Mission "Flower Girl" Successful!

When Jon and I married 16 1/2 years ago, we had the best of friends and family standing at our side.  I look at the photo of me with my bridesmaids and have to smile --- 'til this day, I am still close to each and every one of them.  Our Flower Girl back in 1994 was Kendra Grace, my first Goddaughter and daughter of one of my best friends, Lynn, who passed away almost 2 years ago.



Kendra was our Flower Girl back in 1994, and Kristina became Kendra's Flower Girl!

A blast of the past  (left to right):  Erin, Lynn, Kendra, me, Laura, Anna, and Lisa.

Two weeks ago, Kendra married her childhood sweetheart, Seth, and blessed us with the honor of asking Kristina to be her Flower Girl.  Kristina is quite social so I wasn't particularly worried if she'd be able fulfill her Flower Girl "duties."  But then again, she is only 3 years old...

On September 1, Jon and I set out on our Road Trip up north to Gardnerville, Nevada, where Kendra and Seth live.  It took us almost 8 hours of driving but Kristina did fantastic enduring a car seat that long without complaint.  Really -- no complaints!  Granted, it was a little tough getting her out of the McDonald's Playland at the half-way point but thank goodness I didn't have to crawl up the small tubes to drag her out!


On the day of the wedding, I tried to curl Kristina's hair but the missing "locks" did present a challenge.  She cried the entire 30 minutes I spent curling it with a curling iron.  My heart began to race as I knew that the hairstylist taking care of Kendra and her girls would not have time for our little angel so my skills had to do.  With the help of a boatload of hairspray, our angel finally had some "waves" in her normally straight white/blonde hair. 

We got to the park where the wedding/reception was taking place (Mormon Station State Historic Park in Genoa, NV --- beautiful!) and then dressed Kristina in her gorgeous Renaissance-style dress.  (Kendra found the pattern to this dress more than 5 years ago -- just didn't know who would be her Flower Girl at the time.  Kristina's dress was lovingly made by one of our neighbors.)   The wedding started 50 minutes later around 2:20pm....just approaching nap time for a wilting little girl!  It was warm, in the 90's and with a breeze.  As each minute ticked away, I saw the curls in Kristina's hair disappear.  Oh, well!



Unfortunately, the photo doesn't show the detail of the dress but it was gorgeous.  As for the headband, it "hurt" so we waited until it was time to walk down the aisle before putting it in the hair!



Fixing daddy's tie...and a shot of the dress' jacket.



With the sunlight, our angel just "glowed".

 When we saw the limo arrive with the girls, I slipped Kristina's headband on, kissed her for luck and put her hand in the hand of Brandon -- Kendra's brother and Junior Groomsman.  Now that she had Brandon and Abby (Junior Bridesmaid), it was like "Mom?  Who's that?"   ;)


Kristina enjoyed hanging out with Brandon.

This is it...the moment the ceremony was about to start!

 

Brandon, Kristina and Abby (I'm lucky to get this shot as I wasn't sitting on the aisle!)



Kristina walked down the aisle and did GREAT.  When she reached me sitting in the front row, she sat next to me, put her head down and her thumb in the mouth, and was ready to take a nap.  Her job was done!  I cried numerous times throughout the ceremony.  Seeing Kendra was like seeing her mom.  The resemblance was incredible, and Kendra was simply b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.  In our row, a simple long-stem rose in a vase occupied the chair where Lynn should have been.  But she was there...and we felt her presence.  (Right, LWT ???!!)

A moment after walking down the aisle, Kristina nuzzled under my arm, put her thumb in her mouth and figured it was nap time!

Seth and Kendra, and all their wedding party.



Me and my Goddaughter and Daughter!

After the touching ceremony, it was time to party.  One of the first songs to play as the reception started was Cinderella by Stephen Curtis Chapman (click on "Cinderella" to see the YouTube video by SCC).  Someday, Kristina may be dancing to this song with her daddy at her wedding like she is in the first video below!  Afterwards, Kristina and Brandon warmed up the dance floor and barely left it all day.  Kristina's beautiful white dress shows evidence of a great time. 



Kristina enjoyed dancing with the bride (who made her OWN bridal gown!!)...



...as well as dancing with Aunt Laura who flew up for the day to attend!

I look at this photo and it looks like Kristina is hanging out with Lynnie.  You are a gor-gus bride, Kendra Grace!

Taking a short break from all the fun.

By 8:30pm, we left Genoa to spend a few days in South Lake Tahoe.  We barely pulled out of our parking spot and Kristina was already sound asleep with juice pouch in hand.

"Boy, this Flower Girl gig is hard work." 

The days that followed the wedding were relaxing.  No schedules to maintain or commitments to keep.  We were all in the middle of nasty colds so we slept in and just hung out by the warm, indoor pool.  Despite not feeling well, it was so nice spending family time together.  And we have wonderful memories of the "party" (as Kristina calls it)!

Swimming with Daddy at the Embassy Suites Hotel in South Lake Tahoe.

Family pic overlooking Lake Tahoe near Emerald Bay.

Congratulations, Kendra and Seth.  Much love to both of you and thank you for asking Kristina to be a part of your special day.  xoxoxo