.  to celebrate rachel's birthday they had bunnies to pet and a magician to entertain.  a perfectly wonderful kids' party.

for my sis-in-law's 40th (oops was i supposed to say that?) she threw an 80's birthday party.  i was skeptical at first.  the 80's weren't the best of times for me and i wasn't sure i wanted to relive that.  but i went.  i found the jacket, complete with shoulder pads, in my mom's closet (oops, was i supposed to say that) and it was perfect.  the hair and makeup were easy, and i added the earrings, the bracelet, and a pair of jordan's high tops. i felt a little silly driving over there, but it really was a fun party.  the music brought me back. songs i would tape, yes on a cassette tape, and listen to over and over while i thought of alfredo, or hector or whoever i was interested in at the moment. i especially loved when they started playing spanish music because that is really what i listened to, menudo anyone?  luis miguel and my favorite, flans.  oh it brought me back.  i danced a little with the girls and my nephew who is quite the dancer.  it wasn't so traumatizing after all.

sunday sofia, mackenzie and i drove to irvine to shower sarah, steve and baby boden who drove in from colorado.  the theme of the shower was books.  perfect for this family that loves to read.

every guest brought a book to add to boden's library.

the food was our favorites, pesto pasta salad, chinese chicken salad, bruschetta, shrimp cocktail.  and for dessert chocolate cupcakes with book toppers.

the games were fun.  name the book title based on a line from the book, a baby relay race, and the cute game, where you can't say the word "cute".  and that is hard to do at a baby shower.

Sarah rapidly reading brown bear to her baby.

and the gifts were adorable.  i thought i had taken a lot more pictures but i realized that i took them with other peoples' cameras.  so i am hoping they will share.

and we got to see grady.

made it home in time for dinner and then i fell asleep on the couch after a party filled weekend.

gratitude :: november 20

early thanksgiving:  i have only cooked 2 turkeys in my life.  i have only hosted thanksgiving once at my house.  but a few years ago i decided that even though we were not celebrating thanksgiving at home that didn't mean i couldn't make thanksgiving dinner for us.  so our tradition of an early thanksgiving began.  one week before the big day i make a turkey dinner for the five of us.  the house smells of turkey and we get to enjoy some of our favorite dishes.  but there are other reasons that i wanted to do this.

• we have leftovers all to ourselves.
• we eat the things we love.
• we don't feel like we have to pig out on thanksgiving because we just had it last week. (who am i kidding?)
• i get to try out new recipes without the pressure of ruining it for 20 people.
• i can eat canned cranberries which i love.

i usually put something together in a couple of hours because i'm not cooking a large turkey.  one year i made open faced turkey sandwiches with gravy. one year i tried to make the cubed turkey and gravy on top of an ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes like i remember from elementary school lunch.  this year i spent big bucks on a jenni o oven ready turkey breast.  not really big bucks.  it was on sale at ralph's but it cost more for this 2.5lb breast than a whole turkey would have cost.  but i didn't have to do anything to it.  it comes seasoned in a bag that you just throw in the oven for 2 hours.  and it has a pop up thermometer that tells you when it's done.  no fail, really.  and it was delicious.  on monday i made cornbread for dinner and used the leftovers for this cornbread stuffing minus the kielbasa and prunes.  yummy, especially the toasted edges.  a few mashed potatoes and my beloved cranberries and that was dinner.  no dessert, no rolls, no sweet potatoes. simple and good.  and it was a true thanksgiving experience because i fell asleep on the couch watching icarly with the kids.

we will spend thanksgiving with my parents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews this year.  and it will be good.  and we will be stuffed. and happy.

this weekend: soccer was cancelled this morning due to the rain. finishing up prep for the baby shower tomorrow. going to a kid's birthday party this afternoon and an 80's birthday party for my sister-in-law tonight.  the boys will be working on a school project, and going to see harry potter tomorrow.  

i'm finishing up my december daily book and starting a christmas inspiration notebook.  i want to have it all finished over thanksgiving so that on december 1st i am ready to go.  considering getting the glee christmas album. it's the most wonderful, and busy, time of the year.

gratitude :: november 19

a few from the last few days.

a wonderful doctor: sorry boys, but i had my yearly doctor visit with my beloved gyn.  i miss her.  she became a friend during both of my pregnancies and now i only get to see her once a year.  makes me want to get pregnant again, just kidding!  anyway, we caught up a bit.  talked about life, our kids and school.  i almost forgot what i was there for. she always had a way of making me feel like i was one of her "extra special" patients.  and it's funny that i have encountered many women who know of her or have her as her doctor.  and they all love her.  she's the best.

celebrations:  we have had so many celebrations and events over the last few weeks and the month is not even over.  we've celebrated 2 birthdays, a wedding, the end of swim.  this weekend we have 2 more birthdays and a baby shower.  next week it's grandparent's day, my niece's birthday and thanksgiving.  and i thought december was rough.

2 for 1 at starbucks: not sure if this is true of all locations but around here holiday coffees are 2 for 1 from 2-5pm.  i went in yesterday to get a gift card for my sis-in-law and saw the sign.  i just didn't know what to order.  i ended up with the caramel brulee on the rocks.  oh my, it is goooood.  i walked out with two of them and knew i wouldn't drink them both.  at carpool a friend of mine walked up to my car to chat and i asked her if she likes caramel.  she said yes and then i handed her the other coffee.  it made her happy, which made me happy.






family get togethers:  so yesterday marked the beginning of once a week family get togethers.  my sister-in-law had her birthday yesterday and we all went to her house for empanadas and chocolate cake.  next week it my niece's birthday.  the following weeks it's bobby's, then my mom's, my nephew's, my dad's, then christmas and ending on january 1st with jordan's.  i love this time of year where we get to visit each other's homes and celebrate and i don't have to cook.  i just need to make sure i'm stocked up on cards and wrapping paper.

student council days at cha: there have been some fun ones, like mixed up day, pajama day and sports day.  today it is superhero day.  the kids could dress up as well known superheroes, heroes from the past to go with the ancient worlds theme, or made up heroes.  and that's what my boys did.  well . . . jordan was "random boy."  his logo was taped to his shirt.  he has post it notes on his shirt.  and he taped flashlights to his hat. he gave up on the spongebob blanket as a cape.  i love that he went for it.  andrew went as the superhero "chop suey".  when we were first planning this he was going to wear a long white beard, put chopsticks in his hair and tape fortunes all over his shirt.  but this morning the only thing he wanted to go with were the fortunes . . . in his pocket.  ahh, he is a superhero in disguise.  


it's supposed to be a rainy weekend around here.  it won't stop us from celebrating though.

wedding wrap up

how do i condense this past fun filled weekend into one blog post?  well how about a wrap up and a video.  here's how our wedding weekend went.

we arrived on thursday night to the hotel, which was amazing.  we stayed in a two bedroom suite that was right next to the beach.  here's a view out of our window.

it had a really cool deck with ping pong tables, mini golf, and a giant checker/chess board.  the kids loved it.

friday the girls went to get mani and pedis.  it was sofia's first time and she was so patient waiting her turn.  she picked out the brightest pink color she could find.

after we were dry we met the bridesmaids and moms at novo for lunch.  it has been fun getting to know these girls over the past few months.  and mike's sister, katie, flew in from japan the day before.

of course i had to post a pic of sofia's burger.  it's a shame she only took two bites of it.  but she at all the fruit.

the next item on the agenda was rehearsal at the barn.  well actually it was the dana powers house in nipomo.  i had seen pictures of it online but it doesn't compare until you see it in person.

this place was perfect for a fall wedding.  the decor and little touches throughout were enchanting, as someone said.  the rehearsal took about 20 minutes.  and sofia was perfect walking down the aisle.

we went back to the hotel to change for dinner.  then it was off to mama's meatball in slo for a full on italian dinner.  antipasto, caesar salad, manicotti, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, chicken scalopini, and mini desserts.  oh and did i mention there was wine.  well, both families are italian so there was plenty of wine.

it was nice seeing everyone and listening to mike talk about his family.  we all came home with little gifts of thanks from the happy couple.

saturday my job was to get the flower girl, the bride and the mother-of-the-bride to where they need to be on time.  that was not an easy task.  the first thing we needed to do was take angela's cell phone away.  someone else would have to deal with issues that came up throughout the day.

we made it to the hair salon on time, ok 15 minutes late.  but from then on everything went smoothly.  hair was done.

makeup was done.

and we were off to the barn for pictures.

i got this one right after they saw each other for the first time.

the barn looked so beautiful decorated with all of their things.  i love the way the seating chart was displayed.  i wrote them on the windows with a sharpie and i will have to think of an event to use this again.

and the favors, jars of apple butter from our trip to oregon.

after pictures the ceremony was ready to begin.  bobby did his magic again and performed a touching, yet humorous ceremony that was completely personal and heartfelt.  he really amazes me.

sofia did  a good job throwing petals on the aisle.  she got in some good practice for the next two weddings she will be in next year.

after the sweet ceremony, more pictures and appetizers we went into the barn for the party.  first dance, father & daughter and mother & son dances.  and even a step daughter/step dad dance. dinner and then toasts.

and lots of dancing.  i think i love this the most about weddings, the dancing.  and the cake.

and the wine.

it was a perfect wedding and we are so happy for both of them.

here's a slideshow of the event with some of my favorite pictures.

Angela and Mike's wedding from Gioconda Mitas on Vimeo.