A Wedding New York Style

Congratulations Haley and Michael....May you always be as happy as you are now!!! We loved being at your wedding and the reception was perfect...every detail was magnificent...a perfect party for a perfect pair!!!! We love you both...

The Bride and Groom

Here's what happened...

We all checked into a hotel on New Year's Eve. It was so fun seeing cousins and relatives and getting ready for the big event. We met in the lobby and followed each other to the wedding...the written directions were wrong and Peter's GPS took us to an Episcopal Church...eventually, we all got to the Church and the wedding was beautiful...we were proud of Gerald..he did a reading during the service and did a great job!! Afterwards, the wedding party held sparklers while we threw candy hearts from white cones as the Bride and Groom raced to the Limo...then we went back to the hotel to catch a charter bus to Giorgios at Foxhill Country Club for the elaborate fabulous reception...a truly WONDERFUL way to usher in 2008!!!!

the girls getting ready to leave the hotel...
Connor and Peter on the charter bus from the hotel to the reception...
Patti and Grandma on the way to the reception
Aunt Patti and Patti during cocktail hour...
I looked for my boys during the cocktail hour and found them in a back barroom watching the Clemson Bowl game (big shock!!)
our children (we missed Heather!!!) during the cocktail hour Peter, Andrew, Steven, LaNelle, Patti. Connor Sarah BethGerald and Jenny's sons Brian and Chris...we love those boys!Cocktail hour...we loved the "Shirley Temples" Cousin Tiny's three sons Danny, Douglas and Dennis . I hadn't seen them since they visited us in Charlotte back in 1991 and they mowed our grass and we all had a blast at Carowinds..."freshening up" before going into the ballroom. The bathrooms were palatial!!!In the Ballroom, Patti was ready to dance!!! The music was GREAT!!!!Pete's sister Patti and her husband Jeff...parents of the groomparents of the Bride and our hosts for the SUPERB party!!!Silly Andrew and Patti in the ballroom Jason and Sarah Beth...he treated her like a princessGerald's wife jen with her sons' girlfriends (fiancees) Kristen and Melissa

Sarah Beth and Connor were perfectly behaved for the whole 9 hour wedding/reception blast!!!Michael and Grandma dance a special dance

The groom was a professional baseball pitcher once and we think he gave his bride some lessons...does Patti seem overexcited to catch the boquet or what???Sarah Beth fell in love with cousin Jason and he gave her LOTS of attention!Connor danced the night away with his version of "hip hop" and the videographer taped him in the center dancing while everyone clapped for him...Jason and Melissa had fun dancing with him...they will be great parents some day (hint hint)taking a break from dancing to play with his gameboy Santa brought!!We had so much fun...and Patti texted through the reception....Cousin Kenneth and Karen...you were so much FUN!!!!My boys...now you know they are fun guys!!!LaNelle and Steven looked awesome and had such a great time!!!!We danced and danced and danced.....

Finally, Connor collapsed at the hotel!!!! Like the rest of us, he had partied hard!!!!!!

Food Food and more Food!!!

I have NEVER seen food like they served at the wedding...I have the menu and it is 12 pages long!!!!!!!

after a "cocktail hour" that lasted two hours and had over 100 items such as seafood, roasted lamb, cheeses, fruits, veggies, ribs, pastas, sushi, etc we entered the ballroom and this was the start of our 4 course sit down dinner...salad with pears in rasberry sauce accompanied by candied pecans, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese... Pete ordered Manicotti...
Patti loved the veal...
I was sorry I was too full to eat much of my Prime Rib...the deep fried mashed potato was the hit of the night...we all loved it!!! (they served seconds but who could possibly eat them????)
there was even a choice of chicken and fries for the younger guests...
the fabulous wedding cake was cut and then served to our table after midnightand finally...at 1 am we had the "Vienese Hour" which was a huge selection of pastries, cookies, chocolate fountain, fruit and other sweets...unbelievable...and then as we left, we were served godiva chocolate dipped strawberries sprinkled with powdered sugar...decadent!!!!

There was lots of food at all other times as well. We enjoyed fresh NY bagels every morning, lots of Pizza, chinese food, deli meats and soooooo much more...Sarah Beth was in heaven!!!! (me too)

Fresh fruit and yummy dip with Sarah Beth's favorite... Strawberries... Brownies... Pastries...
A street vendor hot dog in one hand and still begging for that awesome NY Pizza..and we ate it all... snacks on the Ferry...

Okay. As you can see, Weightwatchers will be a sad sad meeting this week and I will have to work out at the gym everyday for weeks to burn off the extra calories but it was worth it!!! Sarah Beth and I especially enjoyed the TASTE of New York!!!

The New York Yankees

Derek (on leave from the Peace Corps) with his girlfriend.
Sweet Jason with Melissa (a keeper!!)
Mother and son...
Uncle Gerald with his newest recruit!

Baby Ethan adored LaNelle and she loved him!
Brothers (Pete was on his tiptoes and Gerald was squatting down!!)
The Sheridan kids...Pete, Gerald and Patti (Peggy was at home in Virginia)
Gorgeous Ashley laughing with Andrew...
Pete's cousin ("Uncle" Johnny) was the life of the party!!!!

We lovingly refer to Pete's family as the "New York Yankees". We see them very seldom but it is amazing that within minutes we are as close as if we saw each other every day! Grandma keeps us all updated so we feel as if we know each other but it was awesome beyond words to actually be together. Our family is the founders and president of the "WE ADORE UNCLE GERALD" fanclub. He is "cool" beyond measure and it always amazes me how similar he and Pete are in many ways. He graciously took the boys to his police station and let them experience so much there...and he took us into the city and we had our very own personal bodyguard. I cannot describe how very safe we felt with him by our side. I noticed how he was always alert and watching to keep us safe... He made us feel like royalty and we love him for it! His wife, Jenny, spoils my kids and they adore her as well...any Mom can understand the sacrifice she made to welcome 13 relatives into her home a few days after Christmas and yet she welcomed us with open arms and we felt completely at home! As Andrew says, Aunt Jenny is "QUALITY". Their kids are awesome...we missed Patrick who is our family hero serving in Iraq and we love his fiancee Kristen. Jason is still the most gorgeous, sweetest guy I know (ok, in the top 6) and his girlfriend Melissa won all of our hearts...we hope she stays forever! Chris has grown up to be a great kid and he's such an Irishman...we didn't see much of him because 16 year olds prefer girlfriends to family (imagine that!!!) but it was good to see him. Brian is a trip!!! We adore him and his energy...he never sleeps and is always making us laugh. Peter and LaNelle enjoyed helping him with a school project. It's got to be a family trait to wait till the last minute for projects!!!! Of course the focus of the trip was Aunt Patti's son Michael's wedding to Haley. Pete just about worships his sister Patti and I have loved her since before I met her. It was so fantastic to see her and even as busy as she was with the upcoming "dream wedding", she had us all over for boar's head cold cuts and her FAMOUS mac and cheese (my family devoured a whole pan and left the second pan for the other 30 people there!!) Michael was a gracious and unbelievably handsome groom, Derek got to come home for the wedding...he graduated with honors from Notre Dame and is now serving in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic...we are SO PROUD of him!!! His girlfriend Ashlyn is a grad student at Harvard and a remarkable girl...those Sheridan men (ok he's a Luzim) sure know how to pick women!! And Ashley (Patti and Jeff's only daughter) loves college in Arizona and is a beautiful replica of her Mom Patti at her age. She and Andrew had lots of fun although Andrew swears she hits him everytime he comes near her...she was a breathtakingly beautiful bridesmaid and we adore her! Pete's sister Peggy couldn't come but her son, Georgie brought his fiancee and their toddler son, Ethan. Georgie used to visit us all the time with Grandma before he grew up and we have missed him! He is just the same as we remembered and was agreat sport about Sarah Beth greeting him with "George George George of the Jungle..watch out for that tree" each and every time she saw him! Anna is so very sweet and she speaks "southern" like us so you know we love her! Ethan fell in love with LaNelle and was never far from her arms..it was a true love match! I can not even begin to describe Pete's cousins..."Uncle" Johnny is so hilarious and the kids were so excited that he was there..he is a hoot and the life of every party. Tiny and Mike came with their three grown sons and we loved reuniting with them. Cousin Kenneth and Karen just made our trip! We haven't seen him in about 17 years and we just feel like we've known Karen forever...they have promised to visit and I hope they do! We love our very own "New York Yankees"!!!!

Merry Christmas from Raleigh

Of course, Kalib's favorite toy was a box..he kept asking us to "turn it on!" so finally his grandpa pushed him around the room and he was happy!
We enjoyed having Andrew home from Idaho!!!
Merry Christmas Gramps!
Hannah Montana appeared at Heather's on Christmas Day!
Kalib loved riding on all his aunts and uncles!! He woke Steven up by jumping on him and yelling, "FLY!!"

My sister Kim, my Mama, and my oldest daughter, Heather. Christmas Eve at Jean's house was an intensly spiritual experience as we bore testimony of our love and appreciation for our Savior...
My 4 girls...Heather, Patti, LaNelle, and Sarah Beth...it was so fun being together at my sister's house for Christmas Eve!
A MOUNTAIN of gifts...but then, they were for 14 people!!! Still, we had a huge Christmas!
Above and below; our grandson Kalib playing on Christmas morning...

Wow!! We had fun...and we love and appreciate Heather and Kyle for opening their home for our family celebration. It was special to share that time with Kyle's parents...we grew closer to them and enjoyed Wes' dry humor...Family is awesome!!!

A New York New Year!!!!

I will post MANY pictures after working this weekend. I have to say though that this trip far exceeded any expectations..it was WONDERFUL!!!!! I forgot how much I LOVE Jenny and Patti and their kids..and Pete's brother is amazing...it was so very awesome to spend time with them and all Pete's cousins. We have promised to visit much more often! In fact, Pete and I will probably return in May. The wedding was spectacular and our family had the vacation of a lifetime...many many thanks to our generous family. More to follow!!!!! (and P.S. we all have gorgeous designer handbags thanks to Canal Street shopping!!!)

LaNelle's hilarious column article

Okay..she's gonna kill me but this is too funny to pass up! LaNelle called me today in a panic. She had one hour to write a column for one of her journalism classes. Like me, she is a very fast writer once she gets an idea...this was suppose to be a funny biographical moment written for a newspaper/magazine column. She needed an idea because 3 people would be chosen to read theirs and her professor always chose her...I was half asleep but mentioned something about the little camry she drove to school and she said, "thanks Mom...I can do that. Gotta go write it. Call you later." and she was gone. she wrote it in less than an hour, she got picked to read and the class and professor laughed hysterically. She reads it so very well that it may lose something in print but I had to post it...she took a little poetic liscense but not much. Those of you who know Pete well will see him all over this!! She wrote it so fast, she didn't edit for grammar/spelling but anyway...Enjoy...

My High School was all about status. I lived in what most would consider a rich town where spending limits were almost non-existent for most high school students. Daddy’s credit card had a place in most everyone’s wallet. Classes were full of the sons and daughters of doctors, lawyers, and CEO’s. Six digit pay checks were common in almost every house hold. And the student parking lots were evidence of this fact. Row after row was filled with the newest Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes which were all bright and shinny just waiting for their teenage owners. High School was about status, and the parking lot was where that status was displayed.
I was the second of seven children and though my father brought home one of those six digit pay checks, he was more concerned about being a dad that taught his children character than being a dad that was simply the provider of his teenage daughter’s status symbol.
I was surprised when the weekend after my fifteenth birthday (which was the big driving age birthday in South Carolina) he told me that we were going to go out and buy my first car. I could not believe it! The dad, who had always stood firm in his belief that status didn’t matter as much as character, was actually going to allow me to get my very own new car. My older sister had not had this luxury. When she was old enough to drive, my dad gladly handed over to her the keys to his old dingy faded brown Chavette that had holes in the floorboard and interior so worn that the yellow foam underneath it showed through. My sister swallowed her pride and drove it to and from school. She didn’t really have any other choice so she decided to at least be happy about it and called it her “vet.”
The memory of that old car had worried me for years. I fully expected a replay of that experience when it came time for me to drive. But as we left on our car shopping adventure, my worries were put to rest. I was getting my very own car today and I was finally going to be able to join the group of status worthy new car driving students.
But the worries quickly returned as we pulled up to the parking lot of the county auto auction. Was my dad serious? Was he really planning on buying me a car from an auction? Oh, he was more than serious, he was excited. As we walked around looking at the cars before the auction began, the worry turned into panic as I realized that none of these cars would ever provide me with any kind of status other than loser.
My dad didn’t seem to notice the panic that I was experiencing and happily bid on and won what became my first car. He was excited because for $875 he had acquired a car with an automatic transmission, cruise control, and even air conditioning. As we drove home, he focused on these amazing luxuries that I would be enjoying as a new car driver. But I wasn’t a new car driver, I was the pathetic driver of an un-pretty, white with rust, 1988 Toyota Camry. But I had no other choice, so like my older sister I tried to optimistically accept my fate.
On the first day of school I parked my little humble Camry in the side parking lot as far from the “status symbol” lot as possible. I closed the door and walked as quickly away from that car as I could. I didn’t want anyone to notice that the pathetic white run down car was mine. In my mind it would have been better to not have a car than to have such an embarrassing one.
I was able to avoid the reality of my car ownership for the first weeks of school. No one had noticed and I certainly had not brought it to anyone’s attention that I had what might possibly be the most embarrassing car in the whole school.
Then the day came that I learned that sometimes you just can’t hide from reality. As I ran through the rain to my car, I had no idea that that humble little Camry had decided that today was the day to make her appearance known. As I pulled out of my parking spot and half way into the row of cars waiting to exit the parking lot, my car stopped. Trying to remain calm, I attempted to restart the car….nothing. I tried again this time praying that my stupid car would start before anyone noticed me in it. This time the most awful, loud screeching noise came out of my little humble car and carried across the entire parking lot. Still trying to convince myself that maybe no one had noticed, I heard a tapping on my window. There stood a very attractive, senior guy, motioning for me to roll down my window. I swallowed hard to hold back the tears as I rolled down and listened as he asked me if I needed any help. The hiding was over. The sneaking around so that no one would know that I drove the old white Camry was over. I was blocking traffic, I was causing the worst sound imaginable, I was the driver of the embarrassing old car, and everyone knew it. With the attractive senior at my side I tried to start my car one more time. Hallelujah, it cooperated. I drove home embarrassed and annoyed that I couldn’t have just had a normal dad that understood the importance of high school status.
That night I told my dad the story of the most embarrassing day of my life in hopes that he would have sympathy. He didn’t. He laughed and told me that he was glad that I had such a character building experience and maybe I should have just been nicer to my car from the beginning and then she wouldn’t have had to teach me a lesson. I learned more than one lesson that day. I learned that you can’t hide from what you are and that you can’t trust your dad to understand the importance of high school status symbols. And now when my younger siblings come to me with their “character building car” horror stories, I can smile and say, “You might as well accept it, because when it comes to dad, some things never change.”

A Ward Christmas Party

As some of you know, I'm on the activities committee in the Irmo ward. Last night was our ward Christmas Social. Patti offered to help as a Laurel Project...she took over the Santa's visit...getting youth to help, decorating the primary room, taking pictures and is getting them developed and making frames to give them to parents on Sunday! She did an awesome job!!!! Sarah Beth sung "Away in the Manger" with a group of primary girls and Connor and Pete were chosen to play the chimes. It was a wonderful evening with yummy food (and NO I DID NOT EAT A SINGLE DESSERT!!!), good friends and just a lot of FUN!!! It was so fun to see Patti laughing and joking with the youth and enjoying herself at last in her ward! A Christmas miracle!