WINDING UP NOVEMBER

I'm tired.  I'm busy.  I'm happy.

By the time our plane landed back in San Diego on the 21st, my brain was already firing up with my to-do list for our Thanksgiving camping trip.

We dumped our suitcase on the bedroom floor and began packing up for our desert camping trip. Tuesday, Ashley and I grocery shopped and the guys picked up the motorhome, which would be our home away from home for 4 days.

Here "she" is

We packed tons of bedding, coolers, food, drinks, clothes, and glo sticks and after a breakfast of donuts, we headed out for our trip early Tuesday morning. We were a caravan of 4 rigs and after meeting at the Alpine viewpoint, we drove down to the desert, making a pit stop in El Centro for gas and a bite to eat.  We got to camp by 1 pm and began setting up for our stay.

Our campsite

Ashley and Aaron

Grace

My baby brother, David and Denise

The newlyweds, Heather and Cameron

The girls

My momma and me

Meghann and Bryant (her pup)

A group shot of part of our group

And another with more

 Cameron and Heather outside of their tent

My brother, Brooks and his dog, Raja

                            Sunrise (thank you for this beautiful shot, Heather!)

We had an awesome time together, feasting on turkey and all the trimmings, taking walks to search for unusual rocks, playing a game of tailgate toss, Catchphrase and Mafia at night around the campfire.

My vacation is over and I am back to work for the last three days of November before I jump into December and the Christmas season.  I love Christmas and the joy and fun in decorating, giving and celebrating Jesus' birthday!

VEGAS, BABY

We are heading to Vegas.  I have a short work week, but my workload is not lessened, so I am desperately trying to meet my deadlines before we leave. 

I haven't been able to blog lately because I've been busy coordinating our departure to-do's with our kids' arrival at our house and dog/cat sitting lists, getting the guest room ready and simultaneously working on camping prep for Thanksgiving (more to come on that later).

I didn't plan it this way.  Really.

When the trip to Vegas came up (many moons ago) and I jumped on the chance to get out of town for a few days, there was nothing else on our calendar for November.  Absolutely nuttin.

In the meantime, our calendar exploded with a bunch of fun events (wedding, youngest son home on leave, Thanksgiving camping trip).  All in the same month.  Even overlapping in some instances.

At first I was overwhelmed.  Then I just jumped in and made a bunch of lists and put everything on my calendars.  I have three.  One at home, one at work and one on my phone.  Best to be prepared, right? That helped calm me down and helped me be productive instead of frozen in panic.  So far, it's working.

Anyway, I will be off the grid, so to speak, for several days while we live it up in Vegas.  You can find me at a nickel slot machine or playing Keno.  That's how I roll.

WEDDING PHOTOS

Sunday began with cold rain showers which continued through the day, but by the time Cameron and Heather's sunset wedding began, the rain had stopped and the sun pushed through the clouds to paint the sky in luscious shades of orange and pink that matched the wedding flowers.


I have photos on my camera that I still need to upload, but I thought I would post these in the meantime.

Cameron and Heather--Mr & Mrs!

Cameron and Ben (best friends)

The ceremony

Grace and Aaron

Gracie (flower girl)

Aaron and Auntie Meghann

Heather and Cameron with their wedding cake

Wedding ceremony sunset. 

It was a perfect day.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

The photos have been downloaded from our camera to our computer and now onto my blog.  Thanks to my hubby. 

Here are some photos of the Rehearsal Dinner we hosted at a local restaurant called Stir Fresh Mongolian Grill.

Our room after we decorated the tables

The Bridal Party table

Bruce and me

Let the party begin!

Meghann, Aaron and Ashley

Cameron, Heather, Meghann, Ashley and Taylor

Ben, Kerry and Dina

The dinner was so much fun with lots of good food and company!

HELLO, IT'S ME

I'm here!

I've been planning the rehearsal dinner for our son's wedding this weekend.  The invitations were mailed and I am up to my neck in crafty tabletop decorating ideas.  Thank goodness for Pinterest.

Last weekend I kept busy with all of the fun events planned--Heather's bridal shower, appointments at the nail salon for beautiful toes and fingers, and finally a bachelorette dinner party with lots of fun and beautiful ladies! 

This week has flown with all of the to-do's we've been working on and crossing off of our list. Tonight I will be making some no-sew table runners for the rehearsal dinner.  Easy peasy. 

I still have to work on the rest of the decorating details, but I think it's coming together pretty well.  I'll post photos next week.

I may not have time to post again until after the wedding...see ya then!