One great thing about Ana's wedding was the toasts. David's family said such nice things to her during the toasts...she must feel so welcomed into their family. In my opinion, Matt's toast was the best. I am his wife though, so I am biased! I have never seen him speak in public before or give a toast...he was great. His toast was delivered perfectly and it was funny but also very sweet and he said a lot of nice tings to David. I was so proud when I was sitting there listening to him...I told Ann, "Wow, my husband's so funny!" The most impressive thing to me was that he didn't plan on giving a toast. His dad came up to him during the Ogilvie toasts and said he had to give a toast...so Matt just went up there and started talking.





This trip to Eureka was a real bonding experience for Matt and I...aside from my being so impressed with his toast, we had a chance to talk about a lot of things...like family, and what family means to us and what this means for our future. Sadly, I thought it was such a meaningful conversation and then Matt didn't remember any of it the next day!! He was too drunk. I was sad about that and so I made him have another conversation about the same topic. I am sure he hated that, cause he hates having serious conversations, but he ended up saying a lot of the same things which were really sweet and nice, so I guess he means what he says even if he is drunk and doesn't remember it. Don't get the wrong idea though, he doesn't usually drink that much. I didn't even realize he was that drunk. He seemed pretty normal to me. I have had conversations with Marti too that she didn't remember the next day and I had no idea that she was even drunk while I was talking to her. I must be really bad at noticing it...or the Masseys just seem normal when they are drunk.

Happy Birthday to Emily, Liz and Meagan!

Ana got married on my birthday and Emily's birthday and Liz's birthday. So, our college friends got together at Emily's house for a pre-wedding birthday celebration. It was SOOO great to see everyone. I miss my old friends so much. I hadn't seen Emily for a really long time...she hadn't been able to come to my wedding because she was having a baby at that time...so I was excited to see her but also her new son Will. He was so cute!


Emily with the birthday cake


Emily's husband Kyle with baby Will

I also got to see Ann and Jason...they were at my wedding and Ann was a bridesmaid, but it was so hectic I didn't get to talk to them much. I really miss having my old friends around...I live so far away and I feel like I keep making new friends and then leaving. There is nothing like old friends...it is so comfortable and easy.


Emily, Ann and Meagan


Matt, Jess and Matthew Winkle



Ang and Matt

Wedding Preparations

Ok, I admit it...Matt and I didn't do much to help prepare for Ana's wedding. But hey, we weren't really asked to do anything...there were so many people there trying to help and we were only there for a short time...and plus, Matt's collar bone was broken. We did buy the s'mores supplies and the non-alcohlic beverages. At least it is something, right?





David's (the groom's) mom did the flowers, and they looked great. They had lots of beautiful flowers because there is a flower farm in Humboldt. So lucky!

The wedding had lots of personal touches, which made it very special. David is a brewer (I am not sure of the correct term...he works at Budweiser) and he brewed his own beer as the wedding favors. He had printed out special labels and we put them on ourselves. This picture shows David's sister and her boyfriend and David's uncle.



Here is a picture of me, sitting back and relaxing while the rehearsal goes on. Matt and I agreed that it is much more pleasant to be relaxing while another couple is onthe hot seat! Haha...I was remembering my rehearsal, when I was crying my eyes out. Ana was was much more calm!



This is a picture of Ang and I at the rehearsal. I really love Matt's childhood friends...althoug they aren't really chldhood friends, more like lifelong friends. We have so much fun with them. Anyway, the reason I put this picture on here is because it is the only one of Ang and I together and because I like how Matt is reflected in my giant sunglasses!



All of the Massey family and the Ogilvie family helped alot with creating this wedding. I am sure Ana and David feel so loved! I felt the same way at my wedding...I was amazed at how much effort my family and friends put into helping with the wedding. I felt so loved....I guess that is the point of weddings...to make the couple feel loved by their family and to bond the two families together. I am really glad that Matt and I didn't skip the whole wedding and elope like we were thinking of doing.

Eureka...Finally

Matt in front of the Massey house

After our fun, unexpected day in Salt Lake, we finally made it to Eureka. It is so nice to fly directly into Eureka rather than into SF and then have to drive 5 hours. Delta started flying there recently, so hopefully the fares will stay low. Our flight was cheap, until we added on the hotel and other expenses of Salt Lake City! Oh well...it was fun.

Both Matt and I were really sad to lose a day in Eureka. He had relatives in town from Ireland and I had my list of "favorite things to do in Eureka" that I like to do every time I go. I didn't really get to do it this time, but that is ok...I am sure we will be back many times. My favorite things to do include going to Bon Boniere (a delicious ice cream place), going blackberry picking (in the summer), going for hikes, going to the Farmer's Market (in the summer), and hanging out with our college friends and Matt's childhood friends. Actually, now that I wrote out that list, I realized that we did do a lot!


Meagan and Mitch on the way to pick blackberries

We went blackberry picking, but the blackberries weren't ripe yet so we ended up picking huckleberries. Huckleberries are much harder to pick and in my opinion they don't taste as good. Note to self: Visit Eureka in August rather than July.


Matt and Matt at the Farmer's Market

I also forced Matt and our college friend Matt to go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday. I had fun, but it was strange to go with the two of them cause they were not very intertested in it...I still liked it though, and it was fun to people watch and sit in the sun.