Sunday, November 11, 2012

Thanksgiving in Columbia

We had Thanksgiving dinner in Columbia.  The cousins came over to eat with us.  Josiah enjoyed quizzing all of them about wild animals!  He got a kick out of it!!!  Sooooooo excited and screaming!!!  They were so sweet to him to let him quiz them and go along with it.
 

The next day we went to the zoo!  I LOVE the zoo there.  It is just the perfect size!  (Although, I do miss the sea lions:)  The kids had a blast and the weather was perfect!  Here are some pictures:










Giraffe feeding time:




Check out this guy's tongue :)









I wonder what he thinks about...

Friday, November 9, 2012

Reunited!

On our way into Columbia, we stopped to meet up with Derrick, Danielle, Liam, and Amelia!  The kids had fun seeing each other and hanging out.  I have to say that Fudruckers has THE coolest drink dispensers I have EVER seen.  They are new and SO cool!  It is worth the trip to a Fudruckers, but you might want to call ahead to see if they have the new drink machines beforehand.  We had fun talking and hanging out, even though I wish we had more time!  Here are some pictures! 
 
Josiah teaching Liam math!  :)

enjoying their drinks

mercy with her balloon tiarra

the kids

hanging out

not quite sure what Josiah is doing in the drink...
 
Okay, I am not sure how I forgot to get a picture of Danielle!!! :(  What's wrong with me!!!  Next time, definitely...and next time we see them Amelia will be here!!  woohoo!!!  Until, then...we'll just continue to text about the Walking Dead.  Although, we just have one more episode left!!  What will we do?!?!

THE Wedding of the Year


Woooohoooo!  Kim and Kyle are married!  We are soooooo happy for them.  It's been awhile since the last O'Brien wedding.  6 years almost to the date!  Kim and Kyle are both Gator grads.  We were so happy to be there and to be a part of their day!

Mercy was the flower girl in their wedding.  I was actually the flower girl in Kim's parents' wedding when I was three years old.  So, this was pretty special for Mercy to attempt this great task!  hahaha!  The rehersal dinner was fabulous.  It was in Summerville at a gigantic old house.  The weather was simply perfect the entire time, which was awesome since a lot of the festivities were outdoors.  Well, here you go.  Here are some pictures of the day~

Kim and Donna checking out the flowers!

Kim looked AMAZING!  She took my breath away whe I saw her!

Kim and Donna

Kim, Stehpanie, and Mercy
Mercy was so nervous and seemed very scared beforehand.  She would barely go to anyone.  At this point, I wasn't sure what she was going to do...
Kim and Mercy

Kim and the mommies


Mercy with the girls!

Go girl!

Chilling out beforehand!

So cute!

A side angle:)
As mercy chilled out in the above pictures, I was thinking that she might walk the aisle.  She was more relaxed and smiling LOTS more.  The plan was for Ryan to wait in the back with her, and then Mercy could walk down the aisle to me (on the 3rd row).  Meanwhile, the boys would have to behave by themselves on a back row.  (Which they did great, in case I forget to write it.)  Ryan said that Mercy got really scared beforehand and when it was time to walk, she didn't want to go.  They got her to agree to walk down with Stephanie, the matron of honor.  About halfway down the aisle, she started crying.  I could see her face and could tell that tears were coming!  She made it to me and I quickly pulled her pacy out!  
Josiah and Aedan were looking GOOD!  Yay for Walmart outfits!

brothers!

so sweet!
Once Mercy made it to me she sat really well with me.  My plan was to try and sneak out, but she was sitting so still, I figured it wuold be more of a distraction to leave.  She ended up falling asleep on me!  She must have been super tired for that to happen.  I can't remember the last time she fell asleep on me.  Oh, wait...maybe I do.  The last time she was really sick she fell asleep on me!  She was a tired girl!
After Mercy walked down the aisle, she was awake for a little while, but then was out!  Being a flower girl is hard work!

Josiah and I
At the reception:
the cousins!

the cousins with Mama:)
a family shot

The kids looking good!

Mercy and Emily

Aedan, the party animal, with Michael!

Aedan with Chris and Michael!

Mercy, Emily, Francie, and John

Francie and Bill

Mercy dancing with Emily.

Lookout! Emily caught the bouquet!

Cindy with the bouquet!

Josiah fell asleep with the loud music! 
Congratulations to Kim and Kyle!  We are so happy for you!
 
The morning after interview with the flower girl:
 
Mercy has gotten over the trauma of being a flower girl.  Since then, she has said that she wants to be a flower girl again and continues to practice her walk.  She has recovered from all of the "scary peoples"!  hahaha!  Emily, Mercy is depending on you!!!!!