Wednesday, July 10, 2013

My Son's Wedding

Stephen's Wedding to Lindsey - June 26, 2010
It was the most gorgeous wedding I have EVER been to.  Stephen takes after me, in being a gracious and elegant Host and his wedding was no different.  He spent a great deal of time planning EVERY detail of every aspect of the entire weekend...from where we would dine before our massages on Friday...to the Rehearsal Dinner...to the Wedding Cake...and the Place Cards for Dinner, he spared no time, hard work or CA$H.  Everyone was amazed at everything he thought of...he basically made Lindsey's Wedding Dreams come true.  I am sooooooooooo proud of him.  One other thing...
he prepared the entire Wedding Ceremony, including the readings, what the officiant would say...the music and singer...and the VOWS he said to Lindsey.

The weekend's events began with our arrival

at the INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL in downtown Milwaukee on Thursday.  We had a lovely King-size room overlooking downtown.  After unpacking and getting settled in, we went down to the Hotel Restaurant and had an awesome dinner.  We walked around the huge hotel complex and then went back to our room.  We fell asleep early that night.

Friday arrived (which was to be rainy)...and it was sunny and warm.  Our main things going on that day were lunch with Stephen, Lindsey and Lynda (Lindsey's mom).  We went to BRAVO for our lunch and then it was off to NEROLI'S for a massage, manicure and pedicure.  What a treat!!!

After going back to the Hotel and changing clothes, we went to the Wedding Rehearsal...at VILLA TERRACE, a lovely mansion on the lakefront.  Then...we all went to dinner...24 of us.  We ate at ZARLETTI...a northern Italian Restaurant.  The waiter and waitress brought out platter after platter of appetizers, antipasto, pasta, chicken, vegetables, salad and dessert.  The food was absolutely out-of-this-world fantastic!!  And the service matched.  They poured wine all through dinner.  Tom and I will definitely be going back there...the next time we're in Milwaukee!!

Saturday, when we awoke, we saw MORE sunshine ~ when rain had been predicted!  The entire day was sunny to party sunny.

The wedding was at 11:00AM. We arrived early, so that I could TIE the men's Raspberry Dotted Bow-Ties.  Nope, Stephen wanted bow-ties to match the girls dresses (imagine that) and there were no clip-ons in that color.  Lucky thing is I learned to tie bow-ties when I worked for a Formal Wear Shop years earlier.  A quick on-line refresher and I was good to go.  And...of course, I tied Stephen's Black Bow-Tie too.



As most weddings, this one began a little late...but it was well worth the wait.  A string quartet played before...and during the wedding, a woman sang the Wedding Song.  The Bride's Attendants were so pretty in their Raspberry colored dresses and silver, rhinstone studded shoes.

 And the BRIDE...





She was stunning!  Lindsey was the prettiest Bride ever.  As you can see in the picture above, she is a tall blonde...and wore a designed and made-for-her gown.  It was lovely.  She was lovely. They got married high on the Bluff overlooking Lake Michigan...







Mom, Bride, Groom & Tom

  The Bride & Groom right after the wedding - what a gorgeous couple!






Stephen was stunningly handsome, standing next to Lindsey in his tuxedo.   The Bride & Groom - and their Wedding Party went off to have photos taken and here are just a few of them.










Stephen selected the wedding cake, which had Raspberry filling (with actual whole raspberries in it)...and had it designed in layers to resemble Lindsey's Dress.  He definitely thought of everything!!



The wedding reception was a few hours later, back at our Hotel downtown.  The Reception room was gorgeous, as we got a quick peek.  There were bars and hors d'oeuvres in the area surrounding the Grand Salon, which was closed until just before dinner.

All in all...the Wedding and Reception went off without a "hitch"...and was so beautiful.
I couldn't be more proud of my son, who is 40 (now 42)...and all the hard work he put into this wedding...and how he LOVES Lindsey.

Stephen's father-in-law said to me at the end of the evening..."Our entire family is in love with your son.  He's wonderful!"  Now, to me...that is really something, coming from the Bride's dad. We wish them a long and happy life together.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Meet the 3 Pups

Photo Taken at Home on January 11, 2013
 BENNY is a Havanese - and he was 4 years old in March 2013.  He weighs 18# and when he came home with us at 12 weeks of age, he was a Fur Ball and weighed just 5#.   He is our protector and he senses when something is wrong with me.  He goes to the spot(s) on my neck or face that are particularly painful from the Bell's Palsy and licks them or lays his warm body against them.  He's a very special boy...very gifted.

*Sadly, Benny passed away of a neurological disorder on December 7, 2013.  We miss you Benny*....

These are Our ♥ Pups

ROSIE is a Toy Poodle - and she just turned 3 years old on Valentine's Day 2013.  She weighs 11# and she's tripled her weight since we brought her home at 12 weeks of age.  She is very shy around strangers.
*********************
Taken at Home on January 11, 2013

JASPER is a Maltese - and he was 5 years old in July 2013.  He is the light-weight of the trio - coming in at just 8#.  When Jasper came here to live with us, he weighed 5# and was 9 months old.  He is our laid back boy and he loves his PJ's. 




This photo collage is of pictures of the 3 pups taken in 2012

Mr CSP and I can not imagine them not in our lives.  It seems like we've always had them and yet, we have only had them a few years.  They're all special to us...and they show love to us each and every day...and we LOVE them!