15 years ago today

I woke up at about 7 am, pushed my dear little sister out of bed, donned my rubber boots and headed over to Six Mile and Newburgh area to pick wildflowers

And you know,
it dawns on me now in a,
'heh, how about that' type of way
as I look at this picture that. huh.
Here all these years I've been blaming my kids rubber boot love on my husband's people and looky there.

If I remember correctly I bought those in Finland.

Don't tell Pa.  It's hard to overlook their practical nature.

Anyway. 

So after we picked wildflowers where there used to be a field and now there is a subdivision, we headed over to the church to clean them up and put them in vases. 

Like so....



And checked out the cake that Pa's cousin had made

It was yummy.  We ate the top portion 14 years ago today.

Memory lane is fun, no?

So then we scrambled to get ready, rushed back for pictures and all that.  We did our photos before the wedding.  And our photographer was a jerk.  He was so wretched, impatient and rude that he was actually fired for his behavior on our day.  When I look at my professional (scoff) photos I can see exactly where he totally teed me off and I was fighting the tears. 

But my dad took him out back and knocked his clock off fixed his wagon

Here my dad is telling us, okay...I took the dipwad out back and we've come to an understanding.  Dipwad is totally a 90's word. Okay...an 80's word.  I have a hard time letting go. And I was so glad that my dad took charge and set things back on track, it had been plummeting downhill fast and he saved the day. 

Oh...and my dress.  It's my cousins.  I had gone to Finland for the year prior to my wedding and thought I'd come home with a beautiful Finnish wedding dress.  But all the dresses that I found in Finland came from Spain, complete with a bazillion ruffles on the skirt.  Wearing the dress that my aunt had made for my cousin was the best decision ever.  It felt like pajamas, so comfortable it was.  I couldn't have found anything better suited for me. 

Here are a few photos before I went into teary meltdown

The two on the outside are Pa's sisters....Sherry on this end being the oldest.  She's way old.  Two days older than me.  It's longstanding that I have to put that in wherever I can.  We had our first visit when we were less than a month old. 

the one to my left is my sister, and the other two are my cronies from the 80's and early 90's - lots of memories shared and now we haven't seen each other in too many years. Why does that happen?

and the ushers and groomsmen.  One of my brothers, one Pa's brothers, two childhood Minnesota friends and two friends from after his move to Michigan. We still bump into most of these guys fairly regularly, but it's been awhile since we've seen our best man.  Agneta...are you reading?  LOL  Come visit!!

Anyway....
I love looking back at these photos because in my mind, nothing has changed.  The pictures however say otherwise.

Like this one

My dad and brothers.  My dad actually still looks pretty much the same.  My brothers have grown.  That cute little one on the right there is the same one that now brings me pasties. 

And Pa's sisters.  We're at the tail end of the big hair era here.  I love this picture too because Teresa, the one in the front, is now the tallest of them all.  And Sherry is still the oldest.  By far. heh.

I'm jumping all over here, but hey...it's my anniversary, humor me.  This is one of my favorite photos.  I'm not sure why.  The candidness?  The weird lighting?  I don't know.  Just me and my siblings. 

Keep a close eye on Kevin...there'll be more of him

But first another one of my favorite shots.  I think this was one of those posed shots...and there should be more girls in it, but I like it.

So then after all that posed stuff I enjoy looking at all the candids.  The people who were there, what was going on.  My aunt Barb took candids for us, and in looking thru my album I realize that there aren't any pictures of her because of it.  I wished I had remembered at the time to get one.

But we did get some others.

First of all, the kitchen ladies.  These are the ladies that help put the meal on, and they are all friends.  They even put up with us having frozen meat for meatballs.

  We had a rather funny story about the meat.  I had called and pre-ordered the meat just as one should, but I didn't have the number.  So I called information and I asked for the number for Marv's meat market...that's where all the brides were getting their meat in those days.  Could be that they still do.  So I got the number and ordered enough meat to make meatballs for 500 people, whatever that was. 

And then, when it came time to need the meat, we went to pick it up.  At Marv's Meat Market...and they had absolutely no record of us at all.  But I ordered it.  We lucked out and they had enough anyway without the preorder, but I was befuddled enough that I wanted to figure it out.  So I called the number in my little bridal notebook, got the meat market and inquired about my meat.  It was still sitting there waiting to be picked up.  But I was just there! I said, and there was no record of my order.  But I have it right here, she replied, with the paperwork and everything.

So, still totally confused, I asked who and where she was.  This is Meijers Meat, she answered.  oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.  Turned out that that operator I had when I called for the number had a bit of a drawl. Marvs.  Maaaaiiijjjjeeerrs.  I cancelled that order. Sheesh.

Here are my dad's sisters and mother

My aunt Mary is giving me some type of signal there, but I'm not sure what.  And here's another funny story from our day.  My grandma there got to bonding with Lena, one of George's girls

this is Lena

So Lena is sitting on my grandma's lap and she is feeling the silkiness of my grandma's dress with her hand and she tells me grandma, 'niiiice dress' as in, it feels nice. 
Then she proceeds to put her hand on my grandma's cheek and rub her face and says, "funnny face"   My grandma nearly peed her pants, she still tells that story and asks about Lena whenever I see her.  Love how those memories get made.

And Lena's folks.  My long-time blog readers are familiar with Uncle George.

I was always pretty touched by the fact that George, who said he'd not wear a suit until his first daughter got married...wore a suit to our wedding.  I thought that was pretty special. 

I lived with George and Becky for the month and a half before my wedding.  I had come home from Finland in August and we got married in September, so I needed some digs.  Never mind that they already had 11 kids at home, they squeezed me in too.  Lot's of fond memories of that time. 

And the reason you haven't seen Becky in my blog posts is because she lost her battle to breast cancer on November 17, 2000.  The reason I remember the date so precisely is because that it was her very own birth date, and it was when Wendy was exactly one month old. I was able to introduce Wendy to Becky a couple times before she passed away.  We miss her dearly.

They sang Day by Day, a church hymn,  as part of our ceremony.

These are Pa's folks.  And our nephew Brent.  Brent belongs to Sherry and is now expecting his second child.  Sherry is a grandmother which makes her WAY old.  See how this works?

I, of course, have to get my sister-in-law Sue in here since she lurks my blog and all, and I think it would be fun to see if she could still carry Derek like that today. Derek is now a senior in high school and doesn't wear his socks quite that high anymore.  He also occasionally attends woodcarving classes with Pa, but he hasn't in awhile cuz, like, he works and stuff....Pa's going to have to get on him.

And these are the Ricks.  The one on the left is Pa's uncle and the one on the right is mine.  They are both ministers and they dual-performed the ceremony because we really wanted to include them both, and I'm glad we did. 

So as I was looking at what pictures I scanned, I realized I didn't have any of my mother. 

So I scanned some more.   And look...as I promised, more Kevin.  Kevin...you were having a meltdown at my wedding? Whassup?

ah..but there's dad to the rescue again

Chin-up little buckaroo....it's almost over....

And us, of course.
We haven't changed a lick.

be good!   

Comments

[Linda J]

Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful entry. (I think we may have had the same wedding photographer - I NEVER look at our album for that reason - and no one took snaps:() Wonderful last picture - seems to capture it all - and I don't think you have changed a bit:) Enjoy a happy day.

[Erin Campbell-Pope]

Happy Anniversary Torm! Have fun celebrating with your hubby!

-Erin

[Jan Connair]

Happy 15th, Sharyn! Love the wedding pictures. Maybe you can use some of that money you are saving on The Grocery Game to celebrate over dinner with your husband. Fifteen years down, 35 or more to go!

[Kelley Popp]

Happy Anniversary! Love the photo story montage will make for a great page someday. Many more togetherness years wished to you both!

[KJS]

Happy anniversary!!!! Time flies..........and boy we all have seemed to age in that little while. Hope you have a wonderful day.

[Judy]

Happy Anniversary. Your pictures are great. Ours is Saturday, but I don't think I will be able to top that. My memory just isn't that good, plus I don't have that many pictures. Hope you guys can go out an celebrate, enjoy your day.

[Anna Beth]

Those pics are so great!!

[Mom]

Happy Anniversary to you and Greg!! The pictures sure bring back lots of memories.

[Steph]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!

[SusannaT]

Awwww.. look at the two of you...

Onnellista hääpäivää!

[Karinmicheles]

Happy 15th Anniversary!

How weird is it that in exactly one week from today dh and I will be celebrating our 15th also?!

[tracy whitney]

happy anniversary! we'll be celebrating 14 years in oct. : )

[lisa verstichelen]

Happy anniversary !!! Love the pictures !

[Ashley Harris]

Happy Anniversary! Those are some great pictures. That cake is beautiful! Have a great day!!

[Jess]

Happy Anniversary!

[Kathryn]

Happy Anniversary, Sharyn. I hope you two can find time to get out and celebrate. I love this entry. (and does Sherry read your blog?!) ;)
-Kathryn

[sharyn (torm)]

If she doesn't now, she will soon, eh? If she can find her spectacles. :)

[Becca]

Happy 15th Anniversary, Sharyn! Great post...and love the 80's hairdos. =)

[Shelley]

Happy Anniversary to both you and Greg! Great post

[Emily Dennis]

Happy Anniversary!

I enjoyed the little walk down memory lane with you. :)

[Elizabeth]

Happy Anniversary to you both! Love the photo montage. :-)

[cami]

Happy anniversary Sharyn (and Greg too!)

[carol :)]

DOH! You all are so CUTE!!!! Happy anniversary and many more!

[yvonne]

Happy Anniversary!
15 years ago? Geez, I was a couple months from delivering my 6th.

[sue]

Happy Anniversary!!! First off...Derek could probably carry me like that now. And boy am I glad I'm younger than you, poor Sherry! You said your Mom wasn't in the pictures until the end, wasn't that her up at the top arranging flowers? Have a great day...and many more anniversaries!

[Crazy Anne]

Well I don't think anyone has said it yet, so I will do the honors...Happy Anniversary! I guess I never knew that you and Kevin were siblings...I used to hang around with him a little when I was still at home and I never knew until I started reading your blog. Funny what we learn about people oonline! These things are amazing.

[sharyn (torm)]

That is my mom on top...but she needed a close up.

And don't be worrying about Sherry...I put up with the same thing from her little brother everyday. LOL And when you've known someone for almost 40 years, well..she's used to me.

[Junkyard Jennifer]

She (your mom) was with the kitchen ladies too. {We readers notice these things.} Lol! ;)

Happy Anniversary!! I swear I vaguely remember your wedding... :)

Great post!

[suetreiber]

Happy Anniversary!
Those are great photos, and a good story as usual!!

[pc smart]

thanks so much for sharing those photos and memories - i really enjoyed them!

[Kel_eh]

Congratulations! We have 15 years too. Fantastic photos, thank you for sharing.

[Anne H]

What a fun blast from the past pictures. (Not that it was THAT long ago!) Happy Anniversary!

[tania]

this is THE sweetest blog post EVER.
happy anniversary!!!!!!

[Katie]

Happy Anniversary!

[Nikki]

Happy Anniversary!

[summer]

OH I loved looking through these with you- such a sign of a great storyteller since I don't know these folks one whit, I still got involved. Lol.
Happy 15th and man, Mike and I's 8th is coming up soon.....maybe I'll steal this idea for our 15th......
;)

[Elaine]

Happy Anniversary, and to 35+ more years to come!

[Heli]

Onnellista hääpäivää! :) Hauska nähdä näitä kuvia!

[ashley]

Happy anniversary!!!

[Amanda]

Guess I'm a little late here, but Happy Anniversary just the same! Great narration there, made me smile!

[Heli]

Happy Anniversary, I don`t know if my fist comment came through a few days ago, can`t see it now anyway...
Fun to see the pictures, and I do remember visiting Becky well, remember the t-shirts we made:)?

[Petra]

I'm a few days late in catching up here... but happy anniversary!!!!!!!! I LOVED your anniversary post with the photos and the stories. Makes me want to do a post like that... even though my anniversary was months ago. lol :)