FRIDAY PART 1: REHEARSAL LUNCH

I was going to post the entire happenings of this past Friday, but I just have too many pictures..so I divided it up. I'm sorry to say that the Rehearsal Lunch comes before the actual Rehearsal. (That is not really the way it happened.)

A quick catch-up, Mike and I left Friday morning, around 7:45am to venture down to Frederick, Maryland for the wedding of Bill & Cathy. We had an uneventful ride--the weather was beautiful, no traffic, one stop for gas....and we arrived at our hotel a little after 11am. After a brief nap/clean-up, we headed to the Ceresville (?) Mansion for the rehearsal which began at 2pm. Those pictures will follow.

These pictures, as I mentioned, are from the lunch/dinner that followed. The Mansion's property is beautiful. They had a picnic buffet style lunch/dinner set up for us on the grounds. There were games to play (badminton, horseshoes etc.) and even a firepit.

Grandma & Mike
Uncle Bill, Grandma, & Mike

The matching was NOT intentional.

Mike being anti-social. Can you believe it?!!!

Mom Rose's shoes did not fit properly, so she borrowed Michelle's for about 3 minutes...

You'll notice in this photo, she is barefoot.

Bill & Cathy with a thank-you speech.

Us.

Again.

Brothers..

Opening his gift...

Bryon & Cole

The food:

A game of horseshoes..

Dad Rose taking a rest...it was a lot of activity so soon after surgery.

Linda & Cole

And even I had a chance to say hi to Cole..

We were chatting...

Matthew fooling around in the wheelchair.

We took a walk down by the water..

Cathy's dad took our picture.

The pavilion where we were "stationed."

Some of the grounds:

The inside of the ladies port-a-potty. There was no one else in there at that point, no worries.

Waiting for me...

We left shortly after this photo.

BAPTISM +

Yesterday we had the privilege of having Rian baptized.

Getting ready to go:
Being that she is nearly 5 months old and a lil squirmy at times--a traditional baptism dress, such as Carina wore, would not have worked. Not to mention that one was pretty much an antique. ;) So, instead we had this outfit from Opoe & Poppop that nicely sufficed.

Rian and Eden were the first babies to be baptized by Pastor Serafini.

We weren't sure how it would play out, being that the other kids were only a month or so old when they were baptized and Rian is almost 5 months...but she did good. A few squeaks in church, but nothing too major, and she managed to stay in the whole service. Good Girl!!! Michael sat up front with us and did well...and Carina sat in the back the whole time with Mimi & Poppop. Nice job, kids!

The text for the service was Genesis 9:15-16

"And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a floor to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."

What a blessing and privilege to have our children be covenant children.....

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Carina dressed in "vintage"--practically her whole outfit used to be mine.

Looking pretty...her hair is getting so light!!

And some sibling pictures..all dressed up.

Check out all their expressions.

WHAT?!!

I asked Michael to put his tongue in his mouth...but instead, Rena stuck hers out. So be it.