The Dynamic Duo

We just finished a whirlwind weekend of very-welcome guests and a wedding to boot. In fact, the wedding was the reason for the guests. My husband and I have 4 siblings each, so there are a lot of nieces and nephews about, and they are getting to the age where, occasionally, one of them gets married. Saturday, Bill Lear, son of John’s sister Kathy tied the knot with Cortney Kiehn in a picturesque outdoor setting by Moran Cabin in Lamoille, NV. A nearby stream provided soothing gurgling sounds and was a great attraction to the under-12 yr olds, and it looked to me like many of them would be in need of clothes-changing, or at least wringing-out before they would be allowed in their parent’s cars for the ride home. Country music was played and a delicious barbecue provided and a good time was had by all, or so it seemed. Interestingly enough, my LIFE”S LITTLE INSTRUCTIONS calendar had the following entry for that day: “Remember that a successful marriage depends on two things. 1) Finding the right person, 2) Being the right person.” I included the quote in their wedding card!
I had taken Friday off work so I could get the house in a bit of order and make a taco salad, one of Jim’s favorites. About 3 pm the guests arrived. Chuck and Joy, Bill and Patty, Jim and an extra surprise! Bill’s daughter Sara was in the group. It had been a long time since I had seen Sara, and she and I have a special bond, so I was very glad to see her, and very happy to have her stay at my house. She is also a lot of fun. Jim, of course, stayed at my house. He had no choice. But the others had secured motel accomodations nearby.Sis-in-law Pat came over with puppies and we spent the evening talking, eating and watching the hunting video, as Sara hadn’t yet had the privelege of experiencing it.
Saturday was taken up with the wedding. Three different carloads of people started towards Lamoille, making some stops in Elko for various shopping needs. When our car arrived in Lamoille quite a bit early for the wedding, we found the rest of our group dining at a nearby bar/cafe, so we joined them and placed our order. Chuck and Joy finished their meal, just as the food arrived for Pat, Sara, Bill and Patty. Everyone finished and they left as the wedding time was drawing closer. We waited, and waited and waited some more. Finally our food arrived. It was probably one of the worst meals we have had dining out. John said his hamburger was charred, and Jim’s chicken strips were bone-dry. But we ate what we could and actually still got to the wedding with plenty of time to spare.
In fact, we arrived before the parents of the groom. They were running a little late, as Kay (Kathy’s husband) had to check on some crops before they left. They arrived with one of Kathy’s minpins in tow. Little “Patty” had escaped and they didn’t have time to take her back. I know. There are a lot of Pat/Patty’s in the family; also lots of Marys, Billys and a couple of Kathys. What can I say?
Kathy was wearing some large, stylish sunglasses to protect her sensitive eye, as she had undergone cataract surgery just 2 days earlier.
The wedding seemed to go without a hitch, and the young couple are obviously much in love.
I had been dying to play Bocce Ball ever since the guests had arrived, and Saturday night I finally got my wish. The first game, Sara and Patty beat me and Bill by just a few points. But the second game, Jim and Sara pretty much wiped up the floor with me and John. Whew. Never again will those two be allowed on the same team!
Everyone left fairly early this morning. Its always a little sad to see family leave, especially Jim who will be heading back up to northern Idaho for his final year of college in a week or so. I think Murphy is a little sad also. Bill and Patty brought their poodle, Gus, and he was Murphy’s houseguest. It always makes Murphy happy to have someone he can wrestle around with, and it makes his rawhide chew bones taste much better if he thinks someone else wants them. Pat’s puppies were around a lot too, and Oliver, the largest of the apricot poodle pups went back to Howe with Bill and Patty. He is getting a terrific new home with the Baileys. Debbie Bailey is one of my best friends, and her kids had been wanting a dog for forever. I think it will be a match made in heaven.
Okay, I’ve been on the computer ever since I got home from church uploading photos, and burning wedding picture disks. UltraDad has been napping. I think maybe he has the right idea. Yawn.

UltraMom

The McDonald and Lear Families

Bill and Cortney Lear