THE WEDDING!!! (part 1)

It's time to get to the real reason for being in Chicago in June---Abby and Neil's wedding!  Up until Friday, it was mostly just having fun in Chicago and having some  quality family time.  When Friday came it was time to focus on the wedding. We had rehearsal and then rehearsal dinner at Pequod's Pizza.  Yummy!  I did not take any pictures at the rehearsal (bummer) and I only got a few at Pequod's.

Jeremiah liked his present from Abby and Neil!

Saturday, June 21, was the BIG DAY!  The kids couldn't wait to start celebrating! They were outside in their jammies, blowing bubbles with Evan's new bubble machine that he got from Abby and Neil. 

This picture shows how close we were to the El tracks--yes, very close.

The bride and the matron of honor went off to get their hair done in the morning.

The rest of us did things like---last-minute shirt-shopping,  getting lunch ready and delivered to the ladies of the bridal party, going to Walgreens, etc. etc. Oh yes, and also repairing a certain little bow-tie. I've heard that every wedding has some type of a little "glitch" and I guess this was ours.

Josie's cute hairdo was done by her Mommy!

Then it was off to church for the final preparations.  Josie could hardly wait to see Abby in her "fancy" dress.

Very interested in the make-up!

Josie and Abby having a "heart-to-heart."

                                                  The "fancy" dress!

 

 

My beautiful girls!

Two cute flower girls

Cousins!

And we can't forget about the men!  I'm not sure what they were doing while we were all downstairs with Abby.  But, thanks to Mark Diekema, I have some pictures of them. 

 The Ushers, Ben and Matt

Father of the Bride

And.....the Groom!

This post has gotten longer than I expected, so I am going to stop here and we'll get to the actual wedding in the next post!