Quinault Lake Loop

Water Babies

Ben got us some fabulous goggles, since we've been swimming almost every day lately.

Wedding Pictures are Here!

Just some of my favorites...

Thank you to Rachel Peterson at RP Imagery for capturing every moment of our special day!

Laundry Day

Relax! I do the dishes.   ;]

Life lately, according to my iPhone.

First backpack hike

Ben, Mowgli and I trekked a mile with fully loaded backpacks (to get me used to the weight, before we get to Europe) on the Duckabush trail. It would have been more enjoyable if it truly had been "easy" and "flat" like the park ranger claimed... Instead, to get back from the waterfall, I had to drag myself up an incline worthy of San Fransisco.

The Napping House

Migraine = Nap Day.

Mary and Fred got wed!

And what a beautiful night it was!

Next summer... Europe!

Just one week after the wedding, and we already can't wait for the honeymoon next July.... So we're beginning to gather some of the necessary travel supplies.

A quick trip to REI (THANK YOU SO MUCH FAM AND FRIENDS) and we now have backpacks!

I packed mine and it is surprisingly comfortable and light, which is perfect.  Ben had to order his, because all the ones they had were too small, as he is going to carry any extra or particularly heavy stuff, or ridiculously big for what we need, but it should be here soon.

Success!

The wedding was amazing!  Perfect weather, gorgeous vineyard, snappy band, and, maybe most importantly, everything went very smoothly! 

And the rehearsal dinner was fabulous as well.  My grandparents offered their home, particularly their expansive and perfect yard, for the rehearsal dinner.  Yes, of course this is technically hosted by the groom's family, but on such a nice summer night we wanted to be outdoors.  Ben's family still did all of the decorating and food, which was great.  It was fiesta themed, though you couldn't tell by that one picture, so we had Mexican food and mariachi music and chips in sombreros. 

(All of the photography, from the rehearsal to getting hair and makeup done, to the actual ceremony and reception was done by Rachel Peterson, by the way!  I haven't seen all of the pictures yet, but thankfully the mindset was not "less is more", and so we will have many to choose from, which I love.)

REHEARSAL DINNER

 I think I was more nervous for the rehearsal than the wedding, or at least I thought I was.  Mercifully we had decided to have a late afternoon/early evening wedding, so I had all morning to get my hair and makeup taken care of without stressing out.  When we finally arrived at Bethany Vineyards, and I finished running around to do a couple of things, I got into my dress.  

Now this dress was beyond fabulous; it was the big, poofy, princess type of dress, with lots of beading on the corset.  If you didn't know, I have had this dress for two years now, so it was amazing to finally be able to wear it.  Ben had been pretty antsy to see me in it as well, so when we did the First Look he was pretty excited too.  

The only bad part about the whole day was the time between finishing up the pictures before the wedding and the time for me to get lined up to walk down the aisle, just because it was killer to try and sit down and be calm while everyone else can be walking around outside talking to people and all that.  Fortunately, Cris was there to keep me entertained!  

I was only truly nervous when Walt, the man who owns Bethany Vineyards, drove me in the golf cart around to the end of the rows of grapes to get me ready to walk out of the grapes and down the aisle.  Considering Ben and I were already married, I think it was just stage fright more than anything.  I'm not one to overly enjoy being the center of attention, unfortunately.  Don't get me wrong, I definitely wanted to have our big ta-da wedding, but that feeling of everyone staring and watching you is just not my favorite, especially because I'm always worried I will mess something up.  But, of course, I was nervous for nothing!

WEDDING RECEPTION

Thank you so much to everyone who was able to make it!  The wedding and reception were only worthwhile because you all were there to celebrate with us, and I'm so thankful to everyone who came.