Oddessey2000

Things have been happening lately. Just nothing so drastic as to be a great thing. We get up. WE go to work/school. We come home. Lots of going to the Doctor for some. A bit of stomach flu for most. Sleeping, eating, surfing the web, watching movies.....these are ALL actions.

There have been some interesting moments lately though, however. I got Mik hooked on Godzilla. Not the new fangled CGI one of recent years . I am talking about the real monster from the 50's and 60's who exhibited almost human emotions and reactions through dusting his chest off after a scuffle and such. I loved these as a kid. I would watch them many a rainy Saturday on channel 19 in the early afternoon. Well, I checked a few out at the Library and he is enamored. The only problem now is that we lost the remote control to the DVD player and it just isn't the same watching Godzilla in Japanese with subtitles that go by to fast to read when you are 7.

Joee came to us the other day and said she was reading her Bibit (pronounce buy-bit). She then walked away. Shortly later I followed and found her lying in her room on the floor with a Bible. Yup that's a bibit. She was really concentrating too. She didn't even notice me walk in and watch her for a while and then leave. Later she came back and told us she was going to read "The Book About The Mormons." To you and me that is "The Book of Mormon." Now for those of you who don't know it, Joee is 3 years old. I am really proud of here. she learns so much and knows (better than dad sometimes) what she should be doing. I love my kids.

This following picture is for My Oldest, and Bestest Stephani (my oldest daughter.). Its not so much for her to have but I thought she would like it and I want to get my other chilluns to wear it.

Well, our Stephani is Mrs. Stephani Snow now. That's right. Stephani and her New Husband Matthew Snow were sealed in the Louisville Temple for time and all eternity Saturday morning at 10 AM. The ceremony was nothing short of beautiful and Mary and I are THRILLED for them both. A friend of the Snow family acted as photographer immediately following the ceremony and took over 200 pictures on the temple grounds of friends,family, and guests along with the Bride and groom. Those pictures are available ohere on my site already in the Snow photo Album. There were some shots taken at Eden Park later that day by my friend Lil Jeff. I will post those as soon as he makes them available. In addition, I noticed MANY pictures being taken at the reception and I hope to hear from some of those guests so that I might post those pictures as well.

An additional thanks to the people at Chef Barone's Catering. The food was bountiful and so very tasteful. The service was just phenomenal. I would recommend this caterer many times over for any event. I intend to call them and voice how pleased I was.

There are so many things I could say about the reception itself. From the plethora of brownies made available by grandparents, Aunt's, church members, and friends alike. There were so many that we were still munching them today. The beautiful floral arrangements made by my sister Lisa (Her husband Dave helped put them together and get them out for the reception tables.) were a highpoint of the reception and I received many compliments directly as well as overheard compliments at nearly every table. I have to mention My brother-in-law Doug spilling the lemonade dispenser, only because he seemed so embarrassed when it happened although it contained only ice by the time it spilled. Mary's cousin Kristen was there carrying twins and approach the time when they would be coming out. I want to compliment Kristen on how great she looked. Uncle Johnnie (Mary's Brother) was there doing a very convincing rooster impression (from hairstyle to head bob and chicken walk.) My uncle Junior's signature quote to the groom was,"You better treat her real nice, because I drive a REAL fast car." Ya gotta love those Kentucky Uncles and the ways they show they care. Several of my Mother's sisters came expressing both advice and love for the happy couple, as did most of my Dad's sisters. My cousin Jame's brought his family and that was a true pleasure though as father of the bride my time with anyone person or family was limited. Several of Stephani's High school and childhood friends came. I know that was a true joy for her. Kenny and Brenda being their pleased us all immensely. My own childhood friend Kenny and his wife Dee and their daughter Makena being their truly warmed my heart. Makenna absolutely loves our Joee and asked several times throughout the night if Joee could come to her house and spend the night.

I know there are so many who were there for the reception and the sealing as well, that I have not mentioned. Please know that I have not forgotten any of you nor I am certain have Stephani and Matthew.

As I said at the reception, I would very much like to thank those friends and family who were able to join us on a such a joyous and wonderful occasion. Their presence for our celebration made the event all that much more special to The bride and Groom as well as to Mary and I.

Almost 8 years ago I threw myself a 30th birthday party. I had 2 cases of ribs from Walt's Hitching Post. I had plenty of beverage and corn on the cob and all kinds of goodies. None of my friends showed up. One friend told me in advance that he wouldn't be able to come, but, of the remaining 20 or so invited, no one came. I even bought a plane ticket to get one of them their and they did not come. Lucky for me some of my family did come so I wasn't left dog-faced and hurt.

It seems I was doomed for a somewhat disappointing repeat performance. Only, this time it wasn't my birthday, it wasn't for me, and it wasn't friends that let me down. This time it was 2 bridal shower's for Stephani and it was family that let her down.

My Mother is one of 13 children. My father is one of 7. My Mother-in-Law is one of 7. do that math and just aunts alone should have accounted for 26 guests between the families. Now a couple of those relatives have passed away, so lets call it 25. Through in the plethora of cousins and occasional uncles who comes along and you should have broken 50 easily. Nope. 1 cousin showed at either party. Of course my Mom and sisters showed. None of MY neices showed ( admittedly they were genuinely unable to be there and told us so in advance.). Mary's mom. sister, and 1 of her sister-in-laws showed. No neices there either but they are young. Step out of the immediate family though and thats where the problem lies. I feel my family really let me down.

Stephani is my oldest. Is this a precedent? Not a single person outside of those mentioned to have called in advance to let us know they couldn't make it did so. Admittedly some may not have received an invitation due to address changes or even other issues, but even some who didn't receive mailed invitations were called. I don't know if they felt slighted and decided to get a dig in or what but My daughetr deserved better.

I have paid for 200 guests for catering for the reception. I hope there isn't a repeat performance either or there is going to be a LOAD of leftover and wasted food.

I have always been proud of the size and ways of my family. Yesterday I was dismayed and I know my daughters feelings were hurt. I know I have not attended EVERY baby shower, party, etc. But, I genuinely do try to make them all or at least send a family representative on my behalf. Heck I have been to so many baby showers and bridal showers that many family members have started inviting the husbands/men in the family to them as a matter of course.

I just don't see why that many people wouldn't come. I just don't see what I or we could have done to merit this sort of snubbing. 8 years ago the going excuse was that they thought everyone else would be their so they would not be missed. Well, they were missed, very much so. And you know something? Nearly every person who missed made a promise to take me to lunch or some such activity to make up for it. None ever did. I truly hope that family can make a better showing in the near future.

Oops. Due to circumstances beyond our control (or at least that I don't know the details of), Stephani and Matthew's wedding date has been changed from April 25th, 2009 and moved back to May 30th, 2009. Other than that al other arrangement such as time of day fo wedding and reception, and locations remain the same. So, I suppose you can take the extra time to think happy thoughts, save up more money and buy bigger gifts? Just kidding. No need to think happy thoughts.

Steph and Matthew had some pictures done of them. The pic here is one of them. You can see the rest in the New "The Snows" album in the family photo albums. Which one is your favorite?

A conversation that just occurred....

Mik: Mom I ate a rock and it didn't taste good.

Mary: Mik whhen did you eat a rock?

Mik: At school today.

Mary: Mik WHY did you eat a rock?

Mik: Joey at school made me.

Mary: Mik, eat food not rocks.

Mik: OK Mom.

Mary(to sean): I am working on my Masters Degree. Why am I have a discussion telling someone to eat food not rocks?

Sean: I have NO idea.

Well I made my trip to bring Kermit home. Before I talk about him though I wanna talk about my trip to Provo and back. On the flight out the flight attendant was way to flirty. It was actually creepy. When I got into the Salt Lake airport and was walking to the baggage carousel, I noticed a lady in a penguin suit picking up her bag. I am not kidding. it was like the costume in the picture. Steph and Matthew saw her too. she just waddled away with her roll behind. From their we went on up to her apartment(Stephani's, not the penguin.). later Stephani took me on a tour of he campus. Its is really beautiful. I have never had the occasion to honestly use the word majestic to describe something.....until Yesterday. the mountains truly are awe inspiring. It is just amazing how the Lord's hand has worked in Nature to produce something so beautiful.

We went to the campus book store which is like a Barnes and Noble, a university bookstore, an art gallery and a clothing store all rolled into one. It was so big and SO neat. We picked up a set of scriptures for steph (embossed with the name Stephani Snow) and a set for Brontë(and they even did the double dot!) with her name embossed. Then steph showed me a dress that I could tell she really wanted so I bought it for her. It looked great on her. Very pretty.

I made 2 huge Italian sub sandwiches for dinner. We were only able to eat one sandwich so we saved the second for Steph and Matthew and her roommates to eat tonight. Everyone really liked my subs.

Later in the evening we went to the COOLEST (pardon the pun) Ice Cream place ever. It is called SubZero and has the coolest way to make your ice cream. The start with regular cream in a silver bowl. Then you pick your flavor(I picked cheesecake) which they add in and then you pick mixins (I picked strawberries and graham cracker crumbs). Once they have everything in the bowl they poor in liquid nitrogen and start stirring. It freezes it into ice cream. It was so cool (pun again) to watch. It was like being in some mad scientist's laboratory while he made really tasty ice cream. OK bad comparison but its really neat.

Today was fast paced. I met Matthew's roommates who were actually really great guys. then we had to run steph to class. After that it was straight to Matthews car and on the road to get Kermit and then to the airport. a bumpy flight home and then I picked up the wrong back at baggage claim and did not realize it until I got home. We ran it back to the airport and then back home.

I promise to get new pictures of Kermit up in the next day or so. ITs late and I have to be up at 4 AM for work. I'll catch you all later.