Family by family they started to arrive on Friday- we were all staying in the same place....which is nice because if there was any down time we could hang out together.
(lets just say there was very little down time this trip.}
Shannon and her family came in first on Thursday night...so we had a little more time with them. Which included a breakfast of all bacon for Payton. (with a little fruit on the side =)
The Gardens were beautiful where we stayed.
- Payton and Conner pretending to be fish- silly
- Ellie and Audrey Hanging out together
- Nicholas and Anna fishing
- Shannon getting her baby fix with adorable Cole
- 400 year old Bonsai- Jessica's Dad's hobby. He has quite a few.... around a 100 or more.
- Payton acting like a fish.
Mario hosted a family lunch at his home. (set up by Kathleen} We enjoyed our afternoon with Jessica and her family.
After the lunch it was time to get ready for Mason's Bachelor Party....we have a tradition in our family; where the night before the boys get married... as a family we decide on something fun to do together...plus it is a good time to embarrass them one more time.
And the sign...they have to wear the sign the whole time.
We gathered by the fountain at the hotel....to start the party.
This was the back of the sign.
Here we all are- {John & Libby, Amy & Brian and family met up with us there}
Where? Medieval Times Dinner and Show
More sign fun
We always have to take a second picture because Kent has a joke to tell.
All my children- Shannon, Sam, Kent, Denver and Mason- {hey... so....how do they do that all the time without thinking?...line up in birth order. =)
Welcome sir Mason....is this really your Bachelor Party?
It was super hard to get a good picture inside...so please forgive the fuzziness.
We took up two whole rows! Holy Cow!
We ate with our hands, screamed at the top of our voices.....yep....pretty much a guy thing....but fun. I even heard a few of my Granddaughters yell..."off with his head" . Good activity wouldn't you say ? (smile}
Fun, fun, Fun!
But while that was a blast......this is my favorite part.....
(Scott is there...on the ground...taking one for the team...all seats were taken....didn't want to get too tight on the beds =}
Meeting back at the hotel for family counsel, gifts, talking, laughing, sharing advice and laughing.
Each one shared some heart felt advice about marriage ....very touching and sweet. Danny also gave Mason a Father's Blessing.
He opened some fun gifts- camera, Binoculars, batteries, a set of books...The art of being a man.....and few other things that will remain unmentioned. ( the little children were in bed asleep...in the linking room... video baby monitors are wonderful things.}
Love these Kids!
We feel so blessed!
Audrey...having fun.
-What we did for the other boys-
For Kent's party-
this statement is from Shannon's blog....for some reason the link I have to Kents party is broken....
The family Bachelor Party. Once we arrived in Logan and Kent returned from his pre-wedding breakfast with Becca the festivities began. Kent loves IHOP (I didn't know this before last week). Like really, really loves IHOP. So the plan was to go to IHOP for breakfast, lunch, and wait for it, wait for it . . . . dinner. Well Kent got stolen away for breakfast (ahhh, newlyweds -- can't you please keep your hands off of each other for 2 seconds?! Sheesh.). Kent & Becca were unaware of our plans and guess where they went for breakfast. IHOP. Throughout the day Kent had to wear a sign that said, "I'm getting married tomorrow, Wish me Luck!" After lunch our next stop was Best Buy (a.k.a. the holy land for Kent). My parents told Kent they were getting him a PS3 for wedding/Christmas (that put a giant smile on his face) so we all set out to find games & accessories. Of course this led to gaming back at the hotel. And when it came time for dinner a a mutiny surfaced and the plan for IHOP was abandoned. Instead we went to the Olive Garden and enjoyed Sam's 25% employee discount.
Sam bachelor party- was before I starting blogging....so no links. =(
We took him to Home Depot where he too had to wear a sign. We stood at the front doors with a basket. As the family paired up and ran all over Home depot looking for a gift....if you put the same thing in the basket as someone else you had to return it and look for something else. Tons of fun....They even broadcast over the speakers that he was holding his bachelor party at the store....several people {Strangers} left gifts in his basket also... that they had paid for...fun!
We have a plan....Shannon missed out on a bachelorette party....coming soon!
Four brothers are planning it =)
