A wedding in the family!

It was about a year ago when Lyle's son, Patrick, brought the love of his life....Tanya.... to visit us in Paris. We had a lot of fun exploring Paris together, since we had only recently arrived ourselves.

We thought for sure they would announce an engagement here in the City of Lights (and romance). But they waited a few months to tell all of us the wonderful news.....and the big event happened on Valentines Day, 2009. What a beautiful and awesome wedding! It, of course, was a highlight of our trip home and we thoroughly enjoyed taking part in all of the festivities that were so carefully planned. The ceremony was held at the chapel at the University of St. Thomas.....

And the reception was in a beautiful setting at the Carlson Towers.....

Patrick's brother gave a toast to the new couple....



.....Tanya and Patrick began the party with their special dance.....

And the "Patrick and Tanya Valentine Dance" began!

Everyone was decked out for this special Valentines Day wedding, so there was lots of red, pink, and black!




(especially my family who had to be color-coordinated, of course!)

Even the newest addition to the family, Emmett, was all dressed up!

How happy and blessed we are to welcome Tanya into this family! We wish them the very best that God has planned for them.

Family visits

We are back home in Minnesota for an important visit with a number of big events!

......to meet our new grandson, Emmett James......

This little sweetie is the first grandson in the family and as mellow as can be, so far!

.......to see the other special ladies in our lives....

The other four granddaughters and their moms came over to our house one day for ladies' lunch out......

.....just one of the precious things we miss while being in Paris! It was so much fun seeing the girls all play together. Wait til little Emmett joins them some day!

Lyle was able to spend some time with Anna; Ava came over for a sleep-over; and I was able to watch Katelyn in her dance lesson, which she says "I wish I could go EVERY DAY!!!"

Two weeks home means squeezing in visits with our own brothers and sisters and trying to see some friends when schedules work out. The time just goes too fast.

.....and a Valentines Day wedding! We are looking forward to a big event tonight, though, where we will have an opportunity to do just that......Lyle's son is getting married. It's a beautiful sunny day for a wedding, even though it is in the 20s. More about that event to come!