The day has finally arrived! For me it started at 4:30, but I usually get up before 5 anyway. Soon the girls were getting up, and everyone had a few butterflies in their stomach!

Hairdressers and make-up people came at 8:00 and started doing their magic. This is Amanda, Mark's sister.

Amy Luiting, Bethany's lifelong friend, looks amazing with all those curls.

Tons of hairspray! Sabrina VanDyk took Bethany outside to spray her hair. That hairdo would not move an inch all day!

I'd say Bethany was happy this day has arrived. And she likes her hair!

Yes, tomorrow is the big day! Today we've been setting up the hall. The table rental place told us the tables seated 8-10 people. But the tables they delivered seated 6! So panic, cry, scream? Maybe a little. Added some big rectangle tables, all is good. Everyone can still eat and sit down doing so. Tonight, rehersal, pizza and finish up the centre pieces at the hall. Later the girls of the bridal party are partying! Movie, snacks, and probably not enough sleep. Who cares. There will be time for sleeping another night. This night is for fun. In the morning, early, hair, make up and lots of food for brunching. Than get all dressed up and head out to the church. I prayed for a good day and please some nice weather. Looks like the weather will be nice. And God is always there. Tomorrow is a very special day. I will have pictures of everything!

I really have been too busy to blog. Maybe if it didn't take 15 minutes to add 4 pictures, I would do it more often. But we have dial-up internet and have to put up with that. These daffodils are in my garden, and they are the real deal! I took this at 5:15 this morning. And I saw gold finches on my feeder yesterday. It really is feeling springish.

Countdown! Wow, it's getting close! Lots of last minute double checks going on. Ironing shirts, polishing shoes. Still making lists.

Lukes birthday was on April 5th. I made what he wanted for supper, lasagna and lemon pie. One spinach lasagna, of course, for those of us who don't eat much meat. But Luke loves the meaty one. There was even a piece left to bring to school the next day. They have a microwave in the classroom. The pie didn't set. I don't know why! Likely in my rushing, I forgot something, maybe cornstarch. Anyway, we froze it and it was pretty good!

Here's Luke, 15 now. This is where you can find him in his spare time. He didn't really get enough attention on his birthday. We'll make up for it some day.

Stop saying "Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home. I think our house is their home. I washed windows today, and they kept coming as fast as I vacuumed. It took 4 hours to do 3 windows. That's why I haven't done them in 10 years!

Still counting down. The days are flying past. Hope the weather hangs on. It was beautiful today!

I thought it was amazing these flowers were open at 5 in the morning. Especially since I didn't remember planting them!

They look nice.... until you look closer.

Someone thinks they can fool me.

Try again next year!

Clara's 1st birthday was yesterday. Megan was at my house because she's getting a kitchen remodelled. Jacob was a special guest. Tissue paper makes a great toy!

Clara would rather play with the paper, too. We had to keep reminding her to look in the bag.
Cool! A great gift from Aunt Jen, Uncle Justin, Emily and Jacob!

Looks like a little attitude here! It is her birthday after all.

Megan had to blow it out before Clara grabbed it!

Ready for the first bite.

Mmmm.................

Jacob likes the cupcakes, too. But he didn't get to eat it by himself!

What a mess!

Clara didn't really like her dirty hands.

She did have fun destroying her cupcake.

Jacob can't believe what he is seeing.

Can it really be only 11 days left?

My sister, Pam, hosted a shower for the Haveman side of the family (my maiden name) It all looked so classy, with decorated glasses, and wine and punch.

My daughter-in-law, Jen, daughter Valerie Slingerland with her daugher, Izzy.

My daughter, Lisa, niece Nicole Orchard, Bethany, niece Caitlin Haveman, and niece Kirsten Orchard.

My Mom, gotta love her, my two sisters, Pam and Liz. I love them, too!

Great niece Amberleigh and her Mom, my niece Rebecca Dearing.

Daughters Lisa and Bethany, great niece Heather Dearing and niece Caitlin.

My son Simon, along for the highspeed computer Pam has, and my daughter Megan VanDyk.

Heather, having a great time with all the aunts and cousins! I think she won the necklace game.

My sister Pam, the hostess, and my sister-in-law Chris Haveman.

Wow, only 2 weeks! Crunch time. Making more lists of what still needs doing.

What in the world are Mark and Herb carrying?


It's huge! Could hardly fit out the bedroom door!


It looks like they are moving out a coffin!


Mark, what a goof! This is the hope chest he built for Bethany. It turned out a bit bigger than he thought it would!

They both easily fit in, I probably could have squeezed in, too.

It will hold a lot of blankets and sleeping bags, but it won't fit upstairs in their house. They do have a nice finished basement.

Here's some of the stash Bethany got at the Pennings Shower. Today is the Haveman Shower. Should be fun!

Time for a haircut. I've been teaching Bethany how to cut Mark's hair.

Watch out for his ears! At least his hair will grow back if something goes wrong!

All pretty for the wedding. Bethany did a great job on his hair.