Congrats Mark and Brandi!!!

On June 26th my cousin Mark got hitched. He married a fabulous woman named Brandi that he's been with for many years. She already feels like one of the family so we were all thrilled to head for their Wedding in Manhattan (as thrilled as two die hard Jayhawks can be). I was also truly honored that they asked me to sing in the ceremony. I have never sung in a wedding by myself before and I was thrilled to do so for theirs. So on Friday June 25th Eric and I headed to the little apple. We checked into the Hotel and lounged around for a while before heading to the rehearsal, which went beautifully, the rehearsal dinner was also a blast with Mark's restaurant catering Fajitas in a beautiful park. Bella loved seeing the ducks and geese and playing with her cousins. It was great to have so much family in town. Uncle Tim, Aunt Lauren, Jen, Kerry and the kids as well as Tom, Alex and Jeff all came up to Manhattan from Boston and Topeka. Not to mention the Rosen clan who were the main participants in the Wedding. It was great family time and really fun to meet Brandi's family as well. My dad was in New York and Mom in a show up at KU so Eric and I represented the Averill Lawrence division with pride.
One of the best things about a wedding that's not yours is that you have time beforehand to enjoy the hotel, area, and events. Saturday morning we lounged around the room for a bit. Bella found her comfy char and proceeded to spend some time reading.




















































We then headed to the pool where even I braved the freezing water ( the heater was broken) then was rewarded with some time in the hot tub hanging with the Moffits and Rojacks. After a leisurely morning Bella slept a fully two hours while Eric and I napped and got ready. We headed for pictures around 2pm and to enjoy a 3pm wedding. Here Bella and I are all dressed up.


















Bella picking up Lili's rose petals. Lili is now a professional flower girl. You may remember her from our Wedding but Mark's wedding is her third. She is for hire, just let me know.


















After a short and beautiful ceremony we headed to the Kathouse for the reception. Uncle Tom welcomed everyone with a bagpipe serenade that Wilbur truly enjoyed.


















Wilbur and Bella were great friends. However, Bella is refusing to let Wilbur dethrone her on her booth.


















Mark's resturant catered the Reception as well with BBQ that was delicious. We were very impressed with the variety of excellent food they serve. It may even force us to go back to Manhattan to enjoy. Here Eric and Bella eat dinner with the same determination I think the phrase Mmmmmm... Food is what's going on in both their minds.



































We've discovered that when we have a toddler wetend to leave a wedding reception around the same time as the old people. So once we enjoyed the food Bella hit her limit and we headed back to the Hotel. It was a pretty hot afternoon so we were all ready to enjoy the freezing pool and explore the hotel. Here we find Mama Monster in the trees.


















And Bella discovered drinking fountains.


















In addition she got into EVERYTHING on our adventure, the fountain.


















The dining area


















Then we met up with cousin Mira who is just shy of 1 year old.


















The next morning we waited to join the family for brunch. We hung out in the Moffitt room with them and the Jackson-Rosen clan. It was a blast to spend time with my cousins and their little ones. It's so fun to have kids all around the same age. Here is Paulie with the always fabulous Lili.


















I finally got a picture of the bumper crop cousins. These three girls will all be in the same grade even though their mama's are different ages. Mira (Kari and Paul's) Bella (ours) and Mahala (Jen and Kerry's)


















Here they are with siblings, Lili is Mira's sister, and Wilbur is Mahala's brother, Bella will have a sibling at some point, don't you fret.


















We had a fantastic brunch and then headed back to L-town. We even almost left without forgetting something. Sadly, Kitty was left behind. Luckily the hotel was kind enough to send her back and she arrived today. So Bella is now happily asleep with her stuffed Kitty in her arms!

It was a beautiful Wedding. Congrats to Mark and Brandi and we wish you a lifetime of happiness. I sure have fun being married I wish them the same.

~Trish