Penny approached Cousin Tina's wedding with great enthusiasm. She even let me put pigtails in her hair!
The fact that it was an outdoor wedding helped; she had more license to run around and explore before things started.
Everyone agreed she looked just adorable, even if she refused to wear the velvet and taffeta dress I'd brought for the occasion.
She liked all the flowers at the gardens, though.
And the model deer had her over the moon.
We kept her on my lap through the service by cheating: I'd brought snacks.
(picture by Matt)
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I'm sad this is so blurry, but you can still mostly make out the zoot suits (!) the men were wearing.
Tina and Jose giving flowers to their mothers.
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Exchanging the rings. This was only the second or third English-speaking ceremony the priest had done, I gathered.
Slightly blurry, but hey! You can see both faces!
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We'd told Penny that Tina and Jose were a princess and a prince getting married. Immediately after the ceremony, Penny wanted to sing Once Upon A Dream and dance with me. Who am I to argue?
(picture by Matt)
Waiting in the reception line.
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This was Riley, who made friends with Penny during the wedding -- as soon as he figured out that we had snacks and were willing to share.
Could anything be cuter? Well, possibly, but you'd have to get some kittens into it.
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Another round of Once Upon A Dream, this time with Daddy.
Cousin Erik and his wife, Paula. The large family who was supposed to take up the rest of the seats at their table failed to show, so they spent most of the evening sitting sideways like this to talk to us.
Grandpa and Grandma 'Duck' Brooks
Uncle Larry and Aunt Debbie - parents of the bride.
Preparing to cut the cake. I wish they'd turned the full lights on for this; I'm sure the professional photographer was the only one who managed to get a decent picture.
It might interest you to know that Penny hung the spoon on her nose first, without Matt's help. We're teaching her all sorts of useful skills.
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Rachael and Rimas
Bob and Deb
Uncle Dave and Aunt Teri, tickling Penny.
Penny was sitting next to me ignoring her soup, and pointed across the table. 'I want that!' 'Soup?' 'No, that!' '...Butter?' 'No, I want him!' 'Oh. Well, go give him a hug, then.' I think Dave was thrilled. They had fun playing with Penny for quite a while.
Eventually, Penny realized that the decorations on the table held chocolate. She went around collecting as many as she could scam.
When the dancing started, we sent Penny off to dance with Riley.
This would have been a fantastic picture if the photographer hadn't jumped in front of me.
Penny decided fairly quickly that she'd rather dance with someone a little taller.
She still spent the whole night obsessed with the prince and the princess, and wanted to talk to them as often as she could. Matt and I obliged her a few times. Tina and Jose were very sweet and patient about it.
Now that's dancing! Penny's destined to be a party girl; she was still going strong and wanting to dance when we dragged her homeward at 10.
Dealers in Fine Garbage
I guess the Canadian geese like to take a little rest stop in Illinois before they head south. They were everywhere, the whole week we were there.
Goose in flight
These are weeds, little hardy roadside flowers that popped up everywhere. I think they're very pretty, and wish I could transplant them to our ditch.
An ugly sculpture in front of the building next door to Grandma and Grandpa Duck's. A friend of mine dubbed it The Demented Paperclip.
The great thing about Grandma and Grandpa Duck's is that they have lots of room for Penny to run around and play.
These stupid mushrooms are following me. I can tell.
Whoo! Penny got to ride on Grandpa's golf cart!
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And she got to help Grandpa pick tomatoes! Yum!
Picking tomatoes
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I'm sad this is blurry, because Penny is obviously having the time of her life.
I got to ride, too!
I was amazed (and pleased) at the way Penny instantly fell in love with all the Chicago relatives.
Penny with Grandpa Brooks and Grandma Deb.
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Meet Smoky, Grandma and Grandpa Luck's new kitten.
Penny gets down to Smoky's level to say hi.
'Kitty is so cute!'
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Penny wants Smoky to sniff her fingers; Smoky just wants to kill the toy.
Smoky's an explorer.
It's the birthday girl!
Hi, Uncle Matt!
Kissing stuffies.
Happy birthday hug for Jess!
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Random gathering picture.
Why yes, there were a bunch of pictures being taken.
The girls were a little confused about the concept of the piñata, but they caught on right away to the whole collecting candy concept.
Yes, Sara, grownups can have candy, too.
Another random gathering picture.
Penny and Jess were both very excited about Jess's new teaset.
Penny filled the cups, and Jess poured them out and stacked them neatly.
Here's your tea, Daddy!
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Dragon piñata. Another reason to like the trapdoor idea - it doesn't ruin the piñata.
Dragon balloon. It's bigger than it looks.
Opening presents
Matt and Penny up on Mount Trashmore.
Kevin thinks giving Jess her own (toy) cell phone will stop her from playing with his. Hehehe.
Whoo, I actually managed to get Jess's Grandma Dee in a picture!
Finally, it's time for the cake!
'So, um, are you going to eat that?' 'Yes. I am. Eat your own.'
Mmmm, cake! Kevin made sure Penny got extra icing. Possibly as revenge on me for laughing at him when Jess shoved cheese up his nose.
KT and her dad.
Our little princess
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When Penny understood there was candy to be found in the ball pit, she became much more enthusiastic about it.
Oh my goodness! Look at this!
What's in there?
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Only one way to find out...
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Once Upon A Dream
Penny and a friend play with balloons
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Matt and Chuck
We're crayons. Almost no one got it. I should have put brick red and cornflower blue on our Crayola logos.
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Ken and his daughter Meghan
So! Excited! To go! Trick-or-Treating!
Willya QUIT with the pictures, Mom, so we can GO?
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Checking out the haul.
Hey, Penny, show us your hand!
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Is that not an expression of sheer chocoholic bliss?
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Daddy and his swoopy cape
And after you eat the candy bar, you get to lick off the fingers! It's like two treats in one!
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