Weddings and Engagements!

 The last weekend of August was huge, to say the least.

I don't even know how to phrase the rest of this.... and will probably just include the minimum, since I can't share even half of the actual details....but here it goes....

 Josie and Brighton were hoping to get married on Saturday, Aug.29.

I was invited.

I guess I will stay candid and share that it made for a very intense and incredibly stressful couple of weeks leading up to it. Don't get me wrong... This was a good thing. I just felt a tremendous weight and responsibility. Almost more than anything else I've ever done. That probably doesn't make any sense but I'll leave it at that.

Travis helped immensely though when he made it possible for me to leave the kids. For most of the time I thought I was going to have to bring them to Mesa with me! Ahh! It was stake conference weekend, so he was basically gone all day and night on Saturday. (I found a wonderful babysitter.. praise the heavens.) And he just took them to the church with him at 8am Sunday morning, where they stayed until after conference at noon. They sat with the Shaheens during conference while Travis was on the stand, and took them home with them afterward while Travis was in more meetings. I owe them all the freaking world! Not to mention that Bron took Collin to his soccer game on Friday night while Travis was helping coach Weston's game that was at the same time. It takes a village. I am SO grateful.

OK, back to the wedding. I left for Mesa on Friday night after Travis got home from work. I had to run a couple wedding errands right when I got there, then grabbed some dinner at Gecko and headed to Josie's house. She was just getting home from speaking in Gilbert. Last minute packing ensued, followed with her getting a blessing from her Dad. It was all extremely emotional.

I hopped in the backseat and we were off for Vegas. Brighton had the idea of having Jos open memories of the last year they've been together. The day coinciding with the mile we were on. I had typed them all up and put them in envelopes with pictures that matched. I had also asked Brighton for ideas of her favorite things/inside jokes/etc. that she could open as we went. So I had bought all those things and had them wrapped and ready to go. Not far into the drive, they sent out the text inviting some close friends and family.

She likes turquoise, so I got her this bracelet with a matching necklace and earrings, not sure if she had jewelry to wear on the wedding day. Gallup is good for stuff like this. :)

We got to the hotel around 5 or 6 in the morning. I think I got to crash around 7am. We were up at 10:30am and ready to find Brighton a suit. Josie stayed at the hotel while Bright and I scoured Vegas for one. 

Burlington was the right place!

Then Brighton dropped me off at the Bureau of Marriage to stand in line for a marriage license. Gotta love government facilities. I was so tired, thirsty (did you know Vegas is hotter than Hades??) and hungry. Happy to get that taken care of!

Her parents and sister had gotten here while I was gone. I got to grab a Chipotle burrito with Jesse and then wait about an hour while everyone finished getting ready. 

Jos and Bright drove early of course, and I left with his parents and sister not long after. The ceremony was at 6pm. Parents, some grandparents, aunts and close friends made it in time. That made me the happiest of all. Originally, I was going to be the "photographer".. the quotes obviously because I'm the farthest thing from one and was stressed about it. Instead, Angie Sloan was asked last minute to be their photographer. Wise choice!

Most people turned around and went right home after the ceremony, but the parents and grandparents, plus one aunt and me went to Olive Garden afterward. I absolutely love Josie's mom, Lisa. She is an earthly angel. And a good time! We laughed all through dinner. And she's good friends with my own mom, so I had to take a selfie and send it to her.

Jos and Bright left after dinner to meet with Angie to take some more pictures. I thought it would be nice to decorate their room so we went all over town getting supplies and did the deed. Well, actually they did the deed, but you know what I mean. (I'm hilarious.) I have no idea what time it was by then, but it was LATE. Actually, I just checked some messages on my phone. It was midnight. I tried my best to get some sleep in the backseat of her parent's car on the drive home. A huge storm had blown through Mesa earlier, so at least we missed that. We got in at 4:30am and I snuck into my in-laws house and crashed. Hard.

I hope it's OK that I'm posting this picture but it is my absolute favorite of these two! I am beyond grateful and happy they are married! I honestly had to use restraint from jumping up and down in the sealing room after they both said yes. It was a {happy dance} sort of moment. They have been through a lot together and I know their marriage will be uphill, but they will be better together.

I woke up the next morning around 10:30am and went to my parent's ward. I was able to get a quick nap after church, which was very necessary since I knew it would be another late night. My brother, David, had tried to propose to his girlfriend the night before but the monsoon ruined it. I felt so sad for him but was secretly super excited that it meant I got to be there when he did it Sunday night! We ate a hurried dinner at my Mom's then rushed around, setting everything up. She was supposed to come over at 7:30pm. There was a rose with a heart and message on it on the front door. Then she opened it to see rose petals and candles, leading her to two more roses and hearts before leading her outside.

She was supposed to open the back door and walk through a sea of their pictures tied to balloons, but the darn wind ruined that one! Here's the fam trying desperately to untangle a bunch before she showed up. (I think Marcie had given up.)

My mom was standing watch on the side of the house and sounded the alarm that she was here. We all dove for cover in the bushes by the pool. Craig was standing by the projector and when she sat down on the bench, he hit play. David had made a sweet video of their pictures from the past couple of years for her to watch. When it ended, he walked up with the ring and proposed!!!!

I snuck a picture of him waiting during the video with ring in hand. I'm sure he was cool as a cucumber.

OK, I'm SOOO mad!! I came up next to them to take pictures of the proposal, but my flash was being stupid and only going off, every other picture! I realized later, the batteries were low. BUG! He wasn't on his knee long, and I missed it! I feel so bad! 

After she said yes, Jefferson set off two huge fireworks and the family swarmed with hugs!

Once we all got our hugs in, he poured her some sparkling lemonade and they watched the video again together. Melt my heart!! The whole thing was so sweet I couldn't stand it! I'm so glad he's marrying Abbey! She's an awesome girl and has already fit in perfectly with our family the past couple of years. These are the moments you live for!! Cheers!

I got on the road at 8:30pm and with the time difference, and a half hour delay from a tipped over trailer, and driving extra slow through elk country... I got in at 2:30am. I got to finish listening to Ben Carson's book, Gifted Hands and start Amy Poeler's book, which were literal lifesavers. (Along with a bag of sunflower seeds.) I cannot describe the joy and relief that came with this weekend coming to a close.