Happy Birthday my Nina

I used to do birthday posts regularly...then I got flakey.

But today is my sister's 28th, happy day.

I don't really have a ton of current pictures of her, so I'll put up some of our girls...that's almost the same, right?

Red heads with blue eyes.

Love it so much.

May and June trips to Utah

So, I've been gone a lot {for me} in the past two months.

This will be a long recap post, but I'll probably be doing some detail posts later.

First up was a week and a half long trip for my little brother, David's, wedding.

I got to hang out for a bit, I painted the base cabinets in my mom's kitchen, met Lane's girlfriend {now fiancee} Kinsey, did a bunch of wedding stuff {all of the floral arrangements and the wedding cake}, and introduced Des to a bunch of his relatives {who I'm sure he loves and I can't see why the feeling wouldn't be reciprocated}.

Pictures:

Lane, Kinsey, Shane, Baby Des

Nin and Zan

Momma and Ellie

Me and the Baby

The newly married couple

Curt and the Baby

I was pleased with how the cake turned out

Me and Kinsey

Second trip is a week long jaunt we just got back from for Melynda's "wedding".
I put 'wedding' in quotation marks because this is actually the time of their first anniversary, but this was the big party that they invited everyone to since last year was a legalize it type deal.
This trip I painted my mom's upper kitchen cabinets, did some wedding stuff {decorated the wedding cake, was a bridesmaid...wore orange...oh the sacrifices I make for those I love}, and introduced Des to a bunch more relatives and friends.

Pictures:

Dad and Jann

Mommy

Kinsey and Lane

The cake
...Melynda made two cakes for the bottom layer {they were massive} and rice crispy stuff for the top two layers, then handed it over to me to put together and decorate

such a pretty setting

Ellie and her punch mustache

the wedding was held at a neat place called Wadley Farms

Me, Curt, and the boy

My pretty Nina

and her cute little family
Mia, Nin, Ellie, Zan, and Jex

Me and Nin

Happy Birthday Melynda!

Today is my Nina's 25th birthday.

A quarter of a century, man that's old.

I thought in celebration I would break out some old pictures, some she's never seen before:

Grandpa reading Me and Nina a book

Sleepy Nina on Dad's lap

So much to love about this picture.

Nina's pretty eyes, Lane resting his chubby cheeks on newborn David.

Ha, Nice. Nina making a face.

The fambly at the grandparents for Christmas.

Nina is on Grandpa's lap, I have my arm around his shoulder.

Nina's on the far right.

Check out bruiser Lane, second from the left.

I love the way Nin is looking at Katie, she was such a cool older cousin for playing with us.

David, Lane, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Melynda, Me

Same table, different meal.

left to right: Kristy, David, Lane, Nina, Karalee, Me.

Aunt Bev, Aunt Marsha, child cousin (sorry can't tell who, if I had to guess I would guess Shanny), and Melynda up at Grassy.

Happy birthday my little sister.  I love you!

Vegas Trip: The Wedding

 So we arrived in Las Vegas on Thursday night and promptly whisked Melynda's baby away so that she and Zan could go visit with some friends.

Melynda and I both had rooms at the Wynn (awesome views from my room below), Dad and Jann stayed at Treasure Island, and Mom, the boys, and grandpa and grandma stayed at Circus Circus.

 

Our bathroom was huge and I loved it.

We kept Ellie's crib in the closet for naps and sleeping because she's a curious little bugger and won't go to sleep if she can hear or see anyone.

I loved spending time with the baby, she changes so much in between the times that I get to see her.

Friday was just getting ready for the wedding Friday night.  

Helping keep Nina calm, shopping for last minute items, hair and make up, etc.

Before the wedding ceremony everyone went to PF Chang's.

Lots of good food.

Yep, the saliva is going just thinking about it.

Walrus Shaners.

Zan's family.

Mom, Ellie, Lane

Next Dad had to run Melynda and Zan back to the hotel so that they could get picked up by their limo.

Yes, they arrived at the Graceland Chapel in style.

We stood around a bit and took a bunch of pictures while waiting for our turn with Elvis.

Some buddies that Zan works with.

Love it, four cops, a bride, and a bright yellow bail bonds place.

Some details...

...oooh sparkly.

We then all filed inside for a very entertaining ceremony.

Sorry, I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside.

But Nin did buy the DVD.

I was the maid of honor/witness (I think?) and Zan's brother, Pete, was the best man/witness.

The new Mrs. Zan coming out the door, greeting her fans.

Another picture fest ensued.

Grandpa and Grandma Topham, Dad and Jann

Lane, in all his rebellious badness, defied the rules and took a picture of the couple walking down the aisle.

Brielle being cute.

All of us watching Ellie being cute.

David and Kelsi.

Dad took this picture and then started cracking up.

He said he didn't notice the neon "ANTIQUES" sign until after.

All in all, very fun, and now my little sis is hitched.