NIECE & NEPHEW

J and I have a two new precious members of the family! I'm so happy that I've been tearing up all day. Let me (very excitedly) introduce our niece ADDELYN KAILANI HUFF and our nephew ANDREW JACKSON HUFF. Such beautiful names for beautiful babies.  (Kailani by the way is Hawaiian for warrior queen!)

Mama Alisha is recovering nicely. Here is a photo of her shortly before the babies arrived...

Bless her heart for carrying those heavy babies around and still managing to look so pretty and put together! Here she is just 45 minutes or so before the c-section...

Cool as a cucumber! I can't even imagine the love and joy Benjamin and Alisha must be feeling right now for Addelyn and Andrew. They've wanted to start a family for such a long time and I'm happy God blessed them with not one, but two healthy babies.

Cheers to the new parents!

MR. & MRS. MAESE

Our dear friends Lisa & Adam got married this morning.  We felt so special being included in the various wedding activities that took place this weekend.  Such a pleasure meeting both sides of the family.  Lisa's Mom promised J and I a personal tour of Chinatown next time we're in Chicago and I'm holding her to it :)  I also want to mention that Lisa is such a happy person and always smiling.  When we worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters together, I would hear her laughing despite the fact that my office door was shut and she was down the hall.  But this weekend, she was even happier, more cheerful, and extra smiley than usual.  Adam was too!  So lots of congratulations to the lovebirds!  J and I were so excited being a part of your special day.

June 16, 2012

Creole Queen for the rehearsal dinner.

June 16, 2012

Hip Hip Hooray for the USA

June 16, 2012

My JBS

June 16, 2012

American Queen steamboat up ahead.

June 16, 2012

Everyone had a blast dancing to the Treme Brass Band.

June 16, 2012

Crescent City Connection

June 16, 2012

New Orleans Skyline

June 17, 2012

City Park Peristyle

June 17, 2012

Beautiful spot for a ceremony!

June 17, 2012

Lisa's wedding dress:  Coquille from BHLDN

June 17, 2012

Lisa & Adam say "I DO!"

June 17, 2012

Me with the beautiful bride.

June 17, 2012

Of course there are Muses' shoes for decor.

Adam is a master when it comes to catching these during Mardi Gras.  

June 17, 2012

Post-ceremony mimosas and pastries from La Boulangerie.

June 17, 2012

Reception / Crawfish Boil at Southport Hall

June 17, 2012

Red Velvet Wedding Cake from Sucre

June 17, 2012

Photo Booth Fun

June 17, 2012

Introducing the newlyweds:  Mr. & Mrs. Maese

PICS HAVE ARRIVED

As promised, the photographs taken wth J's parent's camera...

Legacy Farms

This is where the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception all took place.  J and I also got to stay here for the weekend in the historic Rose Room.

June 8, 2012

J and his little sister Jacqueline

June 8, 2012

J with his Mom and Dad

June 8, 2012

Bridesmaids, Flower Girl, Pastor

June 8, 2012

Rehearsal Dinner

June 8, 2012

Rehearsal Dinner

June 8, 2012

I loved the special chairs for Jacqueline & Chris!

June 8, 2012

J and me after a yummy rehearsal dinner.

June 8, 2012

J's Aunt Kathy.  She's always so much fun to be around!

June 8, 2012

Jacqueline and me.  Her last night as a single lady!

June 9, 2012

This table displayed the guestbook and had a basket of fans to help people stay cool during the courtyard ceremony.

June 9, 2012

Doesn't J look cutesome in his seersucker suit!?!  I love this photograph that J's Mom took for us.  It's a Christmas card contender for sure.

June 9, 2012

The Bridal Party

June 9, 2012

I got to draw the drink menu :)  And J's parents actually made the dry erase board with old porch railings.  So creative!  I don't recall how time intensive the project was, but they should make and sell these.  There were quite a few people at the wedding interested in finding out where they could purchase one.  I would love one (a bit larger) to hang in the kitchen and write out a weekly meal plan.  And if there was space, leave J little love notes :)  Maybe Mrs. Lynette and Mr. Terry can teach me the tricks of the trade on our next visit to Tennessee.

June 9, 2012

Flower girl Olivia and ring bearer Drew getting down on the dance floor!

June 9, 2012

Me and J dancing.  The hair was up at this point and the flats were on.  A girl can only take so much thick hair and high heels.

THE BIG DAY(S)

J and I got home from Tennessee last night.  We were 30 minutes east of Nashville in Lebanon for the weekend celebrating the marriage of Christopher & Jacqueline!  J's sister looked beautiful Saturday and we are all excited to welcome Christopher to the family!  I don't have any wedding pictures to share just yet.  I used (and fell in love with) J's parents camera.  I'm not sure of the exact model but they have a Nikon DSLR with upgraded lens.  I'll have to ask them to e-mail me some of the shots.  In the meantime, here are a few of Jacqueline's bridal portraits from the photographer's blog.  Stunning :)

My cousin Nicholas was also married on Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia.  J and I were sad to miss out on their celebration but it's hard to be in two places at once.  Lots of congratulations to you Nicholas & Nicole!  We pray God gives you much happiness, love, and laughter as you start your journey together!

So... let's see... 4 weddings left on the list.  Our friends Adam & Lisa are getting married this coming weekend, my cousin Mary is getting married in July, J's friend Archie is getting married in July, and our friends Thomas & Molly are getting married in August.  Have I left anyone off?  Looks like summer time = love time!

*** UPDATE ***

Jacqueline & Christopher's wedding photographers from Ace posted some pictures already (below).  Yup, only 2 days after the wedding and they're finishing things up.  Still waiting to get the photographs I took on J's parent's camera.  They can't be e-mailed (way too many) so hopefully they'll be uploaded to Picasa.

HOORAY FOR J

J got a raise and promotion at work!  He found out last week but it was made official today.  I'm so proud of him and all his hard work.  Way to go baby!  You deserve it!  I made BBQ ribs for dinner with a special side of watermelon (pic above) to celebrate.