Ethan and Team Storm

Ethan finally got his turn to play soccer this year.  I am not one of those parents who have all of my kids in sports all at the same time.  I am totally into sports, but I refuse to let sports take over my life and  run our family time.  Everyone gets their turn to play and everyone gets their turn to cheer on their siblings.  It seems crazy to me that starting him in 1st grade is actually starting him 3-4 years later than the majority of his peers.  Crazy!  Ethan was so excited when I told him I had signed him up and that two of his buddies would be on his team.  Their team was called Storm.  

This is my favorite picture (below) from the season!  I was so excited when I saw that I had captured Ethan in the air going for the kick.  Love it.  

Here are most of the boys on his team (below).  The one in black is Rex from his class at school and his dad was the coach.  Jaxon, his other buddy from school is the other one in red above.  

Ethan usually played forward, but got to play goalie in most of the games as well.  

This picture below doesn't really show it....but this was Ethan's first (and only) goal for the season!  He is behind the other guy and gave it a hard kick which made it fly past the other boy and past the goalie into the goal!  I actually kind of missed it because I was trying to capture a picture.  Don only missed one game and of course it was the one where he scored.  Ethan was SO excited.  It was awesome.  

He really enjoyed the season.  He always said he liked practice better than games.  I think it is because he liked knowing the kids he was playing against.  He was definitely more aggressive during practice!  Oh well, it was his first year and he learned a lot.   It was a fun season and he is already anxious to play in the fall!

Derek & Ashley

My baby brother got married!!  And we got a fantabulous trip to California out of it!  We were sad that we couldn't take the whole family, but flying seven people for a quick weekend just isn't feasible.  Don and I were going to go alone, but Ginger and Gillian begged and offered to pay for most of their flights.  Ryan and Keri stayed home with Davis, Ryan, and Ethan since we had just had their kids for 10 days. It was perfect.    So, the four of us headed out for a non-stop wedding weekend.  I love family weddings!!!  

As we entered the plane before take-off, Don was being facetious and said to Ginger and Gillian, "Look girls, there's the pilot!  Do you want to meet him?!"  The girls knew he was joking, but the pilot got excited and invited the girls in to see the cockpit.  They actually thought it was pretty cool.  

We made it to California!

I think Don was a little excited.  I love this picture.  

We were so happy to get to be there for Ashley's endowment session at the temple.  It was her first time going through, and the first time most of us got to meet her!  It was an emotional evening as we were all so excited to meet our soon to be sister, so happy for Derek and Ashley, thrilled to be together, and missing our sister, Ginger, as well.  Although we know she was there with us.  After the temple we all went to eat at The Cheesecake Factory.  We were a crowd!  So, girls at one table... 

Wendy, Ashley's mom, Jen, Natalie, Kate

Mom, Summer, Brandi, Ashley, Me

...and boys at the other.

Trevor, Derek, Jason, Don, Ashley's Dad, Joseph, Rod, Jason, Dad, Mark

Derek and Ashley were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple, the same place where Don and I were married 16 years prior.  It was very special to be there.  Ashley looked stunningly beautiful and Derek looked quite dashing himself.  They make a darling couple.  

Sounds perfect, right?  Well, the wedding day was not only chilly, but rainy!  And I mean, RAINY!   And we were in Southern California!  Just walking into the temple I was drenched from the waist down.  Drenched.  The rain finally let up once we came out of the temple and were awaiting the Bride and Groom to make their exit.  But, literally, the second they walked out the temple doors, a huge gust of wind came through and it was suddenly POURING and stormy!  It was the craziest 3 minutes just trying to protect our cameras and find shelter under umbrellas!  Out entire wedding party looked like we had all fallen into a swimming pool.  There goes our hair.  Thankfully, the bride and groom were untouched and remained picture perfect.  

This is the moment Derek and Ashley came out of the temple and they just watched their family and friends being overtaken by the wind and rain.  They were cracking up!  I love how the wind affected Ashley's veil.

It made for a very memorable, unforgettable wedding morning.  We all headed over to a local church building and enjoyed a delicious lunch together.  Hmm.  I don't have a single picture of that.  Oh, that's because we all looked dreadful after getting caught in the storm!!

Then we were off to Bakersfield for the Reception at Trevor and Natalie's house.   We had a few hours before it started but a lot of work to do because we had to move everything indoors so we could stay warm and dry!  Thank goodness Trevor's house is huge and very accommodating.  It turned out beautiful.  

Here are my parents.  They look pretty amazing, huh?  This was their 11th and final wedding.  I think it was a pretty good day for them.  :)

Here I am with Monica, my oldest brother, Rod's wife and the newest grandbaby, David.  

Here's a few of my siblings...We were missing Rod, Trevor, Derek and Brandi.  And of course, Ginger.  

My nephew, Luke, caught the garter!  Let's hope he's not thinking about marriage just yet...

Here's Ginger's baby girl, Holly, who just turned 5.  Apparently she really enjoyed the chocolate dipped strawberries...

We had to snap a picture with the groom.  I am sad we didn't get the Bride in there as well!

Me and my mama

Dance time! The kids loved dancing with their cousins.

Did I mention that they got married on St. Patrick's Day?  So, my mom bought these crazy glasses for the bride and groom to wear.  She caught one picture with them and then the grandkids took turns goofing around.   

All the sisters...

                                                   The hostess, Natalie (Trevor's wife)

The oldest Zierenberg granddaughters doing what they do best...

The kids LOVE being together with their cousins.  They have so much fun together.  

Wendy and her cute family

Summer and Claire

Ginge and Ali

Funny story...  There were these hanging candles outside that were beautiful.  Ginger was talking and using her arms to tell a story and she accidentally bumped into one!  The wax spilled all over her hair.  Don thought it was hilarious, but Ginger didn't really think so.

The four of us...wishing the youngest three were there, too.

Wendy and Porter and I

Everybody loved this candy bar.  It was a huge hit!  Beautifully displayed, too.  

The food was delicious and we all thoroughly enjoyed just talking and eating.  

It was a special, beautiful, wonderful day!  I didn't want it to end.  We had the best weekend with our family and friends.  After the wedding, the majority of us stayed the night at Trevor and Natalie's house and we covered every square inch of that house with sleeping bodies.  It was a blast.   I think we went to bed after 2 am.   We all went to church the next day and if you looked around, children and adults were zonked out all over the place.  We were exhausted!

We left early Monday morning to get back home to our other kids.  That day was an adventure in and of itself!  Delayed flights, crazy storms in CA and coming home to TX, etc.  Within minutes of getting home to Davis, Ryan, and Ethan (who were home alone) the power went out!  Thank goodness we made it home in time for that!

                                        Congrats again, Derek and Ashley!!   We love you.