Saturday, August 18, 2012

Party set up, before the guests

Amber and others Facebook posted pictures from Lexie and Tyrel's open house party
The pictures I took were during our morning set up time
Alisha got some of the brothers to haul all the purchased and borrowed stash from her home 
to the lovely backyard party venue
We started setting up at 7am, to beat the heat
Lots of assistance throughout the day.....thank you, thank you everyone!

In a prior brainstorm time, we had set up scenarios
Alisha took pictures
Then we packed together all the items in each scene
Our theory was that would get some of the thinking done ahead

Good idea
Even Micaela could help
She would study a picture, then find the items and place them in the planned spot

 The cute "CARD" initials would be clothes pinned to the top of the suitcase
offering a collection spot for wedding cards

 The guest sign in book would be placed here

 Fabric quilt squares would be here
A guest could write a permanent ink greeting to the bride and groom on a square
as the beginning of a future quilt

 Here is a beckon to have your picture taken

Some cute draping as the "photo booth"
A wrapped straw bale was added for a seat
With "costume" props, cute photos were taken of all the willing guests
as mementos for the newlyweds
Many of these were posted by Amber Waite on Facebook
as highlighted above

 Check out the funky tub
Receptacle for gifts
Outrageous and right in the zone for the evening's decor!

I think it is to be sold.....so speak up if you are in the market for a rustic tub decoration
before Alisha puts it on Craig's List

 Borrowed picnic tables for seating
Later an outer border of fabric-covered straw bales were placed for additional seating
Did you know that straw bales are rather cushy and comfortable?

 Alisha cut a LOT of circles from lace
We hot glued them into this kind of doily line up

The breeze at midday messed with them and blew over all the glass 'weed' vases
Nothing that couldn't be righted though

 A vignette honoring the newlyweds special day  
Later, pictures of Lexie and Tyrel were hung from these tree branches

 A glimpse of the gorgeous and peaceful fountain

Alisha had been eyeing these perfect rockers on her neighbor's porch
Yes, as one of the many contributors
that family was willing to lend these 'just right' pieces to the decorating cause
Alisha made the pillows for the new couple

 Sister in laws made signs and labels
All very clever

Put your own popcorn treat
in a bag Lexie stamped with her new last name initial
"W"

 Spoon some candy onto your popcorn

Sprinkle on the flavor of your choice

Pour yourself some lemonade on a hot day (95 degrees)

The decor was cute...and so 'Lexie' in style
Friends and family milling about later added even more layers of love and joy

It was a very satisfying evening
Congratulations Lexie and Tyrel
We love you

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Arizona Cousins

Aunt Mabel and Uncle LeRoss invited all of their children (17) who could, to gather Sunday afternoon
We got to visit with 7 of the 17 siblings......amazing!

Bishop Ison in his casual clothes
We attended his ward on Sunday
Wife, Ada, was at their cabin having a sister gathering

Ray Ison 

His skin coloring reminds me so much of dad 

Wendell stopped by our lunch location for a chat
He was head of a CPA firm, now retired 
He and his wife have been on two missions
 You've probably already watched a video of one of his grandchildren
Dayton's Legs
It touched my heart
Wendell says his daughter, Sherrine (Dayton's mom)  is currently preparing to do an Ironman competition, with Dayton as her partner

He has another married child, Cameo Johnson, who is on a year long travel with her husband and 4 children.   They plan to visit all 50 states
The dad of that family is an emergency room RN
So when they get to a metropolis, he stops and works a few days to earn money to carry them along
Wendell said he'd send me their blog address so I can catch up on their adventure

Harry and Wanda
They are retiring at the end of this year
He works night shift, keeping an eye on a big company's computers, trouble shooting when things go wrong
She is in kitchen appliance sales and bakes a passel of bread at the store every week 
Aunt Mabel cooked in pressure cookers purchased in the store where Wanda works
The crock pot didn't get plugged in while we were at church
Flexible Aunt Mabel pulled out the pressure cooker pans and cooked up the dinner in a hurry

Eloise and Dawnell 
Two of our Sunday afternoon chat fest cousins
Eloise was leaving the next day to visit her son at BYU

Davera and Orlo
8 kids

He travels all over the world bringing together buyers and the products they want
(Example: mining equipment)
 - - - - - - -

We heard stories of my dad teasing his little brother, Lincoln
It had not occurred to me before...... 
I have missed a wide facet of my dad's history 
by not living close enough to his younger siblings
 to know their stories of him
So hearing a few stories was a super treat

What a terrific perk of our weekend.....delightful cousins chats
I feel such a love for my family, where ever they are

Thoroughly Modern Mabel (and LeRoss)

We heard a persistent clack clack clack.....ding!
Hadn't heard that sound for decades
 Yep.....an electric typewriter
in full service 
as Uncle LeRoss made a regular entry in his personal journal


It tickled me to see the contrast surrounding these vibrant hosts
Typewriter
Big screen TV
Laptop and monitor
And Aunt Mable on her cell phone
Watch out.....or they'll leave you in the dust

Family Faces

 Good to see our Arizona family
Hi Tawnya and Maliah

Hi Josh 
There were fabric squares to be made into a quilt later
You could write a message to the bride and groom on your square
 Kyrick needed to refuel
He had been happily cavorting like a wild robot on the dance floor
Check out that Arizona glisten on his skin

Aunt Mabel and Uncle LeRoss were good sports to last the whole evening 

 Alisha, ever the craft princess, scoped out the many decor details

Um-m-m
They could be hungry for cake after an evening of greeting friends 

Kissy kiss

Step into the Light

The new groom and bride
Such a beautiful message shared before their sealing

 Picture taking time
Gather quickly, because it is 112 degrees on this precious day

 Yea for the new life

 together

Ken and Leslie Kelley
Lexie's parents
Delightful, fun, inclusive
and he does a mean bouncing worm on the dance floor
We spent a late night visiting with them
and watching videos of a young Lexie

I loved our whole long weekend

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Gracious Ison-Jones Hospitality

Aunt Mabel is such an amazing hostess
She makes you feel like its a privilege to have you

She welcomed us with love
and food

She fixed us delicious bounty from their garden and kitchen

Homemade lemonade at every dinner, from the juice of their own lemon tree
Uncle LeRoss was cheerful about getting up to let us in late at night
We had a splendid visit
hearing new and old family stories
and bonding with these dear family members

I have a great story to share with my sisters....about my dad and Ray's red cowboy hat

Dance With Me, Baby!

 Aunt Mabel wrote a message of love on a quilt square for the bride and groom
 Lexie's dad, Ken, must be taking some dancing hints from this experienced duo
 Can we hear a cheer for a zestful life?
At 87 and 92
Aunt Mabel and Uncle LeRoss are the bomb!
Family dance
Tim/Karen   Alisha/Jason    Lexie's parents: Leslie/Ken Kelley
The groom and bride dance with a parent
Tyrel chuckled, "Do you have any last minute advice to give me?"

Well OK.....
(Keep communicating.....Listen to understand, rather than to convince)

What might your one-liner advice be for your marrying son or daughter?

Arizona Wedding Reception

Here are some glimpses of the wedding reception decor in Gilbert, AZ
Lexie's grandma was the crafty visionary, along with the bride

Think rustic . . . and very coordinated
 Cool signs and lettering, huh!

 Gift deposit station

Don't you just love the vignettes for each function in the room 

 Centerpieces
Burlap on black
Picture frame to boundary the scene
The standing initials inside the book.....so crisp and fun to look at
There is a picture of the new couple inside the apothecary jar
On top...again you see the book-page paper roses Lexie taught us how to make
The Once Upon a Time sign.... a book with the insides ripped out
 Mr. and Mrs.......almost
They chose to have their reception the day before they married
to help with their travel plan on their wedding day
 A beautiful couple
We think they are great together
 My "Mom" wrist corsage
I love the greenish star flower at the top

The layered cake in the middle of the cookie table.... 

And to top it off...."We do!"

Lexie put wedding ideas she liked on her Pinterest page
Her crafty grandma studied that page and kicked into make it/do it gear . . .
with lots of help, she assured me
Aunts and friends made the fruit punch and a bazillion cookies

The whole room was a veritable vison of cute.....and tasty