Overdue

Yes, this post is abominably late, but I'm really not sorry. I've been having fun and that is not a crime where I live (at least not yet). I went on a surprise trip to California for my brother's wedding. Matt had to do some finagling, but he managed to get some time off to stay with crazies #1, 2, and 3. He's a champ. While I was away, he watched cartoons with them, let them stay up late, took them to birthday parties, made breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and when I came home after 3 days he said I was totally validated every time I looked at him as my salvation when he walked in the door from work. (Here's me doing a silent cheer in my head.)

Anyway, Michael and I cruised on over to home base to a jam-packed weekend of fun. My mom brought us from the airport to her house with two of  my brothers and a sister. Even though is was 11pm (2 am for me), she wasted no time in placing a steak, baked potato, salad, and fresh raspberry smoothie in front of me. What a great way to start a vacation. After a lovely chat that included two topics that would consummate any Locke family conversation (in-depth microbiology and The Great Race), I headed off to bed.
Get up, get dressed, pick up brother #3, drive for 2 hours, and we are wedding-ready. I had to make my round of hellos to Linda and bride Heather. She is stunning.

 Linda, Heather, Jill (my mom)

 
With my step-sis Charity. Michael is just a few hours older than this cousin.

The latest boy editions of cousins.

Michael had a few people to meet for the first time--like Grandpa Robin here.

And Grandma Linda

Of course Aunt Heather

None other than Aunt Mary

And poor Uncle Matt. He didn't do anything wrong, Michael was probably distraught from the fact that he has such a huge extended family. There are like 30 more people that aren't pictured cuz the pictures I took were ruined from the super bright sun.

So now it is time to walk her down the aisle.

My dad filled in for her dad who was sadly stuck in jury duty. If he didn't have a good enough excuse, than I don't know what one is.

There's my bro gettin' hitched.

Brothers 1, 2, and 3 with Daddy-O. This is missing #4: Danny. We'll get him later.

I was mostly a photographer, so here is proof that I was at the wedding. After 3 minutes of pondering, I have no explanation for the pose, and I'm not wasting any more time, so you can think what you want.
See what I mean about the sun?

Here is the Beauty with the cake at Chevy's after the nuptials.

Nathan and Heather

I think she's happy.

Him too.

Me, Linda, and Dad

And a couple of delinquent brothers.

That is it for the wedding. I'll get to my other meanderings later.

Cross Country

We became international travelers by hopping across Canada to get to Palmyra, New York, a historical spot for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. October's weather had actually been quite nice up until this particular weekend when it decided to freeze us out.

After church we came over to the old Joseph Smith house

And in the barn

In front of the house. I really wanted a picture with this awesome tree with bright yellow leaves.

I just love how they are laughing their heads off here.

On the way into the Sacred Grove --my favorite part of our trip.

These were the most beautiful colors that I had seen anywhere.

From there we stopped by the Hill Cumorah and it was a lot bigger than I was expecting. To describe it best, it was a great hill for rolling down while calling out, "As you wish!".

The second city on our venture was Niagara Falls. We stuck to the Canuck side which did not disappoint. Still freezing.

Oh look, proof that Michael actually was with us on the trip.

Some refuge from the cold in the Hershey's store.

We had 9 Canadian dollars so we had to use it on chocolate.

One last look at the falls before heading home.

Hello, Ian

Alex's pumpkin that he maybe spent 2 minutes on. Speedy? No. His mom is too much of a perfectionist and it was too nice of a day to ignore the backyard that was calling to him. Thank goodness that tooth is out now--that is pretty freaky looking.

Kate getting in on the picture taking.

Bekah with "her" (Dad's) pumpkin. The one time we hand the kids a knife and tell them to hack away and they'd rather play. I guess they didn't understand the freedom. They didn't like how hard it was and quickly gave up.

The costumes.

I bought this last year on clearance. I didn't know at the time how perfect it would be for Keturah.

This hair took a lot of gel and hairspray.

He actually looks scary. He really was frightening the small children at the church party.

Michael the cow

I did an encore presentation of my 80's girl that we didn't get a picture of. Here is the one in 2007--same outfit.

Matt in what he wears half the time anyway--scrubs.

Everywhere that Mary went

Aunt Mary came over to get her fill of Michigan in the fall since her current home in California is not all that autumn-esque. First we had to get stocked with free movies from the library and then stop by the Mc Donald's playplace.

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That night, Mary and I went to the Bishop's storehouse to can some food, which was a lot funner than it sounds. The next day we cooked a lot, though I don't really remember what. We had a campfire that night so Mary could have her s'mores.

She got Michael to smile bigger for the camera than I ever could.

We skipped on up to Frankenmuth to show Mares the town and to climb in trees...

...and to try on hats.

Bekah just looked cute no matter what kind of ridiculous hat she had on.

Later, Mary and I made Halloween sugar cookies and she just cut these freehand because I have no cool cookie cutters. I thought they were pretty darn good.

We got Mary her very own pumpkin because we knew she wouldn't get to do this at home.

And then, like a good Aunt, she left the kids with blanket forts in their rooms.

Old man

Matt finally caught up with me by turning 30. A friend watched our kids and we went out to a steak house to eat that weekend. But I think what we had at home the on the big day was just as good.

Kabobs on the grill and some black bean, corn, and avocado salsa. Heaven.

Chocolate cheesecake

He never gets tired of getting new ties.

They accidentally matched with their clothing choices. They kinda look related for once.

Transformations

Somehow the summer turned my "little kids" into just "kids".

Also, my newborn turned into a baby.

And my baby turned into a toddler.

None of these people asked my permission. I thought the title "mom" meant something, but I guess I was mistaken. The nerve.

Oh yeah...and I turned into old lady. Don't I look like I'm about to croak? Good-bye twenties.

At least I can still make a good cake, although I can't say the same about my face.

(FYI--it's chocolate cake with raspberry mousse filling and chocolate Italian meringue butter cream frosting)

My favorite gift was this card that Matt made for me.

So I guess that if Matt is the last one to transform into something else than it would be into the World's Best Husband. Because in high school I used to call him "the scum of the earth". I was so nice.