Jen & Kevin's Wedding

Glenn's cousin, Jenny, got married this past weekend in Jacksonville. We decided to leave the kids with my parents for the weekend. Everytime we leave them behind, we wish they were with us. We arrived Friday night to the rehearsal dinner-late. Glenn's fault! I was ready and packed when he got home. The dinner was great and the slide show of both Jenny and Kevin was so sweet. After the rehearsal dinner we hung out in the hotel lobby with some of the O'Keefe's and then went up to our room around midnight.

Glenn, Uncle Rocky and Chris

The following day was Jenny's Big Day!. She was a beautiful bride and it was a traditional Catholic Wedding. Jenny and Kevin each wrote their own vows-it was truly an emotional time. After the exchanging of vows, everyone headed to the reception. It was held on the 17th floor in one of the buildings of Downtown Jacksonville, overlooking the St. John River. When the sun started to set it made for beautiful pictures. Everything about the reception was fantastic; the food, the music-it all was great! Congratulations Jenny and Kevin! We're so glad we got to spend your special day with you!

Mother of the bride with her twin sons

Uncle Joey and Aunt Terry

Uncle Rocky and Aunt Jill

Uncle John and Aunt Vicki

Uncle Kenny and Aunt Carolyn

Aunt Carol and Chris

My silly nephew Josh

Drew and Heather, Glenn and Me, Chris and Esther

Double Trouble!

Dancing Queen!

Edison Festival of Lights

It's a tradition here in Ft. Myers. Thomas Edison is a huge part of this towns history. He and Henry Ford would spend their Winters here in what is now known as the Edison and Ford Winter Estates located by downtown Ft. Myers off of McGregor Blvd. Every year Ft. Myers celebrates Thomas Edison's contributions, more specifically, his invention of the light bulb. Many events take place, but the two big ones are the Edison Festival of Lights Children's Parade, and the Edison Festival of Light 5K and Light Parade.

This year we were asked by my friend Julie, if we wanted to participate in the Children's parade. Of course, I was thrilled to be a part of it. Being a Ft. Myers native, I myself participated in the parade many times as a kid with my All Star Cheerleading team. It was a bit surreal to have my kids be a part of something that I too was once a part of many years ago.

Julie and her friends have been in the parade for the past 2 years in the small wagon division. They did some pretty enat stuff in the past. This year our theme was golf. We spent weeks transforming our radioflyers into golf carts. I was just excited that our wagon was actually getting some use other than being the official garage dust collector. The wagons turned out awesome and the kids looked adorable. I expecially love that Aidan is passed out in the wagon. Oh and best of all, we were in front of a marching band. So Thank You Estero High School for providing some great jamz! We came in 1st for our division :)


















The following weekend was the big parade that takes place at night. Every year before the parade the Ft. Myers track Club holds the Annual Edison Festival of LIghts 5K run. This year a bunch of my friends participated in it under Team Randall. My best friend Leah entered her 5 year old son into the race. He did an awesome job! How many 5 year olds do you know that can run 3.1 miles?







After the race, we claimed our taped off section, (thanks to Leah) and got ready for the parade. the beginning was the best part for Aidan and Rylan. Every local emergency and law enforcement vehicle you could think of made its way through the parade. My kids were in heaven. They sat there in amazement as all the cars, trucks and motorcycles passed by. I've never seen them sit so still before. We go to this parade every year, and every year it seems to get easier. What a great family tradition!