Gena and Dan Tie the Knot!

After Papa's retirement party, I drove home, packed up the car, grabbed Mari and we headed to Houston! I made an appointment with my customers for Thursday since I was going to be down there. We were apparently right in front of the storm the entire way. A huge storm came through here Wednsday night thrpugh Friday. We found out when we got home that our power was out for 3 days! I guess it was a good time to be out of town! Helped me clean out my refrigerator and freezer, too!

After my lunch appointment on Thursday, Gena, Melissa, Erin, and I headed out to get manis/pedis! It was the cheapest and best manicure I've ever had. They practically gave a full massage with it! Neck, arms, shoulders, etc. Great and it was only $32 for both!

That night was the welcoming soiree for all the wedding party at Mimi and Dziadek's house.

(Tom attempting to photo bomb)
I still love him . . .

Dan and Marek . . .

Friday morning was the Bridal luncheon in our Parlor Sweet. It was so fun and just perfect. The food, decorations, napkins, gifts, etc were amazing.

Gena posing with the Hostesses, Sharon and Maureen.

Jessica, Mimi, Gena, and me . . .

Gena and I before heading down to the pool!

There were chair massages by the pool and cold towels for our necks. It was such a relaxing day!

That night we all got dressed and headed to the rehearsal.

Our family photo . . .

Oops!! Mari was missing!

Mari took the kids back to the hotel for room service and a movie while Tom and I headed to the rehearsal dinner. All the speeches were great and funny! We watched the video montage I made for them and mingled with family and friends.

Gena and Dan posing by their life sized Mexican Fiesta picture . . .

One of the last family photos with Gena as an Oley!

DanGina is our nickname for them. :) It's not cruel considering ours is "JackAce" and Brian and Jessica's is "BJ". . .

WEDDING DAY!!

Standing room only in Mimi's bathroom in the morning for up-dos!! Mimi did everyone's hair in the wedding with the exception of Tammy! She's amazing - she still found time to get herself ready and get there on time!

I curled Madelyn's hair in preparation for her up-do from Mimi . . .

Hair up, dresses on, make-up done - waiting outside the hotel for the trolley!

On the trolley heading to the church . . .

In the Bridal Suite getting finishing touches and Gena dressed!

Madelyn resting before her big moment!

It was so touching to watch Mimi put her veil that she wore in her wedding on her only daughter in the very room that she got ready in for her own wedding! Her and Dziadek also got married at St. Annes 39 years ago July, 4th. She said it was about 100 deg in this room when she was here. Ugh - hot bride = angry bride in my book! The flower girls . . .

The Oley boys . . .

Gena posing with her flower girls . . .

Gena with Mimi and Dziadek before the wedding . . .

It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. Gena was the most relaxed bride I've ever seen!

Congratulations, Burkes!

Papa Retired!!

Papa has been counting down the days since January of last year, I think! It's finally here! I took the kids up to the BNSF to celebrate their Papa retiring after 30 years.

Papa and two of his girls (for now!) After the cake, ice cream, and punch, the kids were running around and being very wild. Stephanie got them all to sit down and meditate! She's good . . .

Even Marek gave it a try!

Papa and all his grandbabies . . .

The whole family . . .

We know he will keep himself busy with all the chores between their house here and at the lake. There's always so much to do!

Papa, we do hope you relax and enjoy your time. You are such a hard worker and we're so happy for you!

21 Weeks

I just love the 2nd trimester!

My energy is back, wearing maternity clothes but still wearing regular clothes (thank God for Bella Bands!), people asking when I'm due! Now I just need to keep in the air conditioning through this summer . . .

Recital!

Tonight was the big night! Michelle had come up with the best idea - have the girls wear both pairs of tights - the pink ones (for ballet) under the tan ones (for hip hop). Those suckers are tight and difficult to put on so this saved us LOTS of time. We also started derobing them and taking their pigtails out while we were running back to the dressing room.

I had gotten there so early that they weren't letting any of the 6:00 Recital people in because the last recital hadn't let out. :) So there was actually a line just to get in to get a seat. Mari, Madelyn, and I ran in and saved an entire row. We were about 5th in line and got the center section, 9th row. It was ridiculous. I was a back stage mom so I waited for Nana and Papa to arrive before heading backstage so Mari didn't have to fend people off alone. :)

All the girls dressed and ready to go!

Doing their best "gangsta" poses! Mads and Syd . . .

Lined up and ready to head back stage!
Backstage moms get to come out and sit in the front row during their childs performance. This was great for taking pictures. :)
Madelyn shakin' her thang (back left) . . .

It's so cute to watch these little 5 and 6 year olds do hip-hop!

We rushed off stage and followed our plan. Those little things really saved us so much time. It went much smoother tonight than in rehearsal. We were able to spend more time on getting their hair just right!

Madelyn giving her best poses while waiting . . .

All the ballet princesses lined up ready to go out for the real thing!

They were so beautiful and graceful. I just love watching them.

The End!

Kelly and Brian stood up and yelled "Go Maddie" after her last dance. She was waving and smiling. Again - she felt like such a movie star.

Since both of our dances were in the first half of the program, we got to leave at intermission! I wish I could have seen the rest of the show but a backstage mom I am!

After the show, Madelyn posing with her cousins. Dylan and Landon look like such studs!

Brian and Jessica joined us for a celebratory dinner at Mi Cocina in Southlake Town Square afterwards.

Marek is trying to give juicy blow kisses to Brian's neck.

I think the laughing kept him going . . .

Of course, we went to the fountain and had ice cream after dinner!

Madelyn snapped a picture of us . . .

What a great night! Madelyn did so great at both routines. Thank you everyone for coming out on yet another school night. My girl felt so special.

Dance Rehearsal

Madelyn's dance rehearsal was Saturday night. She is in Tap/Ballet and Hip-Hop so she had two dance routines to memorize. Her Hip-Hip dance is first - 6th on the list of dances and then her Ballet number is 13th. They said to allow about 2.5 minutes between each number. So, let's do the math - there's 7 songs in between her dances so that give us 14 minutes to run back to the dressing room completely change a very modest 5 year old, dress into a different costume with different colored tights, take out pigtails and put in a low bun. Hmmmm. No problem!

Madelyn and her BFF Sydney . . .

All the girls lined up and ready to head backstage . . .
Their routine was so cute. They danced to "Sneaker Night" by Vanessa Hudgens. Madelyn was in the back left shakin' her booty!

No kidding, we (Sydney's mom, Michelle, and I) had just gotten back stage with the girls and stripped them down when they called "Away in a Manger" - that's our Ballet dance! I guess this is why they call it dress rehearsal . . .

All the ballet girls lined up ready to head back stage. . .

On stage - Madelyn's best dance. She's quite graceful - she is definitely better at ballet . . .

Look at her form!

I was so proud.

Michelle and I had a few tricks up our sleeve for recital night. With only 5 - 10 minutes for us to actually get the girls ready before they're called, we had to change some things.