Weekend #2 Of FUN - Wedding On Bald Mountain

I attended the most beautiful wedding on top of Bald Mountain in Ketchum to celebrate an amazing couple.

 

Sierra and I worked together at ISP dispatch.  Mike is one of our troopers.  After hearing each other’s voices over the radio for many years, the two met, fell in love, and have built a beautiful life together with the addition of their cutie pie daughter.  It was a pleasure to be able to share this special occasion with them, their family, and their close friends.

 

The welcome party was Thursday at Sawtooth Brewery in Ketchum.  This was a fabulous idea as it provided an extra opportunity to meet family and friends and connect with friends I already knew.  It made the wedding feel extra special to feel like you know many guests.

 

We had beer, food, and ice cream provided by one of the groomsmen who owns a Stella’s Ice Cream location in Boise.

 

We stayed at the Meadows RV Park and while this was only our third experience staying at an RV park, it was our first arriving to find our reserved spot was already taken.  Grrrr….I hope this isn’t the norm.  While I was prepared to go to battle with the person who took our spot, the camp host had us relocate to another open spot.  It was a good location, just very close neighbors and very small spots.  We appreciated the full hook-ups.

 

The wedding was at 5pm which meant we had the whole day Saturday to relax.  Since we had to unhook to go anywhere, we stayed at the RV park for most of the day except venturing into town to see if SCOTTeVEST, had a store front/showroom.  Since they didn’t, we continued on foot to Warfield Distillery & Brewery for a pretzel (amazing) and a pint.  I can’t wait to try their aged gin later this week at a liquor event.

 

We arrived at the wedding venue, River Run Day Lodge, greeted by a mariachi band. 

 

At the base of the mountain, we found a set and enjoyed a beverage while we waited to ride the gondola to the top of Bald Mountain.  I was so excited to learn the wedding ceremony would take place on the mountain and had hoped all day for decent weather.  As luck would have it…we made it to the top.

 

The ceremony was beautiful.  The vows…the scenery…the bride & groom.  Oh man I wish I could go back and do it all over again.  It was all amazing.

 

We had a cocktail party at the Roundhouse where the band continued to entertain us as we had passed appetizers and drinks.

 

The reception was held at the base of the mountain and after riding the gondola back down, we had a seated dinner, drinks, cake, dancing, and late-night pizza.  Every aspect was well thought out and had a personal touch from the bride & groom.  There were even a couple outfit changes!  Wow.  I am still in awe at this beautiful occasion and could pinch myself for being invited to attend.

Weekend Fun: Relaxing And A Costume Wedding

The weekend went waaaaaay too fast.  Can I have a re-do?  An extension?  No, okay I guess I’ll start my work week.  (sigh)

I did have a great weekend but two days off was just not enough.  Saturday was spent running errands and time with Kenyon.  Phoenix and her kiddos came over in the early evening so she and I could enjoy a patio beer and some girl talk.  Kenyon and I lounged in the evening and went to bed early since we had to be awake early on Sunday for a wedding (and by early, I mean noon).

We woke up Sunday with plenty of time to get to the wedding, which was located in a super-secret location a little over an hour from our house.  After we ate some breakfast and loaded up, we seemed to be running short on time.  Then, I remembered our chairs….at home.  So, we had to turn back around to get the chairs thus making us a bit later than intended.  Thankfully, weddings don’t usually start on time so we didn’t miss the ceremony.

The wedding we attended was for Kenyon’s coworkers (who I am also now friends with) and was a costume wedding.  I learned the reason for this was because the groom felt if he was going to be something he wasn’t in getting all dressed up in a tux, that they might as well have fun with it.  His bride is pretty laid back so the decision was to have guests also wear costumes.  It turned out really fun.

 

The ceremony was short but heartfelt and the groom had some very thoughtful vows for his bride.  The officiant even shed some tears.  Sadly, the groom’s horse got in the way of the ring exchange, but still a nice ceremony.

 

After the ceremony, we sat around and visited while we ate food from Popeye’s and cakepops made by a friend of the bride.  The groom is a beer consour so the keg was actually a dark beer, quite surprising since most kegs are Bud Light or Coors Light.  I enjoyed several adult beverages and due to it being quite foamy, it ended up only be about a half a glass each time.  So I was able to pace myself.

 

I considered pitching a tent and spending the night, but I knew we didn’t have time for that.  Plus, as we were coming home a nasty storm rolled in so we left at just the right time.

I took a quick nap to get passed by alcohol buzzed state and then Kenyon and I went to dinner at Carino’s.  We lounged around that evening and went to bed early again. 

This afternoon before work I had a funeral/celebration of life to attend for a classmate who lost his father.  It is always a reminder to hug your loved ones extra tight each and every day. 

Super Bowl Sunday

I am not a football fan.  I will admit that I got sucked into the World Series this year but I have no desire to follow along with the football playoffs as we near the 2017 Super Bowl.  The game will be on when I work (well, assuming it is still going at 8pm) but other than that, you won’t find me stressing over it.

On the 2008 Super Bowl Sunday, I went wedding dress shopping with my Mom.  Kenyon and I were engaged on December 18, 2007 and were planning a possible destination wedding to the Oregon Coast in September of 2008.  My sister Jenny was engaged to (now husband) Will and I didn’t want to over shadow their wedding plans.  I had a conversation with my Grandma A. who wanted to know why the delay in the pending nuptials.  She said, “if you two love each other, than what are you waiting for?”  We had time off on the calendar at our respective jobs for March of 2008 and when I casually mentioned to Mom the idea of getting married sooner she said her and Dad would fly to New Mexico to join Kenyon’s family if we wanted to get married during our time off.  Kenyon and I wanted to move in together but we both believed in the traditional values of being married first.  So, a wedding was planned in just a few short months.

When we arrived at David’s Bridal explaining that our wedding was roughly six weeks away, they sort of panic.  In order for a gown to be ready in that amount of time you have to buy off the rack.  Despite my hard work at losing weight as a Weight Watcher member, and being down 80 pounds, I was still a size 20.  I wasn’t even looking for a traditional wedding gown at first.  The plan was to get married in the living room of Kenyon’s brother’s house.  That didn’t scream white dress and black tuxedo.

I found a pale purple bridesmaid dress that fit me really nicely.  It has rousing across the middle area and pleats along the length of the dress.  It was beautiful.  When I went to try it on, my mother suggested I at least try on a few white gowns since we were there.  I didn’t find anything I really loved and worried about the cost.  The sale clerk came out with a dress that had previously been put on layaway, was paid in full, and never picked up.  It was a size 20 and they were going to sell it to me for $99.  I tried it on and it fit perfectly.

The time I spent in that dressing room debating on if I really wanted the white gown, I remember looking at the photos on the wall of the brides in their white gowns smiling next to their grooms in black tuxedos.  I secretly longed to be one of those brides smiling next to their groom and that picture in my head didn’t include getting married at my soon-to-be brother-in-law’s house.  My Mom and I debated back and forth so long the store had closed and the kind clerk was waiting on us to make our decision.  I knew this was my dress and I knew I wanted a more traditional wedding.

I called Kenyon and informed him he was getting a tux and we were looking for a new wedding venue (that is another long story but eventually we found the perfect place).

As it turns out, by the time I added the undergarment, the wrap for my upper arms, and made some slight alterations to bring the straps in tighter make it less revealing in the boob area, it was no longer a $99 dress.  But, it was beautiful.  And I felt beautiful in it too.

We will celebrate nine years of marriage on March 21^st.  I am so very lucky I have Kenyon in my life.  He is a fantastic husband and lifelong companion.  I wouldn’t want anybody else by my side.

*On a side note.  My Grandma D. passed away on Super Bowl Sunday just last year.  It is nice to have a happy memory there along with the sad memory.

Is It Monday Already?

Good Morning.  Despite three days off (I didn’t have to work my OT shift on Sunday), I don’t quite feel ready for the work week.  And yet, here I am!  I do have OT today so I am back to the grind this morning.

Thanks for break from the blog.  I had a little bit of rest and relaxation but really the days off flew by.  Friday I spent some time trying to help a friend who is having a difficult time.  Saturday night Kenyon and I attended an open house for new wine tasting room and then a wedding at a different winery.  Sunday a couple of my friends came over with their kids to carve pumpkins.  Let’s dive into the last few days as I share some photos:

Williamson’s Orchard and Vineyard opened a new tasting room and had their open house on Saturday.  Since we had plans to be out that way for a wedding, Kenyon and I met my Mom and Dad there to see the new place and try some wine.  I went to school with Bev Williamson-Mack and we were able to chat with her despite the many people lounging around.  Since it was an open house their whole wine menu was open for tasting.  I really loved the Dry Riesling, Lilly White, and the Late Harvest Viognier.

 

We pretty much had to sip and run and we drove across the street to St. Chapelle.  The wedding was held in the upstairs area above the tasting room, which I’ve never been.  It was a nice area but quite small and there was a lot of table/chair shifting.  The food was delicious and the desserts were nice and sweet.  The bride looked stunning and I can’t believe that little Becky Feller got married!  The Feller family moved next door to my parent’s house when I was still young.  At that time they only had two children and now they have five (and two grandbabies).  Becky is the youngest.

 

The flowers were made of wood

I came down with a sore throat on Thursday evening and by Sunday I was miserable with a full blow cold.  I met Phoenix for breakfast and then went home to rest.  Phoenix and Rebecca brought their kids over to carve pumpkins in the afternoon.  It was a beautiful fall day and we carved outside on the patio.  Oh my what a mess kids can make!  But, we had fun.

Eight Years Of Marriage Plus A Recap

Today is my eighth wedding anniversary. 

 

You know you are getting older when you both work on your anniversary instead of taking the day off!  We will be celebrating on Thursday with massages and dinner at Tucanos.  Then next week we head to our favorite vacation spot Las Vegas!

Here are some blogs I’ve written about our wedding, honeymoon, and anniversaries.  There might be some repeat details written between them all.  I’ll post them here for easy reading.  Some have photo overload!

My Wedding Dress

 

 

We took a road-trip honeymoon a few months after our wedding to the Oregon Coast and Seattle.

Our Honeymoon

 

 

Our Five Year Wedding Anniversary

 

 

Sixth Year Wedding Anniversary

 

 

We celebrated our sixth year with a weekend trip to Ketchum and Sunny Valley.

Part One of our trip

 

 

Part Two of our trip

 

 

 

Seven Years As Mrs. Nowotny