Twas the Night Before....

This is Sherry the night before her marriage. Her sister-in-law Maggie Hoffman has sewn her dress, as well as the bridesmaid dresses, and little Maggie has made Sherry a necklace which says something like "Sherry is getting married to Steve."

There remain a few last minute changes to the fittings. Consider this photo of the bride her "Before" pose tonight.

Pam gets her dress adjusted first. Amy finds posing for the camera irresistible. She knows dresses are important even at this early age.

Next, some of the pearl buttons need to be spaced right for the train of the skirt to hook. Lots of buttons for that pristine look.

You didn't know David could sew? Wrong! He worked away like mad to help finish that skirt.

Now we have to test those buttons. I'm sure glad they invented zippers! How much time do you have in your day?

It's looking better. Just a little longer in front maybe?

Now we can see how the skirt hooks up. Isn't the beadwork pretty?

I bet Pam must be having all those Mom thoughts you have when a daughter is about to take this momentous step in her life. She looks pretty pleased. No doubt she is glad she didn't have to make the dress!

Lisa loos pensive. Perhaps she is thinking that their relationship as sisters is changing with this new guy in the picture. Or maybe she is just wondering about her own future?

I caught a glmipse of these socks under the skirt. Mary Poppins has come home to roost!

I think I like it!

And now here is the "after" picture with pearls and veil.

Can't wait for tomorrow!

BACKWARDS

I know this is backwards, but it was so fun to post the pictures of Sherry and Doug Nevers' wedding that I decided the pictures of the day before would have to wait. So this post is out of chronological order, but here they are nonetheless. The first event of that weekend was our surprise birthday celebration for Dad. Although a few weeks early (his birthday is actually Sept. 15th) we knew it would be rare to have all his children there (except John, whose house sale had not closed), so we held a party in the lobby of our hotel.

Here is our dear Dad. We asked him to smile, and he did. See? Look closer.

)Dad was very pleased, but as usual, he looks rather expressionless. The Hoffmans will change that with some of their shenanigans, as you will see below.

Posing for a picture.

Lisa (--five foot one or two inches )mentioned that she felt like a shrimp next to the boys, so they remedied that.

I found everything funny. Blame Lucile, my mom.

Wally, the older, the serious one, and Doug, the younger and witty one. Wally is an incredible reader and writer. His letters to the editor always seem to get published. He was even asked to write a column in a newspaper. He is very concerned about losing the Constitution and is interesting to visit with. Doug, the one who always looks as if he is about to burst out laughing or has a funny comment to share (and he usually does), is an attorney and a fine musician (--he would debate the word fine--) who would play his clarinet all night long if it would feed his family. He loves playing with an orchestra and hopes to land a position again in the future. (He hasn't played with an orchestra since college.)

Sherry and Doug, to be married the following day, arrive later at the party. Are they not radiant together?

More jokes and laughing.

With my three sisters, Judy, Kathleen, and Mary Lou for

the first time since Mom's funeral in 2007. Judy is our political rights rep; she keeps us all in the know of what's going on. She is so generous with her talents and time, and shares her home with Wally and Dad. Kathleen is a retired awesome schoolteacher. She writes songs and musical programs for children at the drop of a hat, and never runs out of ideas. She is our avid conversationalist. Mary Lou, who is reserved and modest, is an award-winning nurse and-- her kids would say-- mother.

My Silver Bear. I just threw in this picture because I liked it.

Kathy's gift to Dad.

Gary can get Dad to come alive with a smile. With sister Lisa.

My brother Wally, with Lisa.

Dad with all his kids. Judy, Wally, me, Doug in back.

Mary Lou, Dad and Kathleen on the front row.

The party ends but the fun goes on with this family. We do love to be together. That's why we are so glad to know families are forever. The older we become, the more we appreciate the fact that we are sealed together and can continue that association in the next world. It brings a great deal of peace and contentment knowing that ordinance has been performed. Families are the best!

WEDDING CAKE, PEARLS, AND STINKY FEET

For those unable to attend the wonderful wedding of Sherry Hoffman to Doug Nevers on Aug 23rd, here are a few highlights for you to enjoy. This first photo captures a spontaneous moment when Sherry impulsively reached on tiptoe to kiss her new husband, and I happened to be there (imagine!) with my camera, which I am still attempting to figure out! Such a sweet moment....

My brother Doug looked as pleased as I've ever seen him. This is just after they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple by the groom's grandfather, who happens to be a sealer and was thus privileged to marry them. Now we have three Doug's in the family. Imagine how confusing that is going to be...

Both Sherry and Doug are unassuming, quietly confident and gentle personalities. Doug is studying chemical engineering; no one in his family can figure out where that interest came from, but he is very smart and loves the subject.

I liked this relaxed photo of the four Hoffman brothers, David, Gary, Steve and Richard.

Sharp and funny young men. David teaches seminary and writes curriculum, Gary is an undergrad and considered the comedienne of the family, Steve will have his PhD by spring in Psychology and rivals Gary for his sense of humor, and Richard is studying engineering at BYU. We love being with these young men. They are very different and very fun to be with.

For you who do not know Amy, Richard's new wife of two months, here she is. They live only a mile from us. She is from Minnesota, I believe.

Here we are with Dad, nearly 95 years old, at the temple following the ceremony. Kathleen is not in this photo but she was there somewhere! We lost track of people in all the ruckus of the crowds. Lots of marriages that day, as usual.

Walking with Dad to assemble for family pictures. He is still in remarkable health and condition, such a dear man to all of us. Sherry specifically chose to be married int he Idaho Falls Temple instead of Salt Lake because she reveres her grandpa so much and wanted him to be at the ceremony.

Here is my favorite captured pose. We enlarged this picture for the wedding reception that night. It is my favorite posed shot.

A sense of humor never fails the Hoffman clan. David, Gary, Steve and Lisa are holding Richard, who apparently has stinky feet!

Lisa, a very fine flutist, is enrolling into BYUas a Freshman this year. We expect to see a good deal of her this year with our grandsons David, Cory and Kendall, for dinner.

I couldn't resist this pose. This is Melissa, David's wife, with her third child.

Pale pink roses and white baby's breath framed the wedding cake. This cake actually

tasted delicious!

The buffet was presented beautifully and everything tasted as delicious as it looked, as David can attest.

Amy and Tim, David's children, were affectionate and very well behaved.

But Tim was not quite sure if Dave and I were really going to eat a piece of the cake!

Plenty of horsing around when the Hoffmans are around.

Good food and good conversation, evidently!

Lane, looking relaxed and affable.

Wherever my brother Doug is, there is always hilarity. So much fun and laughter!

Friends wanted to know about the handwork of lace and pearls which Melissa and David sewed for Sherry. A true labor of love.

Sherry and Doug enjoy a dance together at the end of the reception.

And finally, family members sneak outside to put the polishing

touches on the wedding vehicle. A perfect ending of a wonderful day !

Wish you'd been there, too!

NOT THE END.... JUST THE BEGINNING!