New Beginnings......

     Whew!!! What a year we have had at the French Farm!  Seems like we have had one event after the other which is wonderful yet very exhausting.
     It all began in the winter of 2010 when Alex proposed to Lila on her birthday, and she said "yes."  One beautiful ring later and a wedding date of 9-10-11, the whirlwind began and only just recently has the dust finally started to settle.  Seems the couple wanted to get married at the farm and have their reception here as well.  We had done this before with son number one and since Lila and Alex were so instrumental in helping us with rebuilding the new house we heartily and happily agreed.  So the kids set out to create a one of a kind event that they and all who attended would never forget, and believe me that is exactly what they did!

Lila and Alex....Just married!

   What you must first know about Lila is that she is very detail oriented, and she knows exactly what she wants something to look like, therefore, this wedding took over one year to plan, shop for and finally execute, with her doing all of the design, direction, and follow through.  Not one little detail was forgotten, missed or overlooked.  This girl had a vision and nobody was going to change her mind, slow her down or tell her it can't be done.  So we all got aboard her train and did our best to keep up with her.  But I have gotten a little ahead of myself just yet, there's more to the story.......

    Once we congratulated the newly engaged couple and Lila set things into motion we still had business to attend to which included us, the French Farm girls, getting ready for our very first barn sale which was going to be at the farm at the end of June. But first I had to finish not only my regular school term obligation but then my two week commitment to teach summer school which entailed both a morning and evening session which would be ending just days before the actual sale. When I wasn't at school we were collecting merchandise, picking fruit, making postcards, signs, food, a dressing room, lemonade and all of the other million things that needed to be done before the sale and also chasing down the perfect votives, chandeliers, candles, vases, etc. in preparation for the wedding in September.  Christie and Kim were also immersed in the process of secretly planning and preparing for Lila's over the top Marie Antoinette themed wedding shower which would be held at Christie's house in August, and oh by the way did I mention that my middle son Matt,a supposed confirmed bachelor, and all around awesome guy, had fallen in love with Katrina, the beautiful daughter of my friend from college? And that Matt had proposed to Katrina on Valentines day and Katrina, who fortunately also said yes, really wanted her sister to be her matron of honor and since Katrina's sister was possibly facing re-deployment to Afghanistan in December, their wedding was going to have to be before she left and that because it is the perfect spot for a party, yes you guessed it, Matt and Katrina's wedding reception would also be at the French Farm, which turned out to be exactly six weeks after Alex and Lila's. Whew, I'm tired just writing about it!

Alex and Lila's Reception

The candy bar at Alex and Lila's Reception

Alex and Lila

Almost time for the I do's

Lila on her wedding day!

Lila's Shower

Matt and Katrina entering their reception!

Matt center, Ryan right, Alex left

Matt and Katrina

Matt on his wedding day!

Matt and Katrina

Matt and Katrina's Reception

Matt and Katrina's reception

True Love

  And so began the frenzied but wonderful pace of our lives that had us at showers, fittings, food tastings rehearsals, dinners, late nights, and for the girls and guys, the bachelor and bachelorette parties!   The barn sale went really well and we had a wonderful turn out. The bridal showers were so pretty and great fun.  The weddings and their receptions were equally beautiful and unique.  The brides looked exquisite in their gowns and the grooms were so handsome.  John and I were overwhelmed with happiness and so proud of all of our sons as they loved and supported each other and their new sisters-in laws.  We once again were reminded of how very fortunate and lucky we are to have been blessed with such wonderful children, grandchildren and now to have three unbelievably lovely, kind and generous daughters-in-law. All is well and life is so good!