Wechsler Family Celebrations

I have been such a slacker of a blogger lately. Life has been busy and blogging has taken a back seat. In the next few posts, I will try to catch you up on the past month of our lives. Bear with me...

Almost a month ago, I ventured out to Phoenix to celebrate the engagement of my dear cousin Rachel and her incredible fiance Michael.

The wonderful thing about my cousins and I (this is my dad's side of the family by the way) is that we are all pretty close in age. The oldest is 27 and the youngest is my brother who is 18. Our parents did a great job of getting everyone together several times a year from a very early age. I am so grateful for this, because the cousins would not be as close as we are had our parents not.

Rachel and I are only 7 months apart, with me being older and wiser :) She is from Phoenix but now lives in Hattiesburg in DO school. Michael, her fiance, moved there to be with her! One reason why I love him. He loves her so well, and loves our family well also. And if you have spent any time with my crazy (yet wonderful) family, you understand how great this is!

Kim, Rachel's older sister, who is almost a year older than me though we graduated the same year, hosted an engagement party at her house for the bride and groom. I wish I had taken more pictures of the night, but spending sweet time with my family was more important than playing photographer.

From left to right: Kim, her boyfriend John, Poppy (my dad's dad), me, Gigi (dad's mom), Rachel, her mom Karen, and her fiance Michael. Pre-party.

My beautiful cousin Nikki and Gigi. Gigi is beautiful too!

At the end of the night. Phoenix was HOTT! and my face shows it...

Gigi's 80th birthday is in September. But since we were all together for the weekend, we celebrated early! We had a fabulous dinner party at a delicious Italian restaurant in Phoenix called BRIO.

The menu for Gigi's dinner.

My cousin Nikki, me, and my uncle Cliff. My dad is a twin which will help you out when you see a picture of my dad and think, "I thought that was her uncle."

Gigi and Poppy. 57 years of marriage.

Making a wish and blowing out her candles!

My birthday was that Sunday, and to my surprise my family decided to celebrate my birthday as well. Thanks Gigi for sharing your night with me! Kyle wasn't able to go on this trip, so it was very heart-warming to feel all the love from the fam...

Reading birthday cards and opening my present which was a beautiful necklace!!!

My cousin Alex having too much fun with the icing from Gigi's cake. Clearly, she is thrilled...

The whole gang. Though we are missing my cousin Sara, my brother Kyle, and my husband Kyle. I wish you could see the ten pictures taken prior to this. It's an act of Congress to get this group be quiet long enough to look forward and take a decent picture. But hey, that's who we are!

Me and Dad.

Another group shot. There were also about ten other pictures prior to this one as well...

When you hang with the Wechslers/Nachums, you better be prepared to talk loud, laugh a lot, get on someone's nerves or have someone get on yours, maybe cry a little. But most importantly, LOVE. A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE.

Surprise Showering

Over the past few months, I have been blessed with the opportunity to disciple two of my very dear friends, Julie and Kayla. Taking what I learned from my nine months in Downline, I am sharing with them what I have learned about the Lord, His word, and our mission if we call ourselves followers of Christ. It has been a personal challenge for me. It has caused me to spend more time studying the Word both academically and devotionally. I am held more accountable now than ever, because I am responsible for what I impart to them. It must be truth.

Our time together has been so sweet to me. It melts my heart to see two women hungry for the Lord and to desire to learn His word. Our friendship has deepened more in the past several months than it has over the past 2 years that I have known them, I think [you'll have to ask their opinion :) ]. And it's because we are learning together, praying together, suffering together, celebrating together.

Tonight, we celebrated their little buns in the ovens! Julie's sweet girl, Kathryn Ann ("Kate"), is due in late October. Kayla's handsome man, Asher Riley, is due just before Christmas!

Tonight the girls came over for our usual weekly meeting, but little did they know they had several surprises waiting for them...

{kayla and asher's diaper cake and goodies}

{julie and kate's diaper cake and goodies}

{muddy's...what else}

{pregger bellies - the cheesy pose was forced upon them}

{soon-to-be mommies}

{reading their cards-i didn't write too much because i was starting to tear up while writing}

{julie excited about swaddling}

{cute little long-sleeve onesies since it will be chilly when kate is born}

{kayla is using bright colors in her nursery. when i saw this owl clock in texas the other weekend, i HAD to get it}

{same onesies kate got, but in boy. they say "the best of mom and dad"}

{julie loves socks, so of course sweet kate will too}

{love them- please excuse my tired eyes. i have been working 10+ hour days this week}

In the words of the great James Taylor : "Shower the people you love with love."

Babies Babies Babies

Babies all around!

The past week has been full of baby celebrations!

Two Saturdays ago, my handsome little godson Declan was baptized. The baptism was at Incarnation Catholic Church in Collierville. Father Ben, who married Patrick and Alicia, baptized Declan. Father Ben also baptized Abbigail who I posted about here.

Declan cried the whole time but it was the cutest thing!!!

{this is how patrick has to hold declan to keep him happy}

{father ben putting the sign of the cross on declan's forehead}

{my turn}

{declan did not like the holy water}

{parents, godparents, and declan}

{maids of honor-one now momma}

Thursday afternoon, our friends Kayla and Travis, found out the sex of their sweet little bun in the oven. I headed over there after work to find out for myself!

{pink and blue cupcakes made by adonia kennedy at bitbakes-which is it???}

{all the girls celebrating baby BOY asher riley sisco}

{charles getting ready to find out}

{a boyfriend for charles' soon-to-be-here baby girl}

{lauren getting to let chip find out}

{a boy for his new baby to rob the cradle with}

{kyle's turn}

{we tricked him into thinking it was a girl}

{still excited it was a boy}

{the crew- i am now three for three on baby predictions with this group}

Right after leaving the Sisco's house, mom and I packed up and made the 10 hour trip to Wichita Falls, Texas to celebrate Abbigail's first birthday.

It's incredible how time flies and how she is turning into a little girl!

{aunt court, what is that thing you keep putting in front of my face that makes a big flash?}

{playing with the flowers- not wanting to smile at the camera}

{precious little one}

{happy birthday little one}

{some decorations}

{the party had a candy theme with lots of bright colors and yummy treats}

{me and diane, kati's friend and abbi's godmother- love her!}

{me and the birthday girl}

{cake time}

{happy little family}

{me and momma after a long day}

{sweet abbi and i maxin' and relaxin' after her birthday extravaganza}

After a long weekend of traveling and a rough day at work, it's time to turn in!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and has a great rest of the week!