The Wedding!

Well, I finally have some time to update my blog! I know, I know, what excuse could I possibly have and who cares anyway? right? In any case I just took a bunch of photos at Hilary and Johnny's wedding and decided the best and easiest way to share them would be on the blog.
Last Tuesday, Cari Z,Mandi, Cassie and myself all headed to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to assist with the wedding preparations for Hilary's big day. I was not prepared for how much fun culinary work could actually be. Anyone that knows me very well at all knows that "culinary" and "Mary Ann" do not belong in the same sentence. (Not in a good way, anyway). So you're probably as surprised as I was to find out that Laurel actually requested my help at all. But, since her cooking skills are similar to mine, she needed me along for the camaraderie and empathy as much as anything else, I'm assuming. The big surprise was that we combined our ability to 'take orders' with Johnny's family cooking/entertaining/organizing skills and we had a fantastic time together! Hilary has married into an exceptionally nice family and stands to have an exciting life in Steamboat Springs. Johnny is a local "celebrity" and is very well-liked among the locals we met. The property they have purchased to build their house on is fantastic and the area around Steamboat is nothing short of 'breathtaking'! It's similar in beauty to Jackson Hole I would say, but I actually liked the city itself better.
The wedding and the reception were spectacular and Dale did a very nice job as the official wedding minister. Laurel said one of the groomsmen actually complimented Dale on the ceremony and told him how much he enjoyed what he said about the "sanctity" of marriage. How often does that happen - not often! Good Job Dale!
Second only to the extravaganza of Hilary's wedding, was the welcome surprise of a very large 'Mustang Rally' being held the day of the wedding right there in downtown Steamboat. Needless to say, Glenn was in "hog heaven". There were more mustangs than I think I've seen in a lifetime. While there were a number of Shelbys similar to the one we lay claim to, there was not a single one that had air conditioning like ours. I guess there were so few of those made that it was even more rare than we knew at the time. Oh well, so much for the things that might have been.........
Another nice surprise occurred while we were wandering through the mustangs, and that was we ran into Ashley and Scott Campbell! We had no idea they were coming so it was nice to spend some time getting caught up with them and their lives. We really do need to make more of an effort to get together as a family. Just because mom and dad can no longer orchestrate it, that is no excuse for not doing it. Despite of how seldom we might see one another, we always seem to enjoy one another's company - at least I think we do! We probably enjoy one another more than other people do. How about that?
The husbands and children joined us later in the week along with Adam and Katie, Michael and Ann Marie, and David and Anna and children. It was fun to see everyone.
Thomas and Kricket assumed responsibility for grandma and grandpa and all was well with them.
Our house is coming along and should probably be all closed in by the middle of July. It consumes Glenn's time every morning before he goes to work, but I think he is enjoying it a little bit. Alex is working with him and I hope their relationship is strengthened, not damaged by the experience. HA! Stephen spends a significant amount of time helping as well, and we would be in trouble without him. So life goes on here in the "burg" and I will try once again to be more regular.
P.S.
Ashley, you do not have to have a baby to Blog, so please join in!