Really Random Thursday: Three Weddings and a Quilt Retreat

If you follow me on Instagram then you know my summer was pretty crazy with three wedding events in three separate state within 30 days.  There was a lot of hashtag #3weddingevents3states30days (speaking of hashtags, have you seen this YouTube video?!) going on.  In the middle of those three wedding festivities was my annual Gruber's retreat (thank goodness for that!).

my daughter and daughter-in-law

Here it is October and I haven't caught my breath yet.  I think I've put off posting about these occasions because I don't want to admit they're over.  I'm taking advantage of Cindy's Really Random Thursday linky party to give a brief recap.

Montana wedding collage

The first wedding was my sister's in Montana around the 4th of July.  Liz and her husband Luke share a love of the band Wide Spread Panic.  My dad gave a funny speech about that being a very appropriate theme of the weekend - cancelled flights, lost luggage, keys locked in the car, a flat tire, last minute vow writing among the mishaps.  In spite of all that, the ceremony was perfect, and everyone had a wonderful time.  The bride and groom, the weather and the scenery were all just gorgeous!

road trip

  The next weekend was my oldest son's wedding in Washington.  We packed up the car and hit the road, picking up grandparents along the way.  Being the mother of the groom, I didn't have too many responsibilities, so I tried to sit back and enjoy the ride.

with my boys

Father and Daughter

Here Comes The Bride

The day of the wedding was just magical!!!  The weather couldn't have been more perfect, with Mount Ranier visible behind the bride and groom as they exchanged vows.  The bride, looking radiant and gorgeous, was escorted by both her parents.  My two sons (the groom and the best man) walked me down the aisle.  My husband walked my daughter down the aisle where she played the violin (per the couple's request Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros) during the processional.

Washington wedding collage

before the wedding

one of my favorite pictures

 The ceremony and reception were held at The Maritime Center.  As Alex and Kasi were pronounced husband and wife, the ferry boat tooted its horn in approval ;-)  My brother-in-law had my camera and took some great shots.  I kind of like the candid ones.

Gruber's retreat collage

A few days after my son's wedding I put my family on a plane home to Florida, and I flew to Minnesota for the all important Gruber's quilt retreat.  Thanks to my fellow retreaters for tweaking the dates I was able to fit the retreat into the crazy wedding schedule.  My family and nonquilty friends thought I was crazy, but I wasn't going to miss retreating if I could help it.  I had a fabulous time talking, sewing, and laughing with my friends, and the retreat was just what I needed before the final wedding event of the summer.

Florida reception collage

Since Alex and Kasi were married so far away, we had a second reception in Florida for family and close friends.  I mentioned that being mother of the groom I didn't have many responsibilities at the wedding.  Well, the opposite was true for the Florida party.  I got a little taste of what it's like to be mother of the bride ;-)  

kid activities

photographer in action

My daughter helped prep quilt blocks for signing, design activities for the younger kids, and took photographs of the guests for the guest book.  She was such a good sport.  She did say that she's glad to be done with the fancy hair and dresses for a while!

heading to dinner

The best part was having Leo (his parents too) spend several weeks in Florida!  We did lots of fun things together.....

....picked out KONA solids for a quilt project

.....went to the book store

......chased/ran away up the stairs

....played peek a boo with the cute boy in the mirror

another candid photo - sometimes the best kind

Our Family

Thanks for letting me share a little bit of my family summer vacation with you.  I tried to keep the photos to a minimum.  If you made it all the way to the end,  you are to be commended ;-)