GBU Kids Halloween Party

The annual GBU Halloween party at Oak Shade Grove was the same day as our family pictures, so we quickly scooted over there right from our shoot.  You can still see Will's collared shirt under his costume.  :)  

This year for Halloween, we were reeeeeally low-key with costumes.  I'd purchased Will's Ironhide costume (Transformers) from Amazon right after Halloween last year for $8 because that's what he said he wanted to be.  Well, since then, Star Wars has become all the rage and he changed his mind.  I said I was sorry but this is what he was wearing this year and I wouldn't buy ahead for next year.  He pouted a little, but then he was fine with it.  Sophie got several choices offered (all of them from Old Navy's warm, one-piece, $22 selections - lol) and ultimately said she wanted to wear her dress up clothes.  So she wore the fairy-looking dress that the Rethman fam bought her for her birthday + the wings our friend Jill bought her for Christmas a couple years ago.  No sweat.

The GBU party typically includes food, games and a trick-or-treating parade, but this year also included a hay ride outside with papa's wagon and a Gator.  Also, cousin Tabor was in attendance this year and it was fun hanging out with him.

Ironhide, complete with mask.

Soph, dancing with the other tutu-clad ladies.

Kids group pic.

Almost always, there are coloring pages to work on at the table.  This was actually a bingo game that they were calling out while the families were sitting at the tables.

Hay ride time!

Papa & Uncle Ronny manned the Gator.

When they returned, trick-or-treating commenced outside.

We capped off our day with some playground time and then headed home.

Will hit up the monkey bars... shocker.

Brianne's Wedding Day!

It finally arrived!!  And the day was perfect.  

All of the planning and preparing, all of the dreaming and anticipation, all of the Pinterest crafting and detail finalizing... and it was perfect.  :)

Brianne was just about the coolest, most collected bride I've ever seen.  She was calm and confident and gorgeous.  She radiated happiness with her bridal glow.

The morning was spent in girly primp mode at the Buhro home.

Casey & I snuck outside to capture some wedding day details in and around the barns where the ceremony took place.  I LOVE this sign.  Such a great idea.  And I love the rustic-cool look of everything.  It's country but not cheesy.  Beautiful but still keeping with the bride and groom's laid back personalities.

The guests entered the barn from this side.

The wedding guests sat on rows of straw bails topped with white sheets.  Surprisingly comfortable - I tested them out!  :)

This was the altar pre-florist arrival.  Already gorgeous even before the flowers.

Brianne's late grandpa's tractor in the corner.

Ha!  Love Uncle Jim's "shed" decor.  ;)

The porch on the "shed"/barn.

More primping.

The adorable flower girl, up from her nap and having lunch before her big walk up the aisle.

My seester and me.

Our bridesmaid bouquets.

Baby girl and me.

Ceremony time.

This handsome little man rode up the aisle on a mini pedal tractor pulling a burlap and wood sign announcing "Here Comes the Bride".

Sadly, I don't have any pictures just of Bri in her amazing dress but she was stunning.  And I couldn't help but tear up at her walk up the aisle with her dad.

Mr. & Mrs. Matt Perry.

Mya, Stella, Sophie & Will passed out wands with ribbons and tiny bells at the ends that the guests waved and rang when the bride and groom walked out.  They took this job very seriously!

Sooooo appreciative of Craig and all his hard work handling everything with the kids these past couple weekends and during my conference.  I haven't been very present lately and he's kept everything under control at home.

Hitching a ride on the back of the golf cart that was used to shuttle guests from their parking spots up and down the road to the farm.

Our attempt at recreating the Bridesmaids movie cover.  LOL

The Buhro sibs and spouses.

Love this pic!

On the party bus en route to Tiffin for the reception.

Sophie trying to keep up with and mimic the line dancers at the wedding reception.  She did pretty well!

Getting her little groove on with Adrianne & Lindsay.

There was a fancy-flavored popcorn bar at the reception with paper bags and scoops for the guests to take bags for snacking.  Will was all over that...

Dad & mom.

Uncle Z and Will.  Love Will's smile.  Zach's... not so much.  ;)

Mr. & Mrs. Rethman - just a couple months past their seventh wedding anniversary.

Many of the wedding guests and all of the wedding party stayed in the hotel next door to the reception hall and joined the newlyweds for gift opening the next morning.

Such a great couple, great family and great weekend.  It was an honor to be a part of this beautiful celebration.