Celebrating Uncle Ben & Auntie Eliana!

 I should be doing a boatload of laundry right now, but I am having too much fun re-living our trip to California...

Nick's brother, Ben, and his beautiful wife, Eliana, were married in her homeland, Brazil, last December, and again in February in a courthouse ceremony in San Francisco; but they let us and the rest of the Horn family and friends in on the wedding fun this past weekend.  We were overjoyed to be able to witness them "tie their knot tighter."  I'm not sure Nick and I would have survived three weddings, which is just testimony to what their love is made of!  Eliana is a gem, we are so grateful to welcome her into the family.

The wedding festivities coupled with the rigid schedules of an infant and toddler made our time in California go by all-too-quickly!  I think we'd need a month to be able to scratch the surface of everything we hoped to do while back in our hometown.  It was wonderful while it lasted!

Packing for the trip!

My parents' dog, Zoey, was so patient with Emmy.  Sweet girl is getting up in her years and carrying a large tumor in her belly, so we made sure to savor our moments with her.

Blurry pictures! Gah!! Hannah and Papa were enjoying some early morning cuddles. :)

Emmy feeding Mom's fish, so creatively named, Goldie and Blackie.  Emmy loved that chore so much that I later found small grains of potpourri scattered near the base of the fish bowl.  None made it in the bowl--I checked.

Visiting Uncle Grant at work!!

Hannah meeting Uncle Grant for the first time!

Visiting Poppy and Uncle Ben at the Lincoln office!  Emmy and Hannah met every person left at work that afternoon...Emmy practiced shaking hands and saying "happy to meet you!"

Hannah meets Auntie Judy!

Hannah and Grandpa Jack :)

Mom and her little bug.

Grandpa demonstrates how Emmy makes his heart go "pitter pat." :)

Emmy agreed to be Grandpa's angel.  A title that only a few of us have. :)

Mimi helps Emmy decorate Poppy's birthday cake!

Serenading Poppy with Emmy's favorite song!

Emmy helped Poppy blow out all but one candle...

...Miss Greta had that one covered!

Holding hands in the group portrait! :)

Celebrating Poppy's birthday!

Cy & Leslie, Uncle Doug, Addie, Andrea, Aunt Cindy and Big Joe (back row)

yours truly, Eliana & Hannah, Poppy & Uncle Ben (middle row)

My Nick & Emmy, Ashley, Carl, Greta & Little Joe (front rows)

Same group, but swap yours truly with Grammy...In hindsight, the timer would've been a much better plan... :-P

Hannah and Auntie Eliana get acquainted. :)

Shopping at Papa's hardware store!  I told Dad that his is the only store that I would let Emmy roam free, because I wouldn't have my feelings hurt if he told me to leave. ;) 

Hannah talks to Papa with her eyes. :)

Emmy had a blast clearing out the kiddie watering can shelf.  We eventually got her to pick just one.  She "bought" it and Papa even let her sign the ticket...She felt so important!

Daddy took all of his girls on an ice cream date after our Ace hardware shopping excursion!

Then we were off to Tilden Park to ride the train!  Emmy was giddy waiting for the train to start!

Emmy and Hannah wore the matching outfits (and accessories!) that Auntie Judy gave them...ADORABLE!

Daddy & Emmy were seat mates!

Mama & Hannah :)

Emmy helped Mimi water the garden...(I should mention that Emmy chooses all of her ensembles, I claim no credit for her fashion statements.)

Vacuuming the floor!  

Mom and I were recently laughing about an old journal entry I wrote as a young child.  I shared the fact that I most loved it when my Mom would let me help her with chores! HA!  Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. :-P

Breakfast date with Uncle Jamie!  It's hard to sleep when Uncle Jamie is around.  Not only does his voice echo throughout the house, but he is the modern-day Pied Piper for young children.

The rehearsal!

Emmy and a little boy carried a sign that read "Here Comes The Bride" just before Eliana walked down the aisle. :)

Nick speaks at the dress rehearsal dinner. :)  He represented us beautifully, as usual!

Ben & Eliana laughing as Nick poked fun. ;)

I found you!!  Playing Hide-And-Seek with Auntie Kristi!!

One of Auntie Kristi's very sneaky hiding spots.

Wedding day!  Dada took Emmy to get her nails painted for the very first time!

Nick tells me that she did wonderfully!

She has little purple flowers painted on each thumb, and is quick to show them off! :)

My mom's best friend, Kathy, and her daughter, Natalie (with whom we have been friends with since third grade!) came over with breakfast...Such a treat!

Call the fashion police! A certain person needs a major intervention!!  Have I no pride?!

Later that day, getting our little flower girl ready!

My buddy ;)

Waiting to get in the car and head to the wedding!

Uncle Ben awaits his stunning bride. ;)

Nick was so thrilled to be able to stand up with his brother.

Here they come!

Emmy was so excited to wear her beautiful dress that was lovingly selected by Grammy and Auntie Eliana. :)

After they dropped off the sign, Emmy promptly plopped down at my feet and went through her Elmo backpack for her snack.

Here comes Eliana, as promised!  Poppy walked her down the aisle, as her family was unable to make the trip to California from Brazil for the festivities. :(

Emmy takes a snack break.  She didn't really grasp the concept of silence during the ceremony.  Praise Jesus my sister was there to help me corral her/escort her out.

Posing for photos after the ceremony

Emmy being Emmy.  Lucky for me, Uncle Grant offered to reign her in.

The Mustaine (Nick's Mom's) side of the family.

The Horn (Nick's Dad's) side of the family.

Emmy took my distraction tactic too seriously and ran off to "climb the mountain."

Doing what I do best...Messing with Emmy's fun.  At least she's smiling this time. :-P

The four of us :)

The Mustaine cousins...From what I understand, they've never all been in the same place at the same time up until this past Saturday. :)

All cleaned up.

My favorites. :)  Kris was appointed by Emmy to be on Emmy-duty, and she more than rose to the occasion!!  I felt so blessed to have her there. :)

Uncle Jamie was also hand-picked by Emmy for Emmy duty...He rocked it, just like he rocked his shades.

He has cracked the code for holding Emmy's attention.  Perhaps because they have the same sense of humor.

Dada takes a break from groomsman duty to love on his big girl.

Be still, my heart.

Word on the street is that Emmy ate her weight in maraschino cherries during cocktail hour. :)

Kris' Ipad bought us some quiet time during toasts...I need to get me one of those!

True story: Emmy single-handedly got the party started by tearing up the dance floor during dinner, as the main course was being served...

...still going...

...recruiting Mimi to the dance floor.... :)

Taking another lap around the dance floor while everyone eats their dinner.

Uncle Grant's moving best man speech.

Back at it for the Father-Daughter dance.  She was also the first one positioned and ready for the bouquet toss.

Still dancing...

Our precious girl danced her heart out until 10:30PM, at which time she fell sleep in Daddy's arms.

Hannah got to enjoy Jamie's beautiful girlfriend, Miss Liz's company during the reception.  She saved the day by offering to babysit!  I honestly don't know what we would have done without her!  Love that girl (both of them.)  So does Jamie. ;)

Who needs Mr. Potato head when you have Uncle Jamie's head?  Auntie Kristi has the best ideas for play. :-D

Emmy breaks in the pool with Poppy & Uncle Ben's help!

Nick raided Ben's closet after the wedding. 

Emmy's usually the one doing the surprising!

Emmy loves her Uncle Ben. :)

Auntie Eliana and Hannah charming one another!

Aunt Cindy and Hannah ♥

Relaxing by/in the pool at Poppy & Grammy's house.

The spa was perfectly warmed...Hannah loved it (and so did the rest of us!)

Just like bathwater!

Hannah & Addison!

So happy!

Addison in her Uncle Nick's arms.

Addison takes pool time seriously! :)

So does Hannah. 

Uncle Grant has a calming influence.

Hannah, the center of attention.

The roughest pick-up basketball game I've ever watched...These boys don't mess around!

Father and sons.

Emmy tried to get in on the action.

Great shot, Emmy! ;)

Grammy and Hannah cheer for both teams.

Aunt Cindy teaches Emmy some new songs.

Bathtime with Grammy!

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Flying home...

Nick even managed some shut-eye. :-P

Hannah's first trip by air was a success!