![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmKYbCS5fiIgFoCfXjLxXGtqVQ92tIi6gzQjvcYPPg_gt6i3pIgkTWyjI9TbnMA5tg5GmQQOTfnswtJWvbcBNlFW-eqyEe10kPt8-iBjFK2vZMC7RDMIicuj-dQEpSvoU0lNfTFbU-V2x/s400/February+2012+001.JPG)
I can seriously not even believe how many photos I posted yesterday. That was NUTS!! Robin actually loaded them for me, and I wasn't about to try to commentate throughout them, so I just did the single paragraph at the end. WHEW. Anyhooo... moving on...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S9jjrGQmTcvsTJAoS-Sx5eRB6Hxktj6Joqzpz5HwJ20vQvMYfM8j3ORyv3rZ993m-cKZXFk4-X7ThIAj0YUsZMOFemiQR0UcYx9ka04PrtVIuN4-6ib_Qtyfu13PyCi1zyRmK5ZJ0b9h/s400/February+2012+003.JPG)
Pops and Nana recently celebrated their 20th anniversary.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2-bVsxigflGpDtL7fR1KS6rzba5W2utQi5rWxS1Tm8jpjCx-tr2kEgZ_AGqe4Qmw8BhK2MHKC39gl1lVBsKfI8QLMoPuvBPNH4fokHhfjVt6ucOGQZeBBx23rpkApeqI1tOJRfRCBZfG/s400/February+2012+004.JPG)
and they were TOTALLY shocked when they arrived and all their friends were there to greet them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPFDAwgSsq1VvY5rAPeuiqKAsiNi3IYG_s7eloo96-JraUdodQXb3VakEKS8k-GrMcoyeBOIIDmZEADRsQG83RFrYhaIwheNfgf3qfNbTgYzAShxieRQ5-OuAhfS99CIDf1lnvBPipJIB/s400/February+2012+005.JPG)
I mean, they had NO IDEA!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJaX96oVDEGWJhONmiLijppsgrOZ8jM_1L1VTlrgc3UrMUKmFuLfG1JmBuVPmS9dCDr7-zTq5eGdnKQ-kQYORZqkqA0PrBHKnqkM0wIlYeR64tIwSyZ3AENzX4q2qctZqJ2ziFqT0u9ti/s400/February+2012+006.JPG)
Hey MoZart Retreaters from Fall 2011, remember The Warehouse?! Well, that's where all of this went down!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBjhFZTveMIt_j0xTVjEAAxabGnnzZJzrxFRKRITj9CQmRpLeMFNC6gKOlv4vm_qNLSye_xLUKYmOmvG7pxrjLECA51r6g1WPgruf7uuy6O1k0vYbqIHw8t97UaPsPn4vJb7yf8kMJVR6/s400/February+2012+007.JPG)
Most of their friends I have known practically my whole life. Some LITERALLY my whole life!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxp-HrTfYDFt8iS-LKTQWlnOkR7XbVN-06rvyb4N2Zrvx1IEjNF7k492CbmUVuav8GS6kZ_2ONkpUcLvEggtjbZZzZWacIzDYCzlGx5Wq729ZJuqOHfkFWYiPlRogav6uIQiYaXPRshQu/s400/February+2012+009.JPG)
Dad made his way around about 8 or more tables to shake everyone's hands.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TjNUrYyUqklOO4oM_qbQXivIqQBjMlkTboXNUNG0sfaZh5U9uepRA3Ag5OTVgnuxwGlLEVc9n4MepkMQj3MlFMKcYUwYcss42r7MN7ImsG_x7yuiMYz4hHFKVJlnoZEABPvflPcSe7lR/s400/February+2012+010.JPG)
WHAT?! Even Justin Bieber showed up. Ha. I mean Hayden Lee.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-EixZ-wSs7if7mIx_ru9YRYaudAzOjn0w9F-9i9hbBuw25UxuDSyQvp1-fCp6Y1Eya_SD13T2BnMTLlUGKFDT4pC8DX8QTOOnvAIwxO7tUz9yRabONZVs4Ao2Rxqv4YcJp3qrONK_9Kl/s400/February+2012+011.JPG)
These people have been in my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in church with them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa6QfYYB7Ut5NSXAm93YcWk2qbiWkVXlM8SqVNZjcQfFkQzrDTVyitr12-1ASOTHKsBglaTrWmje5QQiVfa7TYYexk7Q00q-sy53wpNxX_0HYrWn53t61_kZ0p7jGTRv5KSFNuWaVK3Ka/s400/February+2012+012.JPG)
Here's "Uncle" Carey, Mr. Mike, and Mr. Bill.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUA5bqC9z8hN9sBcCUYPKBDs54uEAA9jIulmmN0ekvtBjOHJvJ0efvGd6gBLh0vyvJFeL2b77FoV9tawUQuVkzCPfUjunNo28ZCPmnvMpoRlWz6OPq7Dg-Qa1psah8UGw-h23DBRd8qXm/s400/February+2012+013.JPG)
This is Rita's dad and two brothers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xznJ0YnBIoi5_gkJHg2ncoN6wiX4rIzNPz9JY-Rm1jKxhh6nijzFup7h8FVNa8SDz0ASQYX3cBz7oKMmtzdrOF7OjWr3rZ9Mwsq1a9A56J_XjpTb_HHn-V23jnO_EL7BoT7Ei0WFJoSi/s400/February+2012+014.JPG)
and this is her best friend, Judy, her sister, Mary Louise, and her mama.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb72mkGW-FrMYIEi60FfmS0zOamWRuidIINEC0QhIgJ1gPbizKyxVDUxxqDKkDyXTGMv7FobLA0iTxsEQFXGShY3TF0eN0YXKmLG-8otHVVSsLMpzWtRbSJOzmOFd30hH_Evz60WbYaxT/s400/February+2012+015.JPG)
This is a good shot of Rita and her dad.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc11vp4SK-terkPph-4n70ibs-C01fMnL7PuDjJ3rF6VSBRysJ0TBZJarKG5tfq-PWTRybQBfdm0T0Jlnz5sTLQnNrmhQlzjMfuFvcx9Jvq3e7RNThsDfWX6z1moocjsAxSucwB9G23seW/s400/February+2012+016.JPG)
ANd a good one with her mom.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcDgcksrlGBMNw-EDC2anwQIN0cwKa9e9r4qUqHOIdTtGziGfdbbQpF7dtLs2fP7Xb7f8bw8gxNllya4WXxYcwNPPXdh15pAAYYozDIRahLCd9uE_wgMllB_eoi6i2i3F0wj0qP0UEre8/s400/February+2012+017.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoqcU9ZMb6Av6VLGq8p3wV7qMToVef6_CJ2W9wuQm9G3nTC9esHUIq7KZ-iOadq0aLM3z7jtJfVz_3_awpZo2X7XQXxvks74I18gkCt8MMGMaN8Q11N2-L5hRpRovgBL0VUWXdzrhYg59/s400/February+2012+018.JPG)
Here are Miss Janice, Miss Brenda, "Aunt" Dottie, and Miss Linda.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RtckwC_A0kqrUNuTUuCxFzT5a3mWwSUyveVAkjwEt4MFhwE5SaP9QOtm6HMi-trV-8UrH9dLUOYU1vcdSyClACHo6ccX8wtkHVttTyKkFxRyQyTkz3-h1bpWubVqt8-Wl4N6NqJ1O3HK/s400/February+2012+019.JPG)
Many of these folks' kids I also grew up with. In fact, Miss Barbara, below, lived one street over from me when I was kid. I used to play with her daughters. And our mini doberman pincher, Spuds, went to live with them, because we found out later, they fed him steak most nights. I suppose I don't blame him.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0F3jbonKZUbDi5r0ckNsdAZqE7M3jdoBD0a78UbFB2t0miwFjV4qpP0B8Hy66KDwz8V8GA8p1dXQcFHhn2YGxPOXlVYF5EfY3xxX6JbSEVBgeNbxN6pqkzMOElOb7T_juak7NhGW57E-/s400/February+2012+020.JPG)
Look at that happy couple. Come on, TG, at least try to fake it!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXAWz67KqRKW3wwW2snLca085MpfvQW2Ga9Sy5qR0wRQW0ba-Kcuhjc2dA79sccf3b-bod68r6gSHpbfvzASMBxhPD4dVOIFeQh6dqTFAKt5X0NmnYl1MTCQ1qpRylv2CGQ0c3aZUyTSL/s400/February+2012+021.JPG)
You too, Hayden! BOYS!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvrBDG8xhDWLvHfRyh2lnYLTLlug_nipTzxnbHZ1ldm2AuxICBcFuRWX6EjmKiqbe5pCQoLYYHaNZI_nxhT7J4hEIxbpqxnalJ1rXsZmxxEAyyz1st8eDY080K8wqSZAMojnAVl4jnXPP/s400/February+2012+022.JPG)
Isn't he cute? I am so glad when he comes to hang with us. He does NOT like to hang with his aunt, uncle, daddy, mom, etc. He is not a fan of the adult population at this juncture of his life.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3iv7IHRuDbwQXdWAHLXDCpdVDnVs4lORecYv-pOR9ug_mIyRWuZBpe9uZEGQKQXk2N1xQSxcnMEBFGMnQxcjsikGzjWmJCQbEKsqbpZ3unq9LqXla0iaSzz6TFkllg4GUO1Af5KMF0w6/s400/February+2012+024.JPG)
Check out this cool cake.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xhh-CcxX1m0ml6dyHfnz9gXzGjqALJQHxB4fHRvhzfydnc35wrYVwDuNcDLD_QqKZdjNifWZZQ6gSm8EunmdPp3QR26ZEf7nN-Znkwd-YIakrUkzit3-_gs3971rNfb6xuIb7cz2rdPm/s400/February+2012+025.JPG)
Did I mention they got married on Leap Day 20 years ago? So, theoretically, they've only been married 5 years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkhM_0rJ6kWe8-E2n2aZ2hcIc9hxl03rT1Hhap1SxZy8kIj_Djg8ruUQh4putjaG5YVnTTKCp6z2qP6XCa3CSrEfr5DGyW5BqKyzFgdM49xz8UivWokUnrwxrf6P5gLMFDMzQ6pPyc4eo/s400/February+2012+028.JPG)
Have I also mentioned that Todd LOVES for me to take his picture? Well, he does!! He's crying with happiness here, so he hid his face.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlYk_ZzOy-f407sblMH9cnHB9I-J3OmHrWQhjT9WgujbK_kSUvACF_PUj_8AjytLQ-bhLmvFneW5xl-H2aKicyc1pZfBzkLcsH_6xqst1YV9-oR5DiJ_43wo5s3Yymod4U43kwDUHTOKB/s400/February+2012+031.JPG)
It was an overall big shindig.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFESQdq2o8FJCQD489TfoYPqsjxaZrxCcoQpEang9r_Ayf14Dwme0vdxh1u3YR7a_9NG7gb_GRY3SLbfAGiTj6vTimbnyUVYZTY-5-YXZwbwVVRlpf8geznqe7yM2UDpEPM_pwO22RkHf/s400/February+2012+033.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcfSUeybx1lLaOa58uIc_Ly8VysrEoGyd4YNe3nxo-OCeeynjVEReOZ6eoIJAULp5nlhAP-6Fb_txPKG5-XahX2Kms3hBPFzchi15gjZii1MY1nD1MPw8Fpwq32P1Lxchvh7Y3Fl2Gpyu/s400/February+2012+034.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRSBABYsjDdFN4eDHoc8u-qOto0Hedve6ANVdXi5M3A9A2qOxLERZIZ5Q5Ogspw9EVdj9yhwA1ZfM1FODBHID3E2fYJi1jO3YLGhRO3CzIVWb1Z-McDI0le55vepE5vKw0_US_j4Nrdqt/s400/February+2012+035.JPG)
Toasts were made and several folks spoke on behalf of the couple.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0X0lHOhdUcFFMWAj9diB9H8GH-iQzSTV0AWZviEpTYhiO8XFRn36cm3LrPRfYLkZAckRUfU9vQzRcKzytSJyPUtwSwJishSZwDntm7ybl7Oyn1Q5AYwgnBJFqj6CtXNKQsZWxnAMMj8LA/s400/February+2012+038.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1toouFfki7FMrcah4SNyIYCMtkMHnJl43sE7EZpki-r-Lt_nMtWC3ue-XhZircFos4RRmjsuqnKszVnDstrGgeQsKJC3dCjNoyMwvx4y18OFMxurnOLBPVAOOuv1a-krJKBTarvjFA-_/s400/February+2012+040.JPG)
That dude next to Rita will soon be her brother in law. Mary Louise is marrying him in a couple of months.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN4LwX8tqVlyLQa4SI-Y0BzxM3ohbjsZZoMoIcZo2i8svsZ2TzT3540hwxEbBTqlOX7NbgSwslIFEU-yMu6JLslji4N5sTWH04-T031D3n06jwsHXom_rcFwLuGgiwkL2k68EApUIE6q3/s400/February+2012+041.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7L_CkFBl-MAv7BmGJefJgg6EU6WttB-MZmc2tc3q8N7bgZpbB6myRH0JGBmOB88ezJtgBriBOvLSc2seejAmCdoe-ygYlfOA-HFojhRzud3_KX0H4Z61pnzBIXbxcFluA814eX8fvwhOr/s400/February+2012+042.JPG)
I'll admit it is a little odd to me that they have been married 20 years, when I can so clearly remember when my mom and dad were going through a divorce after 23 years of marriage. Those are just both really big numbers! And it's amazing that I have watched dad be married to Rita for almost as long as I watched him be married to my mom.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Bonxoj66C3WOD-rEpAdP5ILNgWV5MmodnfLipHu-SE_rKxTYVLLCyA36GgY1lA7xiVwOc1k8xuzRpofpP-RwRoWJiEkkRM_8JXvqmly-ZL0nlTG8eI1H83unXGLR2MylkZx4jP6aR9mL/s400/February+2012+043.JPG)
Just a little surreal, that's all.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGR7EUwIu9mEDLfZj0FRMylqVmZj-numWnXme27K5HlPUjViQ6oHm8Ol3lqLBrTb7w4Y7M7TzWKktzKVwkJFa2tOmOE4mLzGL2369C0x7DrB-TFJtYK4uCdy45-ljUy1tMPirCxf6NknsX/s400/February+2012+045.JPG)
I gotta admit, I do have a good stepmom. She will cook for me when I need emergency pies (MoZart Retreaters, I can't take credit for that banana caramel pie at all!). She will help me run the girls from place to place when I need her. So, as far as stepmoms go, I lucked up in that department.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMifFxD6n5nqctXQI07exL5wmxRF94Sd-c6Qzk6wcMRmJQ5CIwxs8qh12JTXRlt10agcpamu1Ri8Dy3Sq0amsb0HsrshXAARjw5rYiP6haC-6oMJhy8w9WcO7c-0lYjhyphenhyphenTv5uemuRF3cC/s400/February+2012+046.JPG)
And I think my dad met his perfect match. ANY day you go to their house, they are sitting on their backporch, rocking, and pretty much chillin'!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYHBVAbXh6-l5GrQdQKzez0htrEAJ7TCUmSLz02AS-DRJhfoHlc8EQ4wbm3XQbOVmjPFy8HxHwSzlw4wpDdxPQYL_OZ49nPyLCMbZAl1VAaKobc4IM_9vzgcJxH0LIkUoE5BHTzrmsFR5/s400/February+2012+047.JPG)
That's his favorite thing in the world to do, and I think Rita's favorite thing in the world to do is just be with him, so if rocking is where that is, then rocking is what she'll do.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNcu8uRsxW29EhXHYlbBOyQBJwWO_BxBkgDi7DUKbxtSy6ZIfSjhvB70Pj4wv79hsNVsXlewT_hhbXw2gSg-EOCZUqL0_FpGLKzYJ_mUzmDrln2rHMBszwXJDEziZXA7sJM1om17DLTKl/s400/February+2012+048.JPG)
So, Dad and Rita, I wish you many more years of wedded bliss. Many more miles in that rocking chair. And many more banana caramel pies my way!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwsOQs5igrPR9EUs7is37dTZRB6phlTQcyy3DQUAVRbpOhYoIimQAG8O0ml6YAGz8nGb2qrOeLQM1mcHs2Ads8VL-fxFaTtYOb95Y7GRrMlktVSdU3P30tk4EyK7g_AKec-h-GTNHh-QV/s400/February+2012+053.JPG)
Happy Anniversary from us!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3FsEovbE8zele-bA7SaV-xJnsbnnzew1BxvF2ZGdMLzUPa_5BcQ-fo1mn2ZrckTwzzabNiwt2Mbs8B-EyTpukNBsri0HZ6VK1hpZ7uMh4ZhwMp7JldZ9I6KX7QrCP19srcq2j_8hGLkT/s400/February+2012+054.JPG)
We love you.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbJ187gBHLUCeuhxKugIru6TaS4gcoGY_T3U4CD3QMRXXR6mP1q80dLTDL-aDRdSMj7N6AqarDyh0jxbqEd4YJrVL2IYOntAvkUXed0nAHVRK9lTqTVlfWK4WM-sYw_BCyfK2Hb46_uQC/s400/February+2012+058.JPG)
Todd, Mel, Ellie and Gabbi.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplCVPMfYCCZaWHeOiAJ5uIjnnCu9h2ORxaCP3EJtmcIaYN3CmbxNa-rlC2yoJTbPymAJuhX8op4diAR6QlB_jr8KDqgKFi-8BMJnXAt5twK6aN14hDlUMmwC8OJNFXdUj3-NoLiSXtT0T/s400/February+2012+062.JPG)
MO
5 comments:
Congratulations to your Dad & Rita! What a wonderful party to commemorate their 20 years. Beautiful pics.
Many best wishes!! Looks like a great time was had by all.
It looks like y'all packed the back patio!! I wish I was a local so I could come to your April retreat.
happy anniversary!!! so glad you have such a happy blended family!!!!
What a party! Congrats to the happy couple.
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