Yep – Jakey turned one, and boy did he party like a mad man. Mommy made him his own cake, and she’d made sure that he had never eaten cake before, so it was truly a first-time experience. Grammie Fink took some good photos. Behold….

First bite – not quite sure

Do I like this?

Yep. I like this.

I reeeeally like this. (Clicky)

All cleaned up and ready for presentses

It was great fun. Wish I hadn’t been fighting this stupid cold or sinus infection or whatever it is. But hey, at least the Browns won. Imagine that!

FO

And relief. I’m sure I’m not alone in breathing a huge sigh of relief:

1. The bride, groom and ceremony were all beautiful.
2. Nothing washed or blew away (although Jim Heydinger took a bath in the parking lot of the chapel).
3. Everyone had a great time at the reception.
4. Kids got off to the honeymoon destination safely.**

Welp, the baby is married off. Mama Fink, Photographer got this shot in the late afternoon at the reception. I think it came out rather nicely. Off to Wally to get it made into an 8 x 10, along with some other pictures.

The wedding was held here. The rain came pouring down and people ran inside underneath umbrellas (well, except for Jim Heydinger…) and everything went off without a hitch. Very nice.

Then we all drove to the reception, held at historic Malabar Farm. For those of you familiar with the works of Louis Bromfield, here’s a little Malabar history. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married there, too.

A bazillion pictures were taken yesterday, and I can’t wait to see the photographer’s collection online. Don’t be completely surprised if I share one now and then.

Other random photos below, with more to come sometime, after the photographer’s album goes live.

Jakey checks out the chapel stage

Lars gets flower repair from friend Jane

Simone and #1 Son ham it up

It cleared up in the afternoon (it was a 10:30 a.m. wedding — kids had a plane to catch) and it was very nice and breezy at the reception. Lars & Helen finally escaped around 4:15 to drive to Cleveland in time enough to hop a flight to Seattle by way of a Chicago layover. We thought we’d seen them off. However…

** Lars called last night around 8 and said that due to bad weather in Chicago, their flight was canceled. But Providence smiled on them, and they were given another flight for this morning — direct, no layover. Good for them. They’re off to Seattle today, and tomorrow they leave for a week-long Alaskan cruise.

Mama Fink is happy, but tired. Real life returns…research project proposal, Annie Get Your Gun rehearsal schedule, school, Browns losing…yay.

But first, more coffee.

Fink out.

PS – thanks for all the kind wishes through email and comments!

The wedding day is here, finally! Color me excited. And worried…

Ike has made landfall — right in Helen’s family’s front yard (they are from Galveston and Houston). It is good to have them up here, because they are safe and “things” can be replaced, but they are extremely concerned about what they’re going to see when they get home. The pictures on television don’t look so good.

Helen’s parents live in one of the few homes that survived the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Patti tells me that their house sits on heavy cypress beams that are almost petrified — like stone. She just hoped that the storm surge wasn’t so high that it passed them up and flooded the main structure.

The challenge for us all today is to know that the weather is going to do its thing no matter what, but we cannot let that destroy the joy. After all the preparations, the worrying, the craziness, the minor last-minute disasters…it all happens for Lars & Helen today, and I for one couldn’t be happier for them.

The rehearsal luncheon/barbecue was yesterday, and fun was had by all. About 40 people milled about inside while the rain came down, but no one cared. Lars was soaking wet from fetching and carrying, and Helen hadn’t slept but a couple of hours the previous night, but they both looked great. And relaxed. And silly.

More pictures tomorrow. I know, I’m pathetic. It’ll only last for one more day, promise.

PS – check out the menu. I plan to go around to everyone’s table, fork in hand, asking, “Hey — you gonna finish that filet?” Yummy.