Wedding Day!

A pretty grand event for our family just happened. Tori (Ryan's baby sister) celebrated her wedding day.

 

 

You never, really ever, see your flower girl growing up.

 

 But when it happens...it is beautiful.

 

Mike was good enough to show up for pictures with his sister.

 Great Grandma and Grampa Richards look just as good as the bride and groom.

 

There were a substantial amount of little girls dressed like this. These two besties gave a great photo op (short for opportunity) here.

We have much love for our children's Great Grandparents. We are so fortunate to have had the kids grow to know them so well. Thank you for all your love Grandpa and Grandma.

 
 

Generations celebrate on this special day.

 

Pictures that will be cherished forever.

 

After a long wait for pictures G&G are finally off to find a seat. Love them!

Here are those matching girls I was telling you about.

 Waiting for the bride and groom to emerge. These girls are likely very excited to see the bride. Every girl dreams of the day they meet their Prince charming and dress like a Princess.

 And when the bride and groom emerge, these are the children that celebrate with them.

 

Tori's Nieces and Nephews. All 16 of them.

 

A close-up of the kids.

Just taking a little time to learn from the wise.

#love

 

Here are the Richards cousins. One of these people just doesn't belong. #Chasethephotobomber

 

 

The joy of family. On such a special occasion.

 

There they are. The 6 kids we base all our hopes, dreams and goals on behalf of.

 

5 Gentlemen and a Princess.

 

With the Calgary Alberta Temple as our backdrop. #familiesareforever

 And the backdrop of the temple has an amazing panoramic view from Downtown through to the mountains.

 All those on the bride's side of the family to support.

 

Finally, just our little group showing our support.

Such a beautifully memorable day.

 

And if that wasn't memorable enough; We took the opportunity to transform a gymnasium into something soft and inviting for a Reception celebration.

 

Decorated, with love.

 

When it warms up ...

It was a beautiful day for a school track meet. Logan had willingly registered in almost every event. His positive spirit makes me so proud.

 

One of these things just 'wants to' belong. 

 

My little sidekicks enjoying the outdoors with me.

 

The results:

 

100 meter race: 1st

High Jump: 1st

800 meter race: 2nd

200 meter race: 2nd

1500 meter race: 1st

4X100 meter relay: 1st

 

 

AND, my accomplishment of the day: carrying slurpees back to the car for all my children....in one trip. There is an unspoken rule that you should only have as many children as you can carry slurpees for....in one trip.

 

The May Long weekend was forecasting rain every day. We braved the prediction and headed out anyways. It turned out to be such a consistently beautiful weekend. We were in Montana ... naturally.

 

AND as a grand finale to the month of May, our season of birthdays begin.

First up! A bright, spunky, smiley and huggable 3 year old!

 

 

Fort Steele, British Columbia

Have you ever secretly wished you could live like a Pioneer. Then the Fort Steele Apprenticeship Program is for you. Logan and I traveled and stayed for 4 days. It was so great learning the trades of that era.

We started with a Gossip tour. Some things never change. :)

 

We started with building a tent. Logan was right in there holding posts and tying knots like a champ.

 

It's always important to have a one-room school house experience.

 

A railway doesn't build itself.

 

The longest length of rail constructed in one day was 13 kms. We're pretty sure they had a team larger than 8 to complete that task. 

 

Fort Steele Beauty.

 

Into a typical home.

 

The water tap is my all time favorite.

In this home we learned to preserve food through canning and we also made beef jerky.

 

Logan took his first sewing class. Both with a sewing machine of the pioneers and one of the modern day.

 

I think he's pretty proud of himself.

 

We learned about caring for the animals on the farm.

 

Logan had all the girls attention when he was handed the cutest baby chick.

 

An olden day penitentiary.

It still works.

 

The water tower.

 

We learned proper etiquette for serving food.

 

And played some pretty challenging pioneer games. This wasn't a victorious sport for him.

 

Here's how you dehydrate beef to make jerky.

 

You smoke it out.

 

The finished product.

 

Working the apples into sauce. Preparing for canning.

 

An intense training session on the Barracks.

 

"Yes Sir Sergeant Major Armstrong Sir!"

 

A tour of the historical artifacts

 

And, learning the Blacksmith Trade

 

He made his own nail.

 

A four day Mother-Son excursion. It was so great to spend time with Logan and his peers.

 

Our transportation home.

 

Farewell beautiful little town

 

And if that wasn't enough Pioneering: 4 days later I was off to Heritage Park with Will.