52 Lists for 2010 - List 26

Halfway already!! I cannot believe the year is half over, as is this challenge. I'll have to photograph my lists so far. The whole pile is getting pretty fat and chunky and interesting looking!

This week's list, is the list of hangouts from my past.

My dear flickr friend and partner in crime in this challenge, Stacy, sent me an awesome RAK last week. Not one, but two packages stuffed with fabulous goodies! Everything I used this week was from her, and I didn't even make a dent in all of that stuff. Actually, I used my ink to colour the grungeboard, a bit of gesso to cover up a redo, one of my markers, and my own adhesive. But everything else came from her. Lucky girl, aren't I?!

I guess I didn't really have many hangouts. My Winnipeg friends would recognize these. I suppose I stopped 'hanging out' when I became a Mom and moved away. The list IS supposed to be hangouts from my past. Though I could have included some parks and playgrounds from when my kids were toddlers, like the EPI, the castle playground in Doylestown, even the McD's on 309 with the outdoor playland. That was a good place for Jen and I to meet with our preschool girls when she moved a bit north. Those are really the only hangouts I've had since moving here. Scrapbook, art and craft stores too, but those aren't in my past!

Honeymoon in Vegas!

Winnipeg's airport's international gates (meaning to the US) are back to back, and our flight back to Philly departed within minutes of Pier and Nathan's flight to Vegas for their short honeymoon getaway, so we got to see them one more time. Yeah, it was 6:30 in the morning, but it's nice to see them anytime. One more time is a bonus!

Love you and miss you Mr. and Mrs.!! XO

A Birthday Celebration

Sometimes, the photos say it all!

Some mood music by Nick and company!

In case you were wondering, there were 2 full size Jeanne's Bakery Cakes for us to enjoy. One banana, one red velvet. For Marc and I, growing up in Winnipeg, you can't have a birthday without a Jeanne's cake. Linda even picked one up for us when we had dinner at her place the night before. Marc's parents bring them when they come to visit. They're only available in Winnipeg, but they do make heavy duty carrying boxes for transporting long distances. And they freeze well!

Day Last

I may or may not have taken this photo on Sunday morning. Most mornings in Winnipeg looked like this while we were there. As a matter of fact, we've been home for over a week, and it's still raining there. To the point where it's a grave concern. Crops are in serious jeopardy and when the rain finally lets up, in 3 or 4 days they forecast, there will be a grace period of about a week before the skeeters come out in full force. With all of that standing water in all of those ditches and flat prairies, they'll be deadly.

But while that was going on outside, we were happy to get more family time inside. Linda dropped by for a quick coffee.

And some hugs!

And hugs from Manon too!  She and Pier and the bubs and Nathan and Maddie all came for a quick visit before we headed back to their end of town for a birthday party!

So nice to get a few more hours with them!

I have this same picture taken 9 months ago. It's funny how much more excited I get about photos of these sweethearts when the opportunities are few and far between.

Marc and I didn't plan our matchy matchy outfits. They do make a great backdrop for the bubs, don't they?

The more kids you add to a picture, and the more pictures you take, the greater your chances of getting a bad picture. And once it increased to five, I couldn't get a good photo!

This is the first time I had the opportunity to photograph Maddie, as it was the first time we met her. She looks so much like Nathan it's uncanny. I'll have to find some good toddler pictures of him. We have a badge on the bulletin board in the kitchen, with a photo of Nathan from his baseball years. He couldn't have been much more than 5 or 6 in that picture, and it shows so clearly the resemblance between the two of them. In the chaos of the day and with just meeting her for the first time, I wasn't able to get a photo of just the two of them. I'll have to see if Nathan can send me one. I'd love to post it and share the story of the two of them. He's grown up to be a  fine young man and we're so very proud of him.

Another Day in The Peg

After our lunch, we made a quick trip to Polo Park. Why, you ask? So that Marc could buy an espresso machine to haul back on the plane. Why not? He already had his clubs. We had 3 computers and 2 cameras. Why not an espresso machine?

Apparently it was a better price. Or, with the US dollar gaining strength, it was a better deal after converting CDN to US. Though when you factor in the taxes that we forgot to collectg on our way out of the country, maybe not such a great deal. But Marc's happy with the coffee and that's what matters, right?!

We were then off to sister Linda's for dinner and Kulbaba family time. And to check out their house that was under construction when we visited last, Christmas 2008. The house that is sold and they'll be out of when next we visit on August. They're building again, on a lot a couple of doors down, and that is where they plan to stay. We'll see about that!!

That's Auntie Verna checking out the wedding pictures on my computer. Derrick, who's voice has deepened and body has lengthened, is munching beside her, and Dustin and Nick are just hanging. Derrick came to my Mom and Dad's on Wednesday, the day we arrived, and it took Marc awhile to realize that it was actually Derrick and not big bro Dustin!

Marc and Auntie Judy. She never takes a bad picture.

Cousin Jo and her beau. She never takes a bad picture either!

Those who weren't interested in watching the first Stanley Cup play off game played games of our own. First a round of Things, then a couple of games of Apples to Apples. I can't recall who won, but I know it wasn't me. I think Derrick won one. Any input would be greatly appreciated, so credit can be given where properly due. I do remember we had FUN!!

A Day After Breakfast

Well, lunch actually! By the time we met you couldn't even call it brunch! Pier and Nathan had spent their wedding night at The Forks Hotel, and Manon was picking them up after their morning of breakfast and massages. We had decided to meet at The Pancake House at The Forks. Nathan and Nathan came too, so we once again had the pleasure of the company of three Nathans!

It's too bad you can't see Pier's feet -- she had her hotel slippers on!!

See that stack of doggie bag containers? We had enough leftover giant apple pancakes for a couple of breakfasts. Yummeeee!

The Wedding -- The Party!!

The reception was held at Fort Gibraltar, an actual restored fort. Last summer when we first met the bubs down under, I got this same shot of the two proud granddads and kiddies.

Gaby couldn't get enough lovin' on our little mini bride.

A few more poses for the official photographers.

Just look at her.

The groom and his proud Mum.

Time to party!!

Cousins. Thanks for the face Nick.

Nick and Gaby, with my Mom and Dad.

Now that Nathan's officially family, Pier's Mom presented him with the proper winter gear for Winnipeg, for future Christmas visits.

During Manon's speech, she invited Pier up for a dance, for old time's sake. Love these girls!

Their first dance, to Chris Isaak. Nice.

Everyone danced.

Dad and his daughters.

Pier and her girlfriends.

Dancing works up a thirst.

The wedding cake was an Australian mud cake.

Yum!

The evening was a lovefest. I was touched by the speeches. Pier's Mom Louise acknowledged both her husband and myself as being important in the lives of her children. And so did Marc, thanking their stepfather, and me, the stepmother. Lots of emotion. Tears from those delivering the speeches. Both of the Moms and Dads spoke. Marc joked about all of the grandparents these bubs have, as both sides are divorced. I cried off all of my make up. Elise has the photos to prove it!

I recall someone being surprised at the people who were speaking to each other. People who, because of the rearrangements of the families, may have been aware of each other, but didn't really know each other. Whatever had transpired to that point, we had all come together because of our love for Pier and Nathan and their love for each other. I thought the night was just perfect!

The Wedding -- The Ceremony!!!

The weather cleared up, stayed cool and overcast, perfect for photos. The only evidence of the rain, besides the occasional puddle, was the sinking of my heels anytime I stepped off the path at Assiniboine Park.

Pier and Nathan traveled from Australia, as did some of Nathan's family and friends, including his parents. Holding the wedding in Winnipeg made it possible for guests to attend who might otherwise have not been able to, had they gotten married either down under, or somewhere in the middle. Marc thought Hawaii would have been a nice, central location. But in the end, many of us journeyed to Winnipeg to be with them on their special day. We would have traveled anywhere.

The ceremony was at 4 p.m. in the Leo Mol sculpture gardens, but even the beauty of that setting was diminished by the beauty of the bride. Breathtakingly beautiful and so obviously happy and in love!

Marc snapped this one as they were preparing to make their walk together.

Manon, beautiful sister, beautiful maid of honour.

I love this photo, which actually features all three Nathans: way back on the left, Nathan the best man, who traveled from AU to be with his mate, Nathan the groom, looking dashingly handsome in his wedding finery, Nathan the brother of the bride, all suited up to celebrate. Three blue-eyed Nathans, all at the same wedding. What are the odds of that?

Here comes the bride. And her proud Papa!

We were seated under a pergola, on the other side of this body of water, and we watched them walk 'round and come up behind us.

Even more beautiful close up!

They might have looked a little bit nervous, but they looked a lot more happy!

And in love.

Making it official.

The coloured sand on the table is the result of pouring from four different vessels of sand, each a different colour, each representing the four members of this family united as one.