What a wonderful week...

Today is my last day of vacation and oh how this week has been enjoyed!

Last Friday was our rehearsal followed by dinner at Bob and Kamera's for the wedding party, their significant others, our grandparents and parents and it was a lot of fun and delicious food. We had tacos, enchiladas, rice, chips and salsa, etc... YUM YUM! Brandon and I recently purchased a video camera so we taped a few parts of the night. I ended up saying goodnight to Brandon and heading to my moms just before midnight (maybe earlier, dont really remember)

I woke up on Saturday and was pretty much just bored and anxious and excited. I paced around the house all morning long hoping the clock would move faster :-) Just before 200, Christina, Tricia, Jaime and Denise started to do their hair and makeup (Just so happens that Christina is a hairstylist and was nice enough to help the others!) Katie came and started my hair and makeup at 2 and we were rushing out the door at 400. Timing was actually pretty perfect.

We got to Rock Creek and I immediately put my dress on and the girls put theirs on also. Kamera got a little bit of that on video tape also and then I walked out to the hall to see Brandon for the first time that day. Bob taped us seeing each other. We both were teary and just hugged and kissed and then off we went to do pictures with our wedding party. Then the ceremony was ready to start (all of this from 2-6 went by SO fast) I wasnt nervous at all, I think just because time was flying by and I had already seen Brandon and was just beyond excited to walk down that aisle and marry that boy :-) I think my dad may have been more nervous then me? As I was walking down the aisle it was a really weird feeling to have so many people staring at me and it was then that I realized all of those people were there supporting Brandon and myself and that is a WONDERFUL feeling. I saw Brandon and finally made it up there to hold his hands and look in his eyes and from that moment till the end of the ceremony, it was just the most happiest and wonderful moment in my entire life. I will NEVER forget the way I felt at that moment. After the ceremony Im pretty sure the only two phrases I said the rest of the night were "This is the happiest day of my life" and "Im the sweatiest bride EVER" haha. The first thing we did after being introduced as Mr and Mrs Brandon Laws at the reception was sneak off with the whole wedding party to take a shot of whiskey. Luckily, our wonderful photographers and Chris (our amazing videoographer for the evening- we owe you BIG time Chris) were there to capture the start of a fun night. After that, we ate dinner (yes brandon and I did get to eat- a little!) and we mingled with everyone and then danced our night away. It was awesome because the dance floor was packed till the very end and all of us were dancing like crazy people. (or maybe that was just me....) :-) Our ride came to pick us up and Brandon and I were whisked away to the most amazing hotel in portland, The Lucia. SO fancy shmancy. Him and I ate at the bar right when we got there haha and then of course we came back to our room and went straight to sleep ;-) Overall, our wedding was everything we had hoped it would be and then some. It was great to have everyone there (over 180 loving, caring, wonderful friends and family) and our flowers were beautiful, the cake looked and tasted great, our DJ was a hoot, Brandon looked so handsome, I felt pretty in my dress, I could go on and on....

As for our honeymoon, we have been calling it our minimoon. We hope to be able to go on a big vacation like a cruise sometime soon! But it was awesome just getting to relax at the beach. We stayed at the starfish manor in lincoln city and we spent one day at the salishan spa and had a couples massages and relaxed in their outdoor heated pool area. We lost some money at the casino and had a wonderful dinner there one night. We ate at our favorite diner in lincoln city where we shared a ginormous burger and yummy milkshake and my favorite day was when we filled out hotel room sink with ice and champagne and beer and drank all afternoon while playing cards and took a trip down to the beach. On our way home we stopped by the tillamook cheese factory and then to my moms house and his parents house to open all of our wedding gifts and oh my goodness it is overwhelming with how much stuff we got. We were so thankful for everyone who came to our wedding and supported us on shared with us our special day and then to recieve gifts from people as well is just unbelievable. Thank you to everyone, we love you all!

As for tomorrow, it is back to work I go... So not ready but I guess I have no choice :-)

PS: Congrats to my cousin Julie and her husband Matt on their new bundle of joy, Ryder. He was born yesterday and I cannot wait to meet him! Im sure Madeline will be a wonderful big sister!

PS#2: Congrats to our friends Britney and Joel on their new son Garrett who was born this morning. I know you both will be fantastic parents and I cant wait to see his cute face and sing him the rap I made for him haha ;-)