Lunch with friends and a wedding

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Today my daughter Tamara married Ryan Miller. So the last week has been very full of activities and preparation. It started last Saturday in Denver where we went to pick up our other daughter, Rosanna, at the Denver International Airport. She was flying in from Virginia at 3 pm, but without our son-in-law Evan who couldn't get time off as they had just returned from two weeks in Italy and Greece...they learned about insane itineraries from me! He has used his time since then very productively by finishing the first draft of his doctoral dissertation. He is scheduled to defend his thesis in September and then receive a PhD in Bioinformatics. Also missing was our son Will who is going to law school at Bangor University in Wales. We called him at the last minute to ask if he wanted to come, but he preferred for us to spend the money for a flight home at Christmas. That we will do! So we look forward to having all our children and their families with us then.

But before Linda, Liam (grandson), and I went to DIA we had lunch at the Sassafras Cajun restaurant in Denver with some very dear friends who we had never met in person; Ali, Travelblogger #1 and hence the founder of Travelblog, and his wife Michelle auspicious, Travelblogger #163658, and baby Olivia, who is not yet a Travelblogger, but will be someday given her heritage. Having read each others blogs we felt we knew each other better than we know other close friends. It was great to share more about each others lives and travels, and our hopes and dreams for future trips. Thanks again for lunch Ali and Michelle...it was great to spend some time with you!

After lunch we picked up Rosanna and drove home. But upon arriving in Manitou Springs at the bottom of Ute Pass we discovered that US 24 was closed due to a mudslide caused by heavy rain over the Waldo Canyon fire burn scar (see The "Purple Mountain Majesty" of Colorado in Flames ). We parked along the main street along with many other stranded tourists waiting for word when the road would reopen. While waiting we had supper at the Keg, your typical bar that definitely wasn't family oriented. But with so many stranded families in town, it soon became a family restaurant. They actually had very good food. Rosanna is still raving about her salad. The pass was eventually opened about 7 pm and we got home about 7:30.

I won't go into any detail about the other days leading up to the rehearsal and the wedding. You wouldn't be interested in the daily trips down to Colorado Springs to visit my Mom at the nursing home and to shop for wedding related stuff...including having to have the dress altered a bit again...turns out Tamara lost some weight around her waist.

So Friday arrived as did Ryan's mom, brothers, and their families. Renee, Ryan's mom, spent the day in our dining room making all the flower arrangements, corsages, and boutonnieres...they were beautiful. She also made the veil! Rehearsal was scheduled for 5 pm, and everyone gathered at our home before hand. Ryan and brother Matt barely made it up the pass before it was closed due to flash floods. Anyway, those who were in the wedding party drove to an estate near Divide where the lords of the manor had their own private chapel large enough for about 15 people (perfect size for our wedding). The rehearsal went quickly; satisfied that the next day would go like clock work...perhaps we should have paid more attention as the wedding the next day didn't follow what we had practiced. Nothing like winging a wedding! After the rehearsal we convened back at our home for the rehearsal dinner of pulled pork BBQ sandwiches with all the side salads. It was a very pleasant evening getting to know the families better.

So today started with my taking Tamara to the hair dresser at 8 am to get a bride's coif. We finished at 9:30 am which gave everyone and hour to dress for the wedding. The wedding was scheduled to begin at 11 am. Everyone was ready to go by 10:30 am, except we were missing Ryan's brother Matt, the Best Man. It turns out that he had tried to iron his shirt with the hotel iron and burned it. The department store in Colorado Springs where he could buy a new one didn't open until 10 am. We decided to go to the chapel and wait there for him and his family. It was great just chit chatting with the small group of guests...just the closest family and friends...not hundreds...while waiting. Well, we were all ready by 11:45 am and the ceremony proceeded...procession...giving away the bride...scripture reading...the words of advice from our pastor...the vows and exchange of rings with Tamara breaking down with giggling fits...pronouncement of man and wife...and blowing bubbles (not confetti) as the new husband and wife departed. We all met outside for pictures.

After dropping off the kids at our house where I had arranged for two baby sitters (one would be needed just for Liam who was super excited by this time), and had pizza delivered for them, we met at the Swiss Chalet for our reception/dinner of salmon, chicken piccata, NY strip steak, schnitzel, or pasta primavera along with soup or salad and wine. The food was excellent as usual. The first time I entered the Swiss Chalet when we moved to Woodland Park nine years ago, I got tears in my eyes as it reminded my so much of our years in Europe and vacations in Switzerland.

We returned home at 3 pm for the wedding cake and the cutting thereof...and eating too. Everyone could just relax and enjoy themselves for the rest of the afternoon. Eventually everyone left except Linda, Rosanna, Liam and me. On August 6th Rosanna returns to Virginia, so Linda and I should be empty nesters for the first time in almost 29 years. I have a feeling that we are about to flip the page on a new chapter of our lives.

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Photos

Bride and Groom with Parents
Renee, Ryan, Tamara, Bob and Linda

Lunch with Ali and Michelle
Linda, Bob, Ali, and Michelle at the Sassifrass Cajun Restaurant in Denver

Rehearsal at Diana's Chapel
with Pikes Peak in the distance

Rehearsal dinner
Renee, Linda, Bob taking a picture, and Bruce (our pastor the officiant)

Bride and Groom with Matron of Honor
Rosanna, Tamara, and Ryan

The new family
Ryan and Tamara with Cecily and Liam

Tamara having a talk with Liam after he blew bubbles in her face...
but I though that was the point!

Happy Dad
Bob with Pikes Peak in the background

Cutting the Cake
Tamara, Ryan a,d guests in the background

Cutting the Cake
Tamara and Ryan

Bride and Groom feeding each other
Tamara and Ryan

Happy Moms
Renee and Linda

Comments

[RENanDREW]

Looks like a beautiful and intimate wedding Bob! And what a gorgeous little chapel.

[Dancing Dave]

Big week
Congratulations Bob & Linda. Empty nesters...both daughters have now flown the coop...and what a send-off for Tamara. Great spot for a wedding and you all look fabulous. And meeting Ali & Michelle as well. what a week!!!

[D MJ Binkley]

Hey Great photo!
There are some smiling faces that we know. Love the TB gatherings.

[D MJ Binkley]

The joy of weddings
Bob and Linda it looks like another successful chapter in your wonderful life. Majestic mountains makes the most terrific of settings for these events. Please send our best to Tamara and glad the Elk made an appearance.

[RJT]

Lovely pic
What a lovely family photo! Looks like you had a great day. And now some exciting times ahead.

[Home and Away]

Thanks for your comment...
Ryan and Tamara were having trouble finding an apartment in Fort Collins where he works. So I contacted Kari12, winner of last week's BoW who I learned lives there. It just so happened that she was about to buy a house and needed someone to fulfill the rest of her lease. So this weekend we are taking a look at her apartment, and I will meet her for the first time. I love how the Travelblog community networks and helps each other! Also on Monday, Tamara has a job interview for teaching. So it should be an interesting weekend.

[auspicious]

You have a beautiful family~~
It was so lovely meeting you guys -- the only downside was that we didn't get to talk longer. Though you speak of an emptying nest, I remember Linda mentioning that you have plenty of pets to ensure there isn't a void. I recall Linda saying that they aren't all yours? ;) I'm sure we will meet again down the line as my side of the family is over in Colorado and who knows? Maybe some day we'll consider making Colorado home. Congratulations to the beautiful bride and handsome groom! p.s. Just read your latest comment-reply -- 6 Degrees of TravelBlog??

[Home and Away]

6 degrees of Travelblog...
yes indeed. We live in a very connected and very small world. That's what I love about TB!