Luke's Wedding

When I hired on at Boeing, I was one of three that were hired that day. Luke and Steve were the other two. They've both since moved on to other jobs, but we're still in contact on nearly a daily basis.  The funny thing is Emily hasn't met Luke, and has only met Steve once. But she's heard a lot of stories about them and feels like she knows them. Both Luke and Steve got engaged to their respective fiancés two years ago and had plans to get married last summer until everyone's plans had to change because of 'rona. Luke's wedding was rescheduled to this August, and conveniently for us, it would take place in Chelan.

We headed over for an extended weekend just in time for Rissa and her crew to show up with their moving truck. With all their stuff means more toys. It also meant Big Wheels.

They were really into that little Jeep.

Grandma and Grandpa finally have grass now, so going outside isn't just rocks and greasewood. Which means there is more space for the girls to run around outside.  

Cambri's turn to drive.

Luke and Lexi got married down on the Columbia River at Rio Vista Winery. It was a good setting, and the ceremony was well done. The food was also pretty good, because that's really what we cared about.

The dress Emily bought for the wedding didn't show up in time, but she looked absolutely amazing in her "backup" dress. It was nice to have an evening out like that, just the two of us with an excuse to dress up and eat free food. A big thank you to everyone who watched the girls so we could go out.

And it was fun seeing Luke and Steve again. I think the last time we were all together was for lunch at Costco right before Luke left for a job at Amazon a couple years ago. 

Steve (left) isn't really that tall, he's standing on the concrete slab, whereas I'm down on the grass. But, yes, Luke (middle) really is that tall.

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The weekend continued on with lots of sidewalk chalk and ice cream. 

We did both their names, except Hadley was the only one we could get to pose with hers.

It wasn't for a lack of not trying, though.

When Gpa Leo came back from WWII, he brought with him a little hand-carved wooden chair that plays music when you sit on it. It's long been a very valuable and coveted family heirloom. We got it down so the girls could have a turn at sitting on it. 

Hadley brought over another little chair that plays music when you sit on it, albeit, not quite the same craftsmanship. 

I'm glad we have these things that remind us of Gma Helen and Gpa Leo. They were and still are two of the most influential people in my life. I wish all the time that I could interact with them at this stage of my life.  I wish they could've met Emily and the girls. Until then, we'll gladly make due with memories and lullabies recorded on an old wooden chair, among other things.

The girls definitely made a lot of use of the trampoline. Running around and jumping with their cousins all throughout the day.

I'm not sure if this saxophone made its way up from Texas with Rissa and Javier, but it definitely saw its fair share of mouths over the weekend.  Cambri playing anything but smooth jazz.

With Rissa back living with Gma and Gpa, the activity and noise level definitely increases. It was especially fun to see Hadley and Leo interact.

Mmm, Playdough spaghetti and meat balls.

"You gonna eat that?"

Gma Rae has to be strategic about when she practices the piano, because the girls swarm to it every time that lid is lifted and those ivory keys are exposed, begging to be played.

On Monday we spent the morning at Slidewaters. The girls had a great time, but after an already busy weekend, they tired out pretty quickly.

In between a few breaks, they rode those tubes like it was nobody's business.

Aaron and I got a round of 18 in at the Lake Chelan Golf Course, which was frustrating and fun all at the same time.

It was good weekend. The girls had a great time, and Emily and I were able to have a night out. And we'll get to do it all over again in September for Raynor's wedding.