Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Roomies!

It's been over two years, but we were finally able to see Ryan and Julie and their 3 cutie daughters today (as well as Katie and her adorable 3 children).  Add my two boys to the mix, and their were 8 children and 5 adults at our house for lunch!  I love my college roomies - and we missed you Beth! - and it's great to know that no matter how much time passes and how many kids later, we're still as close as can be.  So much so that we're planning a girls get-a-way for next spring....can't wait!

 
 Big kids eating lunch:  Josh, Addison, Ellie and Lily

 
Freshman year roomies

Sophomore year (and on) roomies

Not a bad picture of the kids:  Addison (2 1/2), Lily (5 1/2), Reid (3 months), Ellie (almost 4), Micah (2), and Josh (5).  Missing are Sam (18 months) and Rachael (10 months).

They were all ready to watch Curious George (per the picture above) and when I came back down to check on the kiddos a little later, I found Micah getting just a little closer seat, haha.  That boy loves his "ooh aah"!

What a great afternoon.  Thanks for stopping by Howards!  Fun to get caught up and have the kids all hanging out with each other.  Let's try and do this again, and sooner than 2 years later :)

Monday, July 30, 2012

Josh and Kari's Wedding Weekend

Be prepared for pictures!  Lots and lots of pictures.  Christian was the photographer for Josh and Kari's wedding, so I didn't have the liberty to post many pictures from the blessed day, July 7th, 2012, until he was done editing them and had given them to the bride and groom.  That has now happened, so I am finally getting these pictures up to commemorate such a great day. 

I also am so proud of my husband's work.  He has only done this one other time, ironically being my brother's wedding in April, 2010, and considering the typical price tag found on good wedding photographers, I'm amazed at Christian's work.  He tells me he doesn't have a desire to do photography for a (financial) living but I tell him, never say never :)  Wedding photography is quite a stressful job, trying to appease two sets of families, corralling a potentially crazy wedding party, and making sure the bride and groom get what they want for the day.  All the while being constrained to a schedule set by the wedding coordinator who is trying to appease the bride and groom for another reason - their guests.  Like I said...stressful!  Chrsitian did an excellent job managing all of that and I know Josh and Kari are definitely pleased with the final product.  

Enjoy the pictures below - a beautiful day [albeit a tad on the hot side, haha] for a beautiful bride.  Love you sis!  We couldn't be happier for you and Josh!



 
Josh is a little obsessed with baseball, thus the inspiration for this picture (and one to follow with the entire wedding party).

 
The ceremony site.  It might have been 105 degrees, but we were in the shade, and it was beautiful!

 
Josh and Kari didn't want to see each other prior to the ceremony, but they did meet up for a [blind] time of prayer and hand holding reassurance.

 
Kari had all the girls get their own yellow dresses, mine just happens to stand out slightly more than the others...I figured it was okay since I was the matron of honor :)


 
Me and my beautiful sister.  She was such a gorgeous bride!!



 
This sign just happened to be there on the ground, so why not use it?



 
Micah almost didn't make it down the aisle, as he was melting down just a few minutes prior to.  He had seen Daddy (the photographer) and wanted to run to him instead of waiting to walk down the aisle.  The plan had not been for me to walk the two down, but quickly became that to get Micah's cooperation.

 
Once I asked him to hold my hand, and then hold Josh's niece's hand, we were golden.  Those two were sooo cute together! All's well that ends well :)

 
Love this shot of my dad and Kari.  Such genuine emotion.


 
Last child to give away.  I think my dad held on to Kari just a few extra seconds:)


 
It's good you can't tell from this shot, but I had sweat dripping down every seem of my dress just adding to the darker color of my dress, haha.


 
The Kiss!

 
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh.

 
My beautiful parents :)

 
Family shot (the one picture Christian was in:( )

 
Parents

 
Siblings

 
Nephews:  Micah (2 years); Reid (2 1/2 months); Luke (8 months)

 
Baseball field

 
Check the guys out in this shot - they are hilarious!




 
Micah and Audrey - an excellent trio of pictures.  

 
Micah was just hamming it up at the reception...

 
And Audrey found him to be hilarious :)

 
Maid/Matron of honor speeches. I got a little emotional when I brought up Kari's fall.

 
The cake toppers, although hard to see, are a baseball bride and groom.  I told you, Josh is a little obsessed with baseball, haha.

 
The flower bouquet toss - with my son right in the middle of it all.

 
The garter getting - and there's Micah yet again :)  One of my favorite pictures for the sheer humor in that Josh is getting Kari's garter while she's holding Micah's hand.

They had to steal a few minutes away for the reception before it got too dark to be able to get any couple pictures!

 
One of my favorites of Christian's work.  

 
They rode out of their reception on a motorcycle...very symbolic of their travels in Africa.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Bittersweet goodbyes

Well, the day has finally come.  And tears right along with it.  Josh and Kari said their goodbyes to the Lauffer family today (for 2 years!) as they drove out of sight, inching closer to the beginnings of their life as husband and wife in Senegal, West Africa.  


We are so excited to see what the Lord has in store for them, and are so happy to welcome Josh to the family.  I know my boys will miss having them around, especially Micah, as "Josh and Kari" have become a regular in his daily prayer as well as regular house guests since March.  Due to Kari's crazy scary fall, we were able to meet Josh much sooner than planned and get to know him more intimately, as he and Kari stayed with us for 2 weeks in March.  Since arriving last week for a few days on their cross country travels post wedding/honeymoon, they have been sleeping in our basement area on a pull out couch, and as we went downstairs to see them out today, Micah proclaimed, "No Josh and Kari bed.  All gone."  Yes, buddy, you are correct.  No more Josh and Kari's bed at our house.  They are going all gone. :(

 
  

I found out this week that we may not see them in person for close to 2 years, as they are not planning on coming back to the states next summer at all.  That completely took me by surprise, and I became much more sad than I already was.  Micah will be on his way to kindergarten (what!?!?!) and Reid will be Micah's age the next time we are slated to see them.  I thought about how old Micah was when Kari went to Africa for the first time, and realized Reid is pretty much that age now.  Oh, so bittersweet.  I know they are doing God's work, following His will, and for that I can't be sad about...but oh, how I wish sometimes that wasn't taking them clear across the Atlantic :)  I thank God all the more for keeping His hand of protection on Kari and saving her from such a scary fall off of a cliff!

 



Know that we will miss you immensely Josh and Kari, and that you are always welcome in our home.  Preferably not for circumstances such as that which brought you here so frequently during the last 4 months :), but you are welcome all the same.  We love you!!!